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John Higins, from the Mirror for Magistrates (Pt. I., ii. 324). 5. The Story of the Paphlagonian Unkind King from Sidney's Arcadia (ib. 337). 6. The Ballad of Lear and his Three Daughters (ib. 348). The Latin original of the Lear story is Geoffrey of Monmouth's Hist. Britonum, bk. ii.; ch. 11-15. And it was first told, and well told, in English, by Layamon in his Brut, ab. 1205.1 That it came originally from Wales there is little doubt. I think Lear must stand by itself as the first Ingratitude and Cursing Play," tho' it is linkt to the Group before it, and the Lust or False-Love Group which follows it.

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The old Play of King Leir was edited for the Shakespeare Classics by Sidney Lee in 1907. The season of Lear is Spring (Ellacombe). Daniel in his 'Time-Analysis" (New Shaks. Soc. Trans, 1877–79, p. 222) computes that the play of King Lear occupies some time less than one month, ten days being represented on the stage, with intervals.

"A very useful book to consult on the development of the Lear story is Emil Bode's Die Learsage vor Shakespeare, Halle, 1904. A fuller history is Wilfred Perrett's The Story of King Lear from Geoffrey of Monmouth to Shakespeare, Berlin (Palaestra)," 1904.—M.

1 See also The Brut, pp. 16-20, edited for the Early Eng. Text Soc. 1906, by Dr. Brie. The first part, containing the history of Lear, is an early translation of the French Brut d'Engleterre. From the French the tale passed into the Gesta Romanorum.

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SCENE I-A Room of State in King LEAR'S Palace

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and Edmund

Kent. I thought, the king had more affected the Duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. 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 equalities are so

weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?

Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

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Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could ; whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

Glo. 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 somewhat saucily into the world, before he was sent for; yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. -Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My Lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.

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.

Lear.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. 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,

18-B

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,

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