KING LEAR 1.1

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KING LEAR 1.1

King Lear's palace.

[Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND]

KENT I thought the king had more affected the Duke of

Albany than Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER 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 5

weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice

of either's moiety.

KENT Is not this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have

so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am 10

brazed to it.

KENT I cannot conceive you.

GLOUCESTER 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. 15

Do you smell a fault?

KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it

being so proper.

GLOUCESTER But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year

elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: 20

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? 25

EDMUND No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my

honourable friend.

EDMUND My services to your lordship.

KENT I must love you, and sue to know you better. 30

EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.

GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he shall

again. The king is coming.

[Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY,

GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants]

KING LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege. 35

[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]

KING 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 40

Unburthen'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 Burgundy, 45

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,-- 50

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.

GONERIL Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; 55

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 loved, or father found;

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; 60

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

CORDELIA [Aside] What shall Cordelia do?

Love, and be silent.

LEAR Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, 65

With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,

We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue

Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

REGAN Sir, I am made 70

Of the self-same metal that my sister is,

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, 75

Which the most precious square of sense possesses;

And find I am alone felicitate

In your dear highness' love.

CORDELIA [Aside]Then poor Cordelia!

And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's 80

More richer than my tongue.

KING LEAR To thee and thine hereditary ever

Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;

No less in space, validity, and pleasure,

Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy, 85

Although the last, not least; to whose young love

The vines of France and milk of Burgundy

Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIA Nothing, my lord. 90

KING LEAR Nothing!

CORDELIA Nothing.

KING LEAR Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.

CORDELIA Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty 95

According to my bond; nor more nor less.

KING LEAR How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,

Lest it may mar your fortunes.

CORDELIA Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I 100

Return those duties back as are right fit,

Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

Why have my sisters husbands, if they say

They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,

That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry 105

Half my love with him, half my care and duty:

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

To love my father all.

KING LEAR But goes thy heart with this?

CORDELIA Ay, good my lord. 110

KING LEAR So young, and so untender?

CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.

KING 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; 115

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 120

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 relieved,

As thou my sometime daughter. 125

KENT Good my liege,--

KING LEAR Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.

I loved her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight! 130

So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?

Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. 135

I do invest you jointly with my power,

Pre-eminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,

With reservation of an hundred knights,

By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode 140

Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain

The name, and all the additions to a king;

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

This coronet part betwixt you. 145

[Giving the crown]

KENT Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,

Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,

As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--

KING LEAR The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. 150

KENT Let it fall rather, though the fork invade

The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,

When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?

Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,

When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, 155

When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;

And, in thy best consideration, cheque

This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;

Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound 160

Reverbs no hollowness.

KING LEAR Kent, on thy life, no more.

KENT My life I never held but as a pawn

To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,

Thy safety being the motive. 165

KING LEAR Out of my sight!

KENT See better, Lear; and let me still remain

The true blank of thine eye.

KING LEAR Now, by Apollo,--

KENT Now, by Apollo, king,

Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. 170

KING LEAR O, vassal! miscreant!

[Laying his hand on his sword]

ALBANY, CORNWALL |Dear sir, forbear.

KENT Do:

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow

Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy doom; 175

Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,

I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

KING LEAR Hear me, recreant!

On thine allegiance, hear me!

Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, 180

Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride

To come between our sentence and our power,

Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,

Our potency made good, take thy reward.

Five days we do allot thee, for provision 185

To shield thee from diseases of the world;

And on the sixth to turn thy hated back

Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,

The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter, 190

This shall not be revoked.

KENT Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.

[To CORDELIA]

The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,

That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said! 195

[To REGAN and GONERIL]

And your large speeches may your deeds approve,

That good effects may spring from words of love.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;

He'll shape his old course in a country new.

[Exit]

[Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE,

BURGUNDY, and Attendants]

GLOUCESTER Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. 200

KING LEAR My lord of Burgundy.

We first address towards you, who with this king

Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,

Will you require in present dower with her,

Or cease your quest of love? 205

BURGUNDY Most royal majesty,

I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,

Nor will you tender less.

KING LEAR Right noble Burgundy,

When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; 210

But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands:

If aught within that little seeming substance,

Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,

And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,

She's there, and she is yours. 215

BURGUNDY I know no answer.

KING LEAR Will you, with those infirmities she owes,

Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,

Take her, or leave her? 220

BURGUNDY Pardon me, royal sir;

Election makes not up on such conditions.

KING LEAR Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.

[To KING OF FRANCE]

For you, great king, 225

I would not from your love make such a stray,

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you

To avert your liking a more worthier way

Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed

Almost to acknowledge hers. 230

KING OF FRANCE This is most strange,

That she, that even but now was your best object,

The argument of your praise, balm of your age,

Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle 235

So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence

Must be of such unnatural degree,

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection

Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,

Must be a faith that reason without miracle 240

Could never plant in me.

CORDELIA I yet beseech your majesty,--

If for I want that glib and oily art,

To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,

I'll do't before I speak,--that you make known 245

It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,

No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,

That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;

But even for want of that for which I am richer,

A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue 250

As I am glad I have not, though not to have it

Hath lost me in your liking.

KING LEAR Better thou

Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.

KING OF FRANCE Is it but this,--a tardiness in nature 255

Which often leaves the history unspoke

That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,

What say you to the lady? Love's not love

When it is mingled with regards that stand

Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? 260

She is herself a dowry.

