Dramatis Personæ.

LEAR, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Glo'ster.
Earl of Kent.
Edgar, Son to Glo'fter.
Edmund, Bastard Son to Glo'iter.
Curan, a Courtier.
Doctor.
Fool.
Oswald, Steward to Gonerill.
A Captain, employ'd by Edmund.
Gentleman, Attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.
Old Man, Tenant to Glo'fter.
Servant to Cornwall.
ift. 1

Servants to Glo'ster. 2d.

}

Knights attending on the King, Oficers, Mesengers,

Soldiers and Attendants.

SCENE lies in Britain.

ΚΙ N G

А CT 1.
SCENE, the King's Palace.

Enter Kent, Glo'ster, and Edmund ihe Bajiard.

I

K E N T.
Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of
Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us : but now, in the Division of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the Dukes he values most; for qualities are so weigh’d, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord ?

Gl. His Breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

G!o. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; wherea upon she grew round-womb’d; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

A 3

Glo.

years, and

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, some
year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my ac-
count; though this knave came somewhat faucily to
the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother
fair; there was good sport at his making, and the
whoreson must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this
Nobleman, Edmund ?
Edm. No, ny

lord.
Glo. My lord of Kent ;-
- Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you

better.
Edm. Sir, 1 ihall study your deserving.
Glo. He hath been out nine

away he shall again.

[Trumpets found, within.
The King is coming.
Enier King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneriti, Regan,

Cordelia, and Attendants.
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'ster.
Glo. I fhall, my Liege.

[Éxit.
Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided,
In three, our Kingdom; and 'is our faft intent,
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters sev'ral Dow’rs, that future strife
May be prevented now. The Princes France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,
Long in our Court have made their am'rous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, daughters,
(Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
Int'reft of territory, cares of state;)
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us moft?
That we our largest bounty may extend,
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon.