Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,

Soldiers and Attendants.

SCENE lyes in Britain.

KING LEAR

ACTI.

SCENE, the King's Palace.

Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Baftard.

I

KENT.

Thought, the King had more affected the
Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always feem fo to us: but now, in the Divifion of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the Dukes he values moft; for qualities are fo weigh'd, that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your fon, my lord?

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

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed. you fmell a fault?

Do

Kent.

Kent. I cannot wifh the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper.

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, fome year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account; though this knave came fomewhat fawcily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whorfon must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund?

Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent ;

Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
Edm.My fervices to your lordship.

Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better.
Edm. Sir, I fhall study your deferving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall [Trumpets found, within.

again.

The King is coming.

Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

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

[Exit.
Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the Map here. Know, 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 ftrengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall,
And You, our no less loving fon of Albany,

We have this hour a conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral Dow'rs, that future ftrife

[gundy,

May be prevented now. The Princes France and Bur

Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,

Long in our Court have made their am'rous fojourn,
And here are to be anfwer'd. Tell me, daughters,
(Since now we will diveft us, both of rule,
Int'reft of territory, cares of ftate ;)

Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft?
That we our largest bounty may extend,

Where

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon. I love you, Sir,

Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable,
Beyond all manner of fo much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? love and be filent.

[Afide. Lear. Of all these Bounds, ev'n from this line to this, With fhadowy forefts and with champions rich'd, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's iffue Be this perpetual. What fays our fecond daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? speak.

Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter,
And prize me at her worth, in my true Heart. (1)
I find, the names my very deed of love;

Only fhe comes too fhort: that I profefs
My felf an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes;
And find, I am alone felicitate

In your dear Highness' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia !

And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's
More pond'rous than my tongue.

Lear, To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair Kingdom;
No lefs in fpace, validity, and pleasure,
Than that confer'd on Gonerill.- Now our joy,
Although our laft, not leaft; to whofe young love,
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be int❜refs'd: what say you, to draw

[Afide.

(1) And prize me at her Worth. In my true Heart,] Mr. Bishop prefcrib'd the Pointing of this Paffage, as I have regulated it in the Text. Regan would fay, that in the Truth of her Heart and Affection, the equals the worth of her Sifter. Without this Change in the Pointing, the makes a Boaft of her felf without any Caufe affign'd,

A