NOTE This edition adopts the text of Professor Neilson's Cambridge edition. It is based on the Folio, and all passages added from the Quartos are inclosed in brackets. The scene headings are those usual in modern editions. All other modern additions to the stage directions are inclosed in double brackets. The linenumbering follows the Cambridge edition, which is the same as in the Globe edition. The footnotes are designed to supply sufficient information to make the text intelligible, with an occasional word of suggestion to the student. They are based on the annotations of many preceding editors ; the work of the present editor has been that of selection and abbreviation, with some amendments and additions. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ LEAR, King of Britain. GONERIL, CORDELIA, SCENE: Britain. KING LEAR ACT I SCENE I. KING LEAR's palace. Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, 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 qualities are so weigh’d, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. 7 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 wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. 18 Glou. But I have a son, sir, 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. . . . Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? 25 11 Gloucester: pronounced and often spelled Gloster. Edm. No, my lord. Glou. My Lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. 30 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 one bearing a coronet, then KING LEAR, then the DUKES OF ALBANY and CORNWALL, next GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, with followers. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. 35 Glou. I shall, my lord. [Exeunt [Gloucester 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 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 40 Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife 45 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, 33. out away from home. Enter one bearing a coronet : apparently intended for Cordelia as emblem of her new realm; her sisters already wear coronets. Cf. 1. 141. 37. darker more secret. |