(4.6.224-25)

Cornwall, whose disposition will not be rubbed or stopped, does not manifest that pity. It is ascendant, though tardily, in Gloucester, who, if he dies for it, must relieve his master. Why is that? And why had Kent rather break his own heart than the King’s? How does one construe that fitness to which Albany appeals, in declining to let his hands obey his blood; or that pleasure, a more intriguing word, which inclines the Old Man to succor the blinded Gloucester, “Come on’t what will”? What point inheres in Albany’s characterization of Oswald, as Oswald reports it:

he called me sot,
And told me I had turned the wrong side out; (4.2.8-9)

and in what manner does it comment on the Captain’s decision to collaborate in the killing of the King and Cordelia:

If it be man’s work, I’ll do it. (5.3.40)

There ought here to ensue a brief though perceptible silence, in token of the irony and expectation with which these laconic words are charged. The dramatist is bidding us essay a definition of the nature of man’s work and, concomitantly, of the nature of man. Edmund, with his customary coldbloodedness, addresses himself to the task:

men
Are as the time is. (31-32)
Kent speaks to it, describing Oswald:
A tailor made thee. (2.2.55-56)

So in whimsical ways does the Fool, begging pardon of Goneril:

Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint stool; (3.6.51)

and also the King, whose confusion is at once real and assumed:

Your name, fair gentlewoman? (1.4.242)

and, in sterner ways, the Servant, drawing his sword against Cornwall:

Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger. (3.7.79-80)

To divine the way in which these lines reticulate is to resolve at least a corner of the mystery which is the play.

—RUSSELL FRASER
University of Michigan

[DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lear, King of Britain

King of France

Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Cornwall, husband to Regan

Duke of Albany, husband to Goneril

Earl of Kent

Earl of Gloucester

Edgar, son to Gloucester

Edmund, bastard son to Gloucester

Curan, a courtier

Oswald, steward to Goneril

Old Man, tenant to Gloucester Doctor

Lear’s Fool

A Captain, subordinate to Edmund Gentlemen, attending on Cordelia

A Herald

Servants to Cornwall

Goneril

Regan } daughters to Lear

Cordelia

Knights attending on Lear, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, Attendants

 

Scene: Britain]

The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT 1

Scene 1. [King Lear’s palace.]

Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.

Kent I thought the King had more affected01 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 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 brazed° to’t.

 

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. Do you smell a fault?

1 The degree sign (°) indicates a footnote, which is keyed to the text by line number. Text references are printed in boldface type; the annotation follows in roman type. 1.1.1 affected loved

2 Albany Albanacte, whose domain extended “from the river Humber to the point of Caithness” (Holinshed)

5-7 equalities... moiety i.e., shares are so balanced against one another that careful examination by neither can make him wish the other’s portion

9 breeding upbringing

11 brazed made brazen, hardened

12 conceive understand (pun follows)

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

Gloucester. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:° though this knave° came something saucily° to 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?

 

Edmund No, my lord.

Gloucester. My Lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honorable friend.

Edmund My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue° to know you better.

Edmund. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Gloucester. He hath been out° nine years, and away he shall again. The King is coming.

Sound a sennet. ° Enter one bearing a coronet, ° then King Lear, then the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany, next Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

Gloucester. I shall, my lord. Exit [with 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

17 issue result (child)

18 proper handsome

21 account estimation

21 lame fellow (without disapproval)

22 saucily (1) insolently (2) lasciviously

24 whoreson fellow (lit, son of a whore)

31 sue entreat

33 out away, abroad

34 s.d. sennet set of notes played on a trumpet, signalizing the entrance or departure of a procession

34 s.d. coronet small crown, intended for Cordelia

38 darker purpose hidden intention

40 fast fixed

Unburthened 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,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest° of territory, cares of state),
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 word can wield° the matter;

Dearer than eyesight, space° and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
As much as child e‘er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath° poor, and speech
unable:°
Beyond all manner of so much° I love you.

Cordelia. [Aside] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.

 

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests, and with champains riched,°

With plenteous rivers, and wide-skirted meads,°
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issues°
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,

45 constant will to publish fixed intention to proclaim

46 several separate

47 prevented forestalled

52 Interest legal right

55 nature ... challenge i.e., natural affection contends with desert for (or lays claim to) bounty

57 wield handle

58 space scope

62 breath language

62 unable impotent

63 Beyond ...