BURGUNDY Royal Lear,

Give but that portion which yourself proposed,

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Duchess of Burgundy. 265

KING LEAR Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.

BURGUNDY I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father

That you must lose a husband.

CORDELIA Peace be with Burgundy!

Since that respects of fortune are his love, 270

I shall not be his wife.

KING OF FRANCE Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;

Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!

Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:

Be it lawful I take up what's cast away. 275

Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy 280

Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.

Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:

Thou losest here, a better where to find.

KING LEAR Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see 285

That face of hers again. Therefore be gone

Without our grace, our love, our benison.

Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE, GONERIL,

REGAN, and CORDELIA]

KING OF FRANCE Bid farewell to your sisters.

CORDELIA The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes 290

Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;

And like a sister am most loath to call

Your faults as they are named. Use well our father:

To your professed bosoms I commit him

But yet, alas, stood I within his grace, 295

I would prefer him to a better place.

So, farewell to you both.

REGAN Prescribe not us our duties.

GONERIL Let your study

Be to content your lord, who hath received you 300

At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,

And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

CORDELIA Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.

Well may you prosper! 305

KING OF FRANCE Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA]

GONERIL Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what

most nearly appertains to us both. I think our

father will hence to-night.

REGAN That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. 310

GONERIL You see how full of changes his age is; the

observation we have made of it hath not been

little: he always loved our sister most; and

with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off

appears too grossly. 315

REGAN 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever

but slenderly known himself.

GONERIL The best and soundest of his time hath been but

rash; then must we look to receive from his age,

not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed 320

condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness

that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

REGAN Such unconstant starts are we like to have from

him as this of Kent's banishment.

GONERIL There is further compliment of leavetaking 325

between France and him. Pray you, let's hit

together: if our father carry authority with

such dispositions as he bears, this last

surrender of his will but offend us.

REGAN We shall further think on't. 330

GONERIL We must do something, and i' the heat.

[Exeunt]

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KENT		I thought the king had more affected the Duke of
		Albany than Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER	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	5
	weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice
	of either's moiety.

GLOUCESTER	His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have
	so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am	10
	brazed to it.

GLOUCESTER	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.	15
	Do you smell a fault?

KENT		I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
		being so proper.

GLOUCESTER	But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year
	elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:	20
	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?	25

GLOUCESTER		My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my
		honourable friend.

GLOUCESTER		He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
		again. The king is coming.
		[Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY,
		GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants]

GLOUCESTER		I shall, my liege.	35
		[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]

KING 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	40
	Unburthen'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 Burgundy,	45
	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,--	50
	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.

GONERIL	Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;	55
	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 loved, or father found;
	A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;	60
	Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

LEAR	Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
	With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,	65
	With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
	We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
	Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
	Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

REGAN	Sir, I am made	70
	Of the self-same metal that my sister is,
	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,	75
	Which the most precious square of sense possesses;
	And find I am alone felicitate
	In your dear highness' love.

CORDELIA	[Aside]Then poor Cordelia!
	And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's	80
	More richer than my tongue.

KING LEAR	To thee and thine hereditary ever
	Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
	No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
	Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,	85
	Although the last, not least; to whose young love
	The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
	Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw
	A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIA	Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
	My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty	95
	According to my bond; nor more nor less.

KING LEAR		How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,
		Lest it may mar your fortunes.

CORDELIA	Good my lord,
	You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I	100
	Return those duties back as are right fit,
	Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
	Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
	They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
	That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry	105
	Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
	Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
	To love my father all.

KING 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;	115
	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	120
	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 relieved,
	As thou my sometime daughter.	125

KING LEAR	Peace, Kent!
	Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
	I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
	On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!	130
	So be my grave my peace, as here I give
	Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?
	Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,
	With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
	Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.	135
	I do invest you jointly with my power,
	Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
	That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
	With reservation of an hundred knights,
	By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode	140
	Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
	The name, and all the additions to a king;
	The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
	Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
	This coronet part betwixt you.	145
	[Giving the crown]

KENT		Royal Lear,
		Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
		Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,
		As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--

KENT	Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
	The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
	When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?
	Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
	When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,	155
	When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;
	And, in thy best consideration, cheque
	This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,
	Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
	Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound	160
	Reverbs no hollowness.

KENT	My life I never held but as a pawn
	To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,
	Thy safety being the motive.	165

KENT		See better, Lear; and let me still remain
		The true blank of thine eye.

KING LEAR		O, vassal! miscreant!
		[Laying his hand on his sword]

KENT	Do:
	Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
	Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy doom;	175
	Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
	I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

KING LEAR	Hear me, recreant!
	On thine allegiance, hear me!
	Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,	180
	Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride
	To come between our sentence and our power,
	Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
	Our potency made good, take thy reward.
	Five days we do allot thee, for provision	185
	To shield thee from diseases of the world;
	And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
	Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
	Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
	The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,	190
	This shall not be revoked.

KENT	Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,
	Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
	[To CORDELIA]
	The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
	That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!	195
	[To REGAN and GONERIL]
	And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
	That good effects may spring from words of love.
	Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
	He'll shape his old course in a country new.
	[Exit]
	[Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE,
	BURGUNDY, and Attendants]

KING LEAR	My lord of Burgundy.
	We first address towards you, who with this king
	Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,
	Will you require in present dower with her,
	Or cease your quest of love?	205

BURGUNDY		Most royal majesty,
		I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,
		Nor will you tender less.