KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I. A room of state in King LEAR'S palace. Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDmund. Kent. I 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 equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to't. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son 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. Glo. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came something saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.— Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my 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. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall [Sennet within. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glos ter. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Gloster and Edmund. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.— Give me the map there.-Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward 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' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state,) Which of shall we say you doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I love you more than words (1) can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Beyond what can be valu'd, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Cor. What shall Cordelia do? (2) Love, and be silent. Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Only she comes too short,-that I profess Which the most precious square of sense possesses; And find I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love. Cor. Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More ponderous than my tongue. Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less. [Aside. Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your Cor. fortunes. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Cor. Ay, good my lord.(5) Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be so,-thy truth, then, be thy dower: For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries (6) of Hecate, and the night; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist, and cease to be; Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian, To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd, Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.- Hence, and avoid my sight!—(7) So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-who stirs ? With my two daughters' dowers digest the third : I do invest you jointly with my power, That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, This coronet part between you. Kent. [Giving the crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state; (8) And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo,- Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. |