Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers and Attendants. SCENE lies in Britain. KING KING LEA R. A C T I. SCENE I. The K IN G's PALACE. Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of 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 fo weigh'd, that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His Breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I have fo often blufh'd to acknowledge him, that now am braz'd to't. I Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, Sir, 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 issue of it being fo proper. Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account; though this knave came fomewhat faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. Glo. My lord of Kent ; Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he fhall again. The King is coming. [Trumpets found, within. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. A TTEND the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo. I fhall, my Liege. [Exit. Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker pur pose. Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided, In three, our Kingdom; and tis our first intent, To fhake all cares and bufinefs from our age; Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall, And You, our no lefs loving fon of Albany, Great rivals in our younger daughter's love, Long in our Court have made their am'rous fojourn, Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us most? Where Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Our eldest born, speak first. Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour: Cor. What fhall Cordelia do? love and be filent. [Afide. Lear. Of all thefe Bounds, ev'n from this line to this, With fhadowy forest, and with champions rich'd, Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter, Which the moft precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; In your dear Highness' love. Cor. Then poor Cordelia! And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's [Afide. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair Kingdom; No lefs in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confer'd on Gonerill-Now our joy, Although our laft, not leaft; to whofe young love, The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be int'refs'd: what fay you, to draw A third, more opulent than your fifters ? fpeak. Cor. Nothing, my lord. B 4 Lear. 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 Majefty According to my bond, no more nor lefs. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your fpeech a little, Left you may mar your fortune. Cor. Good my lord, I You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. carry Half my love with him, half my care and duty. To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower: For by the facred radiance of the sun, The myfteries of Hecate, and the night, By all the operations of the orbs, From whom we do exift, and cease to be; Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a ftranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barb'rous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes, Kent. |