OLD MAN, Gloucester’s tenant
CURAN, Gloucester’s retainer
Lear’s FOOL
OSWALD, Goneril’s steward
GENTLEMAN, a Knight serving Lear
GENTLEMAN, attendant on Cordelia
SERVANT of Cornwall
HERALD
CAPTAIN
Knights attendant upon Lear, other Attendants, Messengers, Soldiers, Servants, and Trumpeters
Act 1 Scene 1
running scene 1
Enter Kent, Gloucester and Edmund
KENT I thought the king had more affected1 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 qualities are so weighed that curiosity in neither5
can make choice of either’s moiety.
KENT Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER His breeding8, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so
often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed9 to’t.
KENT I cannot conceive10 you.
GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow’s mother could; whereupon
she grew round-wombed and had indeed, sir, a son for her
cradle ere13 she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a
fault14?
KENT I cannot wish the fault undone15, the issue of it being
so proper16.
GLOUCESTER But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some17 year elder
than this, who yet is no dearer in my account18, 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 whoreson21 must be acknowledged.— Do you
know this noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDMUND No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my
honourable friend.
EDMUND My services to your lordship.
KENT I must love you, and sue27 to know you better.
EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving28.
GLOUCESTER He hath been out29 nine years, and away he shall
again. The king is coming.
Sennet. Enter [one bearing a coronet, then] King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia and Attendants
LEAR Attend31 the lords of France and Burgundy,
Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER I shall, my lord.
Exit
LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker34 purpose.
Give me the map there.
Kent or an Attendant gives Lear a map
Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intent36
To shake all cares and business37 from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we
Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son39 of Cornwall,
And you our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish41
Our daughters’ several dowers, that42 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 sojourn45
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters —
Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest48 of territory, cares of state —
Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
That we our largest bounty50 may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge51? Goneril,
Our eldest born, speak first.
GONERIL Sir, I love you more than word can wield53 the matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace56, health, beauty, honour:
As much as child e’er loved or father found:
A love that makes breath poor and speech unable58:
Beyond all manner of so much59 I love you.
Aside
CORDELIA What shall Cordelia speak? Love and be silent.
Points to the map
LEAR Of all these bounds61, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champaigns riched62,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads63,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issues
Be this perpetual.— What says our second daughter?
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall?
REGAN I am made of that self-mettle67 as my sister,
And prize me at her worth68. In my true heart,
I find she names my very deed69 of love:
Only she comes too short, that70 I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys
Which the most precious square of sense72 professes,
And find I am alone felicitate73
In your dear highness’ love.
Aside
CORDELIA Then poor Cordelia:
And yet not so, since I am sure my love’s
More ponderous77 than my tongue.
LEAR To thee and thine hereditary78 ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity80 and pleasure
To Cordelia
Than that conferred on Goneril.— Now, our joy,
Although our last and least, to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy83
Strive to be interessed, what can you say to draw84
A third more opulent than your sisters’? Speak.
CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.
LEAR Nothing?
CORDELIA Nothing.
LEAR Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.
CORDELIA Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond92, no more nor less.
LEAR How, how, Cordelia? Mend93 your speech a little,
Lest you may mar94 your fortunes.
CORDELIA Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred96 me, loved me:
I return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands if they say
They love you all? Happily when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight101 shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
Sure I shall never marry like my sisters.
LEAR But goes thy heart with this?
CORDELIA Ay, my good lord.
LEAR So young and so untender106?
CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.
LEAR Let it be so: thy truth then be thy dower,
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate110 and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs111
From whom we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood114,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian116,
Or he that makes his generation messes117
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighboured119, pitied and relieved
As thou my sometime120 daughter.
KENT Good my liege121—
LEAR Peace, Kent:
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest124
To Cordelia
On her kind nursery.— Hence, and avoid125 my sight!—