"The utter improbability of Glocefter's imagin"ing, though blind, that he had leaped down "Dover-Cliff," has been juftly cenfured by Dr. Warton *; and in the representation it is still more liable to objection than in print. I have therefore, without fcruple, omitted it, preserving however, at the fame time, that celebrated defcription of the cliff in the mouth of Edgar. The putting out Glocefter's eyes is alfo fo unpleafing a circumstance, that I would have altered it, if poffible; but, upon examination, it appeared to be so closely interwoven with the fable, that I durft not venture to change it. I had once fome idea of retaining the character of the Fool; but though Dr. Warton has very truly obferved t, that the poet "has fo well " conducted even the natural jargon of the beggar, "and the jestings of the Fool, which in other hands "must have funk into burlesque, that they contri"bute to heighten the pathetick;" yet, after the moft ferious confideration, I was convinced that fuch a scene" would fink into burlefque" in the representation, and would not be endured on the modern stage.

* Adventurer, No. 122. † Adventurer, No. 116.

DRAMATIS

EDMUND,baftard fon to Glo'fter, Mr. Benfley.

Old Man, tenant to Glocefter, Mr. Hallam.

Knights attending on the king, officers, meffengers, foldiers and attendants.

SCENE, BRITAIN.

ACT I.

SCENE, the King's palace.

Enter Kent, Glocefter, and Edmund the Baftard.

I

Kent.

THOUGHT the king had more affected the duke of Albany than Cornwall.

Gloc. It did always feem fo to us: But now in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most.

Kent. Is not this your fon, my lord?

Gloc. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge.
Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Gloc. Sir, this young fellow's mother had, indeed, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for

her bed. Do you smell a fault?

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

Gloc.

Gloc. But I have a fon, fome year elder than this,

Sir, by order of law,

who yet is no dearer

in my account. Do you know this nobleman, Edmund ?

Edm. No, my lord.

Gloc. My lord of Kent ;·

Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My fervices to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better. Edm. Sir, I fhall study your deferving.

[Trumpets found within.

Gloc. The king is coming.

Scene opens, and discovers King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'fter.

Gloc. I fhall, my liege.

[Exit.

Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker

purpose:

Give me the map here. Know, 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 ftrengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of

Cornwall,

And

And you, our no-less-loving fon of Albany,
We have this hour a conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral dow'rs, that future ftrife
May be prevented now. The princes France and
Burgundy,

Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their am'rous fo-

journ,

And here are to be anfwer'd. Tell me, daughters,
Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft?
That we our largest bounty may extend,
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon. I love you, Sir,

Dearer than eye-fight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valu'd, rich or rare;

No lefs 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 of so much I love you.

Cord. What fhall Cordelia do? love, and be
» [Afide.

filent.

Lear. Of all these bounds, ev'n from this line to

this,

With fhadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,