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 weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.t

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

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, Sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat 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.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again:-The king is coming.

[Trumpets sound within.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL,
REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants.
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Bur-
[gundy.
Gloster.

Glo. I shall, my froge

[Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. Lear. Meantime we shall express our dark. er* purpose.

Give me the map there.-Know, that we have divided, [tentt

In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast inTo 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 [daughters,

sojourn,

And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state,)

Edm. My services to your lordship.

better.

Most scrupulous nicety. + Part or division. Handsome.

Gon. Sir, I

[matter

Do love you more than words can wield the

Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less 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 so much I love you. Čor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. [Aside. Leur. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains* rich'd,

With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's
issue
[daughter,
Be this perpetual.-What says our second
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
Reg. I am made of that self metal as my
sister,

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
1 find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,-that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys, [sesses;
Which the most precious squaret of sense pos-
And find, I am alone felicitatet
In your dear highness' love.

[Aside.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that coufirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy, Although the last, not least; to whose young love

The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be interess'd: what can you say, to draw

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak

again.

Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this,t for ever. The barba
rous Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation‡ messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime daughter.
Kent. Good my liege,-
Lear. Peace, Kent!

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!-
[TO CORDELIA.
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her!-Call France;-
Who stirs ?
Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest_this
[her.
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly

third:

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, Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to old man? [speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy honour's bound, [doom; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life, my judgement,

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound Reverbs¶ no hollowness.

Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it,

Thy safety being the motive.
Lear. Out of my sight!

Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still reThe true blank** of thine eye.

Lear. Now, by Apollo,Kent. Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. O, vassal! miscreant!

[main

[Laying his Hand on his Swore. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Do;

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee, thou dost evil.

VOW,

Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me !Since thou hast sought to make us break our [pride, (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd To come betwixt our sentence and our power; (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency make good, take thy reward. Five days we do allot thee, for provision To shield thee from diseases of the world; And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions, The moment is thy death: Away! By Jupiter, This shall not be revok'd.

Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [To CORDELIA. That justly think'st, and has most rightly said!

And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of love.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Re-enter GLOSTER; with France, BURGUNDY, and Attendants.

The argument of your praise, balm of your
age,
[time
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree, [tion
That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affec-
Fall into taint:+ which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,
(If fort I want that glib and oily art, [intend,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well
I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and
[richer;
But even for want of that, for which I am
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue [it,
That I am glad I have not, though not to have
Hath lost me in your liking.

favour:

Lear. Better thou

Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better.

France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects, that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have She is herself a dowry. [her?

Bur. Royal Lear,

lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this king

[least,

Hath rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the Will you require in present dower with her, Or cease your quest of love?t

Bur. Most royal majesty,

I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less.

Lear. Right noble Burgundy,

When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands;

If aught within that little seeming‡ substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.
Lear. Sir,

Will you, with those infirmities she owes,'
Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,
Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with
our oath,

Take her, or leave her?

Bur. Pardon me, royal Sir;

Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for, by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [TO FRANCE.

I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech

Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a That you must lose a husband.

[father,

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!
Since that respects of fortune are his love,
I shall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, being poor;

[spis'd Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, deThee and thy virtues here I seize upon : Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.-
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again:-Therefore be gone, Without our grace, our love, our benison.¶Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GLOSTER, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd [are; Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father:

eyes

To your professed bosoms I commit him: But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Gon. Prescribe not us our duties.
Reg. Let your study

[you

Be, to content your ford; who hath receiv'd At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, [wanted.

And well are worth the want that you have Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited* cunning hides;

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night.

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We shall further think of it. Gon. We must do something, and i'the heat. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Hall in the Earl of GLOSTER'S Castle.

མ་འ with Letter.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law

us

My services are bound: Wherefore should I
Stand in the plagues of custom; and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-
shines
[base?
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they
[base?
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base,
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality,
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base

And the king gone to-night! subscrib'd his Confin'd to exhibition! All this done [power! Upon the gad!‡- -Edmund! How now? what news?

Edm. So please your lordship, none.
[Putting up the Letter.
Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up
that letter?

Edm. I know no news, my lord.
Glo. What paper were you reading?
Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glo. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.

Edm. I beseech you, Sir, pardon me : it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'erread; for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking.

Glo. Give me the letter, Sir.

Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.

it.

Glo. Let's see, let's see.

Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essays or taste of my virtue.

Glo. [Reads.] This policy, and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond || bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the bevored of your brother, Edgar.-Humph --Conspiracy Sleep till I waked him-you should enjoy half his revenue,—My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in?-When came this to you? Who brought it?

Edm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.

Glo. You know the character to be your brother's?

Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear it were his; but, in respect of that, I would fain think it were not.

Glo. It is his.

Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope, his heart is not in the contents.

Glo. Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business?

Edm. Never, my lord: But I have often heard him maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining, the father should be as ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue.

Glo. O villain, villain!-His very opinion in the letter!-Abhorred villain! Unnaturai, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish! -Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him :Abominable villain !-Where is he?

Enter GLOSTER.

run a certain course; where, if you violently proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your own honour,

choler parted!

I dare pawn down my life for him, that he