Scene I.—A Room of State in King Lear's Palace; arch in C., throne, L.
Enter Kent and Gloster, C. from L., followed by Edmund, who remains up.
Kent.
I thought, the king had more affected the Duke
of Albany than Cornwall.
Gloster.
It did always seem so to us: but now, in the
division of the kingdoms, it appears not which of the
dukes he values most.
Kent. (L.)
Is not this your son, my lord?
Gloster.
His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge:
I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am
abrazed to it.
(Edmund advances, R.)
Kent.
I cannot conceive you.
Gloster.
Sir, this young fellow's mother could: 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.
Gloster.
But I have, sir, a son 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. Do you know this noble gentleman,
Edmund?
Edmund.
No, my lord.
Gloster.
My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter
as my honourable friend.
Edmund.
My services to your lordship.
Kent.
I must love you, and sue to know you better
Edmund.
Sir, I shall study deserving.
-- 8 --
Gloster.
He hath been out nine years, and away he
shall again:—the king is coming.
(trumpets sound within)They retire, L.Order of Procession, which enters C. from L.
Two Bannermen.
Twelve Soldiers, with spears.
Two Banners.
Twelve Soldiers, with shields.
Twenty Knights.
Physician—Officer, with map—Herald, with crown—
Six Ladies.
Cordelia.
Cornwall and Regan.
Albany and Goneril.
Lear.
Lords.
Attendants.
Lear.
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,
Gloster.
Gloster.
I shall, my liege.
Exeunt Gloster and Edmund, C. and L.; Lear leans on Physician and ascends throne, L. C.
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Lear.
Mean-time we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the map there. (map is unrolled to him by the Officer, who kneels) Know that we have divided,
In three, our kingdom: and 'tis 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
-- 9 --
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish,
Our daughter's 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 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 challenge.—Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.
Gon. (approaches Lear)
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, honor;
As much as child e're lov'd, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
Cordelia.
What shall Cordelia do? Love and be silent. (aside)
Lear. (pointing to map)
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,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issues
Be this perpetual.
(Goneril returns to her place)
What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.
Regan. (advances to Lear)
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
-- 10 --
Cordelia.
Then, poor Cordelia!
And yet not so; since, I am sure my love's
More richer than my tongue. (aside)
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. (retires to Cornwall)
Now, our joy, (rises and approaches Cordelia)
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interess'd; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your sister's? Speak.
Cordelia.
Nothing, my lord.
Lear.
Nothing?
Cordelia.
Nothing.
Lear.
Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.
Cordelia.
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.
Cordelia.
Good, my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honor 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 this with thy heart?
Cordelia.
Ay, my good lord.
Lear.
So young, and so untender?
Cordelia.
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;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
-- 11 --
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever.
Kent. (L.)
Good my liege.—
Lear.
Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath:
I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery.—Hence, and avoid my sight!—
(to Cordelia)
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her!—Call France;
Who stirs? Call Burgundy.
A Knight goes quickly off, C. and L.
Cornwall and Albany,
Cornwall and Albany cross from R. to L. quickly, behind Lear.
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
(pointing to map)
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
(to Dukes)
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty.—Ourself, by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
The name, and all th' additions to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. (takes the crown from Herald, R. C, the Dukes
receive it kneeling, and return it to the Herald,
who crosses behind and receives it again from them, L.)
Kent. (kneels, L.)
Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honor'd as my king,
Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers—
Lear.
The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.
Kent. (rises)
Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad. What would'st thou do, old man?
Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
-- 12 --
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honors bound,
When majesty stoops to folly? Reverse thy doom;
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness: answer my life, my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.
Lear.
Kent, on thy life, no more.
Kent.
My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it,
Thy safety being the motive.
Lear.
Out of my sight!
Kent.
See better, Lear.
Lear.
Now, by Apollo,—
Kent.
Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
Lear.
O, vassal! miscreant! (seizing his sword from Officer up C.)
Alb. and Corn. (interposing)
Dear sir, forbear.
Kent.
Do;
Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee, thou dost evil.
Lear.
Hear me, recreant!
On thine allegiance hear me!—
Since thou has sought to make us break our vow,
(Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd pride,
To come betwixt our sentence and our power;
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,)
Take thy reward:—If on the tenth day following
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: Away! by Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd. (goes up with Albany and Cornwall)
Kent.
Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.—
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
(to Cordelia)
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!—
-- 13 --
And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
(to Regan and Goneril)
That good effects may spring from words of love.—
Re-enter Gloster; with Burgundy, France, and Attendants, C. from L., they come down, L.
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Kent.
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
He'll shape his old course in a country new. Exit, R. U. E.
Gloster.
Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
Lear.
My lord of Burgundy,
We first address towards you, who with this king
Hath rivall'd for our daughter; sir, there she stands;
If aught with that little, seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.
Burgundy.
Pardon me, royal sir;
Election makes not up on such conditions.
Lear.
Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,
I tell you all her wealth.—For you, great king.
(to France)
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate: therefore, beseech you
To avert your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.
France.
This is most strange!
That she, that even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time,
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favor!
Cordelia. (kneeling to Lear)
I yet beseech your majesty,
(If for I want that glib and oily art,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,
-- 14 --
I'll do't before I speak, that you make known
It is no vicious blot, nor other foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonor'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favor:
But even for want of that, for which I am richer;
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
That I am glad I have not, though not to have it,
Hath lost me in your liking.
Lear.
Better thou
Had'st not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better.
France.
Is it but this? a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do?—(crosses) Fairest Cordelia,
Thou art most rich, being poor;
Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despised,
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. (raises her)
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy,
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.—
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.
Lear.
Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again:—(Cordelia kneels, and takes hold of his mantle) Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our bension.
Come, noble Burgundy. (flourish)Banners.Soldiers with shields.
Knights.
Lear and Burgundy.
Albany, Cornwall.
Gloster.
Physician, Herald, Officer.
Knights.
Soldiers with spears.
Attendants.
Exeunt, C. and L.
-- 15 --
France.
Bid farewell to your sisters.
Cordel.
The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
(to Regan and Goneril)
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call
Your faults, as they are nam'd. Love well our father:
To your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place
So, farewell to you both.
*Goneril.
Prescribe not us our duty.
*Regan.
Let your study
*Be to content your lord, who hath receiv'd you
*At fortune's alms: you have obedience scanted,
*And well art worth the want that you have wanted.
*Cordelia.
Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides;
*Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
*Well may you prosper. Exeunt France and Cordelia, C. and R.—Regan, Goneril, and Ladies C. and L.
