Page images
PDF
EPUB

Globe
I. i.

10

20

M. William Shak-fpeare

HIS

Hiftorie, of King Lear (Q1).

Enter Kent, Gloster, and Bastard.

Kent.

Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Al-
bany then Cornwell.

Gloft. It did allwaies feeme fo to vs, but now in the diuifion of the kingdomes, it appeares not which of the Dukes he values moft, for equalities are fo weighed, that curiofitie in neither, can make choife of eithers moytie.

Kent. Is not this your fonne my Lord?

Gloft. His breeding sir hath beene at my charge, I haue fo often blusht to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to it.

Kent. I cannot conceiue you.

Gloft. Sir, this young fellowes mother Could, wherupon shee grew round wombed, and had indeed Sir a fonne for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed, doe you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault vndone, the issue of it being fo proper.

Gloft. But I haue fir a fonne by order of Law, fome yeare elder then this, who yet is no deerer in my account, though this knaue came fomething fawcely into the world before hee was fent for, yet was his mother faire, there was good sport at his makeing & the whorefon must be acknowledged, do you know this noble gentleman Edmund?

Baft. No my Lord.

Gloft. My Lord of Kent, remember him hereafter as my honorable friend.

Bast. My feruices to your Lordship.

30

Kent. I muft loue you, and fue to know you better.

Bast. Sir I fhall study deferuing.

Gloft. Hee hath beene out nine yeares, and away hee shall againe, the King is comming.

[4

Globe

I. i.

10

THE TRAGEDIE OF

KING LEAR (F1).

Actus Primus. Scœna Prima.

Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmond.

Kent.

Thought the King had more affected the
Duke of Albany, then Cornwall.

Glou. It did alwayes feeme fo to vs: But
now in the diuifion of the Kingdome, it ap-
peares not which of the Dukes hee valewes
moft, for qualities are fo weigh'd, that curiofity in nei-
ther, can make choife of eithers moity.

Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord?

Glou. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I haue fo often blufh'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd too't.

Kent. I cannot conceiue you.

Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could; where-
vpon The grew round womb'd, and had indeede (Sir) a
Sonne for her Cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed.
Do you fmell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wifh the fault vndone, the issue of it,
being fo proper.

20 Glou. But I haue a Sonne,. Sir, by order of Law, fome yeere elder then this; who, yet is no deerer in my account, though this Knaue came fomthing fawcily to the world before he was fent for: yet was his Mother fayre, there was good sport at his making, and the horfon must be acknowledged. Doe you know this Noble Gentleman, Edmond?

30

Edm. No, my Lord.

Glou. My Lord of Kent:

Remember him heereafter, as my Honourable Friend.

Edm. My feruices to your Lordship.

Kent. I muft loue you, and fue to know you better.

Edm. Sir, I fhall ftudy deferuing.

Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares, and away he shall againe. The King is comming.

I. i.

40

Sound a Sennet, Enter one bearing a Coronet, then Lear, then the
Dukes of Albany, and Cornwell, next Gonorill, Regan, Cor-
delia, with followers.

Lear. Attend my Lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter.
Gloft. I fhall my Leige.

Lear. Meane time we will expresse our darker purposes,
The map there; know we haue diuided

In three, our kingdome; and tis our first intent,

To shake all cares and bufines of our state,

Confirming them on yonger yeares,

The two great Princes France and Burgundy,
Great ryuals in our youngest daughters loue,
Long in our Court haue made their amorous foiourne,
And here are to be anfwerd, tell me my daughters,

Which of you fhall we fay doth loue vs moft,
That we our largest bountie may extend,

Where merit doth moft challenge it,

Gonorill our eldest borne, speake first?

Gon. Sir I do loue you more then words can weild the

Dearer then eye-light, fpace or libertie,

Beyond what can be valued rich or rare,

No leffe then life; with grace, health, beautie, honour,

60 As much a child ere loued, or father friend,

70

A loue that makes breath poore, and speech vnable,

Beyond all manner of fo much I loue you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia doe, loue and be filent.

