King Lear.

A

TRAGEDY,

BY

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

ACCURATELY PRINTED

FROM THE TEXT OP

MR. STEEVENS'S LAST EDITION.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Lear, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Kent.
Earl of Glo'ster.
Edgar, Son to Glo'ster.
Edmund, Bastard Son to Glo'ster.
Curan, a Courtier.
Old Man, Tenant to Glo'ster.
Physician.
Fool.
Oswald, Steward to Goneril.
An Officer, employed by Edmund.
Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.
Servants to Cornwall.

a

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,

Soldiers, and Attendants.

Scene, Britain.

KING

LE AR.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A ROOM OF STATE IN KING LEAR'S PALACE.

+

Enter Kent, Glo'ster, 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.

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

a

a

B

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.

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.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.
Glo. He hath been out nine

away

he shall again:—The king is coming.

[Trumpets sound within.

years, and

· Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan,

Cordelia, and Attendants,
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,

Glo'ster.
Glo. I shall, my liege.

[Exeunt Glo'ster and Edmund. Lear. Mean-time 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,