Dranratis Perfonæ.

1912

R

LEAR, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Glo'fter.
Earl of Kent.
Edgar, Son to Glo'ster.
Edmund, Baftard Son to Glo'fter.
Curan, a Courtier.

Doctor.

Fool.

Ofwald, Steward to Gonerill.
A Captain, employ'd by Edmund.
Gentleman, Attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.

Old Man, Tenant to Glo'fter.
Servant to Cornwall.

2d. }

Servants to Glo'fter.

Gonerill,

Regan, Daughters to Lear.
Cordelia,

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,
Soldiers and Attendants.

*

SCENE lies in Britain.

KING LEAR.

A C T

I.

SCENE, the King's Palace.

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

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.

I

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 she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

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

Glo.

A 3

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 faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whorefon 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 ftudy your deferving.
Glo. He hath been out nine years, and

away he shall [Trumpets found, within.

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

Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter,
Glo. I fhall, my Liege.
[Exit.
Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker purpose.
Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided,
In three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent,
To fhake all cares and bufinefs from our age;
Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral Dow'rs, that future ftrife
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 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 nature doth with merit challenge.
Our eldest born, speak firft.

Gonerill,

Gon