Lear. Of al thefe bounds, euen from this line to this,

With fhady forrefts, and wide skirted meades,

We make thee Lady, to thine and Albaines iffue,

Our deereft Regan, wife to Cornwell, speake?

(matter,

Be this perpetuall, what faies our fecond daughter?

Reg. Sir I am made of the felfe same mettall that my fifter is,

And prize me at her worth in my true heart,

I find the names my very deed of loue, onely fhe came fhort,
That I profeffe my felfe an enemie to all other ioyes,

[5

I. i.

Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Re-
gan, Cordelia, and attendants.

Lear. Attend the Lords of France & Burgundy, Glofter.
Glou. I fhall, my Lord.
Exit.

Lear. Meane time we shal expreffe our darker purpose.
Giue me the Map there. Know, that we haue diuided
In three our Kingdome: and 'tis our faft intent,
40 To shake all Cares and Bufineffe from our Age,

Conferring them on yonger strengths, while we

Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Our fon of Cornwal,
And you our no leffe louing Sonne of Albany,
We haue this houre a conftant will to publish
Our daughters feuerall Dowers, that future ftrife

May be preuented now. The Princes, France & Burgundy,
Great Riuals in our yongeft daughters loue,

Long in our Court, haue made their amorous foiourne,
And heere are to be anfwer'd. Tell me my daughters

50 (Since now we will diueft vs both of Rule,

Intereft of Territory, Cares of State)

Which of you fhall we fay doth loue vs most,

That we, our largest bountie may extend

Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,

Our eldest borne, fpeake first.

Gon. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild y matter,

Deerer then eye-fight, space, and libertie,

Beyond what can be valewed, rich or rare,

No leffe then life, with grace, health, beauty, honor:

60 As much as Childe ere lou'd, or Father found.

70

A loue that makes breath poore, and speech vnable,

Beyond all manner of fo much I loue you.

Cor. What fhall Cordelia fpeake? Loue, and be filent.
Lear. Of all these bounds euen from this Line, to this,
With shadowie Forrefts, and with Champains rich'd
With plenteous Riuers, and wide-skirted Meades

We make thee Lady. To thine and Albanies iffues
Be this perpetuall. What fayes our fecond Daughter?
Our deereft Regan, wife of Cornwall?

Reg. I am made of that felfe-mettle as my Sifter,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,

I finde fhe names my very deede of loue:

Onely she comes too fhort, that I profeffe
My felfe an enemy to all other ioyes.

[283b

I. i.

Which the most precious fquare of fence poffeffes,

And find I am alone felicitate, in your deere highnes loue.

Cord. Then poore Cord. & yet not fo, fince I am fure

80 My loues more richer then my tongue.

Lear. To thee and thine hereditariè euer
Remaine this ample third of our faire kingdome,
No leffe in fpace, validity, and pleasure,
Then that confirm'd on Gonorill, but now our ioy,
Although the laft, not least in our deere loue,

What can you fay to win a third, more opulent
Then your fifters.

Cord. Nothing my Lord.

(againe.

Lear. How, nothing can come of nothing, speake

Cord. Vnhappie that I am, I cannot heaue my heart into my mouth, I loue your Maieftie according to my bond, nor more nor leffe.

Lear. Goe to, goe to, mend your speech a little,

Leaft it may mar your fortunes.

Cord. Good my Lord,

You haue begot me, bred me, loued me,

I returne thofe duties backe as are right fit,

100 Obey you, loue you, and most honour you,

110

Why haue my fifters husbands if they fay they loue you all,
Happely when I fhall wed, that Lord whofe hand

Muft take my plight, fhall cary halfe my loue with him,

Halfe my care and duty, fure I shall neuer

Mary like my fifters, to loue my father all.

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?

Cord. I good my Lord.

Lear. So yong and so vntender.

Cord. So yong my Lord and true.

Lear. Well let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower,

For by the facred radience of the Sunne,

The mistreffe of Heccat, and the might,

By all the operation of the orbs,

From whome we doe exfift and ceafe to be

Heere I difclaime all my paternall care,

Propinquitie and property of blood,

[6

« PreviousContinue »