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. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of

France and Burgundy,
Gloucester.

Glou. I shall, my liege.

[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND.

Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

Give me the map there.

Know

divided

that we

have

In three our kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent

To skake 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

Our

will to publish
daughters'

several

dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The

princes,
Burgundy,

France

and

Great rivals in our youngest

laughter'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 9 challenge. Goneril,

Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;

Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued,

rich or rare ;

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;

As much as child e'er loved, or father found;

A love that makes breath poor and speech unable;

Beyond all manner of so much
I love you.

Cor. [Aside.] What shall
Cordelia do? Love, and

be silent.

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

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