Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, SCENE lies in Britain. KING LEAR. A CT I. SCENE, the King's Palace. Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Baftard, I KENT. Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of Gl. It did always feem fo to us: but now, in the Division of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the Dukes he values molt; 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 fo often blush'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 the had a hufband for her bed. Do you fmell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper. A 3 Glo. 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 fport 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. Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he fhall again. [Trumpets found, within. The King is coming. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'fter. Long in our Court have made their am'rous fojourn, Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft? Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Gon. Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty; No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour: A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, Cor. What fhall Cordelia do? love and be filent. [Afide. Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter, 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 [Alide. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, (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, she equals the worth of her fifter. Without this change in the pointing, fhe makes a boast of herfelf without any caufe affign'd. A 4 Lear. Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; fpeak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your Majefty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Left you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. I To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower; From whom we do exift, and cease to be; Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barb'rous Scythian, Το gorge his appetite; fhall to my bofom Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd, Kent. Good my Liege Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath. On |