Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he

shall again. The king is coming.

[Sennet within

Enter one bearing a Coronet, then LEAR, then the Dukes of ALBANY and CORNWALL, next GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, with followers

Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy,

Gloster.

Glo. 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 't is our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths, while we

Unburthened 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 answered.

daughters,

Tell me, my

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 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 riched, With plenteous rivers, and wide-skirted meads,

We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual. - What says our second

daughter?

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love, Only she comes too short; that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys

Which the most precious square of sense possesses,

And find, I am alone felicitate

In your dear highness' love.

Cor. [Aside.]

Then, poor Cordelia !

And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that conferred on Goneril. -Now, our joy,
Although our last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interessed; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak

again.

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty

According to my bond; nor more, nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a

little,

Lest you may mar your fortunes.

Cor.

Good my lord

You have begot me, bred 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? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall

carry

Half my love with him, half my care, and duty :

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

To love my father all.

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cor.

Ay, my good lord.

Lear. So young, and so untender?

Cor. 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 Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs

From whom we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever.

Scythian,

The barbarous

Or he that makes his generation messes

To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved,

As thou my sometime daughter.
Kent.

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Good my liege,

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery. - Hence, and avoid my

sight!

So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Her father's heart from her! - Call France. Who

stirs?

Call Burgundy. Cornwall, and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digest the third :
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects