ülnic 160919

ATOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

1899.

Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund the Bastard.

I Thought the King had more affected the Duke

Kent.
of Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us : but now, in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the Dukes he values moft ; for qualities are so weigh’d, that curio. lity + in neither can make choice of either's moiety, Vol. VI.

А

Kent.

† Curiosity, for exacteft fcruting.

K’ent. 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 the grew round-womb’d; 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 hare a son, Sir, by order of law, some year, elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat faucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair ; there was good sport at his making, and the whorson must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Ed. mund ? 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 fhall Atudy your deserving.
Glo. He hath been out nine

years,

and
away

he shall again.

[Trumpets found, within, The King is coming.

SCENE II. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan,

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

Glo'ster.
Glo. I fhall, my Liege.

[Exit. Lear. Mean time we ihall express our darkerf purpose. Give me the

map

here : know, we have divided, In three, our kingdom ; and 'tis our first intent, To shake all cares and business from our age : Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of Cornwall,

And - Darker, for more secret; not for indireli, oblique.

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters sev'ral dow’rs, that future strife
May be prevented. 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 answer’d. Tell me, danghters,
(Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
İpt'rest of territory, and cares of state)
Which of you, shall we fay, doth love us most ?
That we our largest bounty may extend,
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldeit born, speak firit.

Gon. I love you, Sir,
Dearer than eye-fight, 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 t of so much I love you.
Cor. What shall Cordelia do? love, and be silent.

. Afde. Lear. Of all these bounds, ev'n from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champions rich'd, With plenteous rivers, and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual. What fays our fecond daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? fpeak. Reg. I'm made of that self-metal

my

fifter,
And prize me at her worth, in my true heart.
I find she names my very deed of love ;
Only she comes too short: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense possesses ;
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness' love.
Cor. Then

poor
Cordelia !

E-Afida
And yet not so, since I am sure my love's.
More pond'rous than their tongue

Lear. To thee and thine, heriditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;

No * i. e beyond all expreffion.

as

A 2

me.

No less in space, validity t, and pleasure,
Than that conferr'don Gonerill. Now our joy,
Although our last, not least ; in whose young love,
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be int’ress’d: what fay you, to draw
A third, more opulent than your filters ? fpeak.

Cor. Nothing, my Lord.
Lear. Nothing?
Cor. Nothing
Lear. Nothing can come of nothing ; fpeak again.
Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth : I love your Majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.

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 I
Return those duties back, as are right fit ;
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my fifters husbands, if they say,
They love

you all ? haply, when I shall wed, 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 To love my father all..

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?
Cor. Ay, my good Lord.
Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my Lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower :
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night,
By all the operations 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 barb'rous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation meffes,
Το

gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,

As of Validity, for wortb, value; not for integrity, or good title.

my fifters,