The Tragedy of King Lear
Shakespeare, William
The Tragedy of King Lear
William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of King Lear
[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
Fool, to Lear
Captain employed by Edmund.
Gentleman attendant on Cordelia
Herald
Servants to Cornwall
Goneril
Regan
Cordelia
daughters to Lear
Knights of Lear's train, Gentlemen, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants
Scene: Britain]
Act I,
Scene I
Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.
KENT. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.
GLOU. 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 moi'ty.
KENT. Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOU. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.
KENT. I cannot conceive you.
GLOU. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon she 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.
GLOU. 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 acknowledg'd. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDM. No, my lord.
GLOU. My Lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honorable friend.
EDM. My services to your lordship.
KENT. I must love you, and sue to know you better.
EDM. Sir, I shall study deserving.
GLOU. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. ([Sound a] sennet.) The King is coming.
Enter [one bearing a coronet, then] King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.
LEAR.
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
GLOU. I shall, my lord.
Exit [with 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
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,
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),
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 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 lov'd, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable:
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
COR [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 rich'd,
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 of Cornwall? [Speak.]
REG.
I am made of that self metal as my sister,
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 [Aside.]
Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so, since I am sure my love's
More ponderous than my tongue.
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.
1 comment