King Lear | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by the PG Shakespeare Team, a team of about twenty Project Gutenberg volunteers.

THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR
by William Shakespeare

Persons Represented.
Lear, King of Britain. ?King of France. ?Duke of Burgundy. ?Duke of Cornwall. ?Duke of Albany. ?Earl of Kent. ?Earl of Gloster. ?Edgar, Son to Gloster.?Edmund, Bastard Son to Gloster.?Curan, a Courtier. ?Old Man, Tenant to Gloster.?Physician. ?Fool. ?Oswald, steward to Goneril. ?An Officer employed by Edmund. ?Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia. ?A Herald. Servants to Cornwall.
Goneril, daughter to Lear. ?Regan, daughter to Lear. ?Cordelia, daughter to Lear.
Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.
Scene,--Britain.

ACT I.
Scene I. A Room of State in King Lear's Palace.
[Enter Kent, Gloster, 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 weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.
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-wombed, 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, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: 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?
Edm. No, my lord.
Glou. My Lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable 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.--The king is coming.
[Sennet within.]
[Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.]
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.
Glou. I shall, my liege.
[Exeunt Gloster and 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 Unburden'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