KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I-A room of State in King Lear's Palace. 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 weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.2 Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed 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 a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account : 2-MOIETY.] Moiety was not of old used in its stricter sense of haif, but as a share, or portion. though this knave came something 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. Glo. My lord of Kent : remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. [Sennet within. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there.-Know, that 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 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 Bur gundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state)3 Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; 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; Cor. What shall Cordelia speak?—Love, and be silent. [Aside. Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Only she comes too short, that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys, 3 -cares of state,] The two lines, forming this parenthesis, are wanting in the quarto editions: the variations are numerous and frequently unimportant. Which the most precious sphere of sense possesses, And find I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love. Cor. Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. [Aside. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more, nor less. Lear. How? how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I More RICHER] For richer of the 4tos. the folio has ponderous. That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry Half my love with him, half my care and duty: Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Cor. Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, my good lord. Lear. Let it be so: thy truth, then, be thy dower; For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate and the night, By all the operation of the orbs, From whom we do exist and cease to be, Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me, Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous 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, Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To CORDELIA. Her father's heart from her!-Call France.-Who stirs ? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest the third : |