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 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. Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better. 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. We have this hour a conftant will to publish [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, Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft? Where Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, 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: A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, 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, Only fhe comes too fhort: that I profefs Which the most precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; In your dear Highness' love. Cor. Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's Lear, To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, [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 |