The Tragedy Of King Lear

1 Enter Kent, Gloucester and Edmund.
2 KENT.
3 I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.
4 GLOUCESTER.
5 It did always seem so to us; but now, in the division of the kingdom,
6 it appears not which of the Dukes he values most, for qualities are so
7 weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either’s moiety.
8 KENT.
9 Is not this your son, my lord?
10 GLOUCESTER.
11 His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often
12 blush’d to acknowledge him that now I am braz’d to’t.
13 KENT.
14 I cannot conceive you.
15 GLOUCESTER.
16 Sir, this young fellow’s mother could; whereupon she grew
17 round-wombed, and had indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she
18 had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?
19 KENT.
20 I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.
21 GLOUCESTER.
22 But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than
23 this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came
24 something saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was
25 his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the
26 whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman,
27 Edmund?
28 EDMUND.
29 No, my lord.
30 GLOUCESTER.
31 My Lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
32 EDMUND.
33 My services to your lordship.
34 KENT.
35 I must love you, and sue to know you better.
36 EDMUND.
37 Sir, I shall study deserving.
38 GLOUCESTER.
39 He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The King
40 is coming.
41 [_Sennet within._]
42 Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia and Attendants.
43 LEAR.
44 Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,
45 Gloucester.
46 GLOUCESTER.
47 I shall, my lord.
48 [_Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund._]
49 LEAR.
50 Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
51 Give me the map there. Know that we have divided
52 In three our kingdom: and ’tis our fast intent
53 To shake all cares and business from our age;
54 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
55 Unburden’d crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
56 And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
57 We have this hour a constant will to publish
58 Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife
59 May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,
60 Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love,
61 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
62 And here are to be answer’d. Tell me, my daughters,—
63 Since now we will divest us both of rule,
64 Interest of territory, cares of state,—
65 Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
66 That we our largest bounty may extend
67 Where nature doth with merit challenge.—Goneril,
68 Our eldest born, speak first.
69 GONERIL.
70 Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter;
71 Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;
72 Beyond what can be valu’d, rich or rare;
73 No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
74 As much as child e’er lov’d, or father found;
75 A love that makes breath poor and speech unable;
76 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
77 CORDELIA.
78 [_Aside._] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.
79 LEAR.
80 Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
81 With shadowy forests and with champains rich’d,
82 With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
83 We make thee lady: to thine and Albany’s issue
84 Be this perpetual.—What says our second daughter,
85 Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.
86 REGAN.
87 Sir, I am made of the self mettle as my sister,
88 And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
89 I find she names my very deed of love;
90 Only she comes too short, that I profess
91 Myself an enemy to all other joys
92 Which the most precious square of sense possesses,
93 And find I am alone felicitate
94 In your dear highness’ love.
95 CORDELIA.
96 [_Aside._] Then poor Cordelia,
97 And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love’s
98 More ponderous than my tongue.
99 LEAR.
100 To thee and thine hereditary ever
101 Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
102 No less in space, validity, and pleasure
103 Than that conferr’d on Goneril.—Now, our joy,
104 Although the last and least; to whose young love
105 The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
106 Strive to be interess’d; what can you say to draw
107 A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
108 CORDELIA.
109 Nothing, my lord.
110 LEAR.
111 Nothing?
112 CORDELIA.
113 Nothing.
114 LEAR.
115 Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.
116 CORDELIA.
117 Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
118 My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
119 According to my bond; no more nor less.
120 LEAR.
121 How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
122 Lest you may mar your fortunes.
123 CORDELIA.
124 Good my lord,
125 You have begot me, bred me, lov’d me: I
126 Return those duties back as are right fit,
127 Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
128 Why have my sisters husbands if they say
129 They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
130 That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
131 Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
132 Sure I shall never marry like my sisters,
133 To love my father all.
134 LEAR.
135 But goes thy heart with this?
136 CORDELIA.
137 Ay, my good lord.
138 LEAR.
139 So young, and so untender?
140 CORDELIA.
141 So young, my lord, and true.
142 LEAR.
143 Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower:
144 For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
145 The mysteries of Hecate and the night;
146 By all the operation of the orbs,
147 From whom we do exist and cease to be;
148 Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
149 Propinquity and property of blood,
150 And as a stranger to my heart and me
151 Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian,
152 Or he that makes his generation messes
153 To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
154 Be as well neighbour’d, pitied, and reliev’d,
155 As thou my sometime daughter.
156 KENT.
157 Good my liege,—
158 LEAR.
159 Peace, Kent!
160 Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
161 I lov’d her most, and thought to set my rest
162 On her kind nursery. [_To Cordelia._] Hence and avoid my sight!
163 So be my grave my peace, as here I give
164 Her father’s heart from her! Call France. Who stirs?
165 Call Burgundy! Cornwall and Albany,
166 With my two daughters’ dowers digest this third:
167 Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
168 I do invest you jointly with my power,
169 Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
170 That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
171 With reservation of an hundred knights,
172 By you to be sustain’d, shall our abode
173 Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain
174 The name, and all the addition to a king; the sway,
175 Revenue, execution of the rest,
176 Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm,
177 This coronet part between you.
178 [_Giving the crown._]
179 KENT.
180 Royal Lear,
181 Whom I have ever honour’d as my king,
182 Lov’d as my father, as my master follow’d,
183 As my great patron thought on in my prayers.—
184 LEAR.
185 The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.
186 KENT.
187 Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
188 The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly
189 When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?
190 Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
191 When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour’s bound
192 When majesty falls to folly. Reverse thy state;
193 And in thy best consideration check
194 This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgement,
195 Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
196 Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sounds
197 Reverb no hollowness.
198 LEAR.
199 Kent, on thy life, no more.
200 KENT.
201 My life I never held but as a pawn
202 To wage against thine enemies; ne’er fear to lose it,
203 Thy safety being the motive.
204 LEAR.
205 Out of my sight!
206 KENT.
207 See better, Lear; and let me still remain
208 The true blank of thine eye.
209 LEAR.
210 Now, by Apollo,—
211 KENT.
212 Now by Apollo, King,
213 Thou swear’st thy gods in vain.
214 LEAR.
215 O vassal! Miscreant!
216 [_Laying his hand on his sword._]
217 ALBANY and CORNWALL.
218 Dear sir, forbear!
219 KENT.
220 Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
221 Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
222 Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
223 I’ll tell thee thou dost evil.
224 LEAR.
225 Hear me, recreant! on thine allegiance, hear me!
226 Since thou hast sought to make us break our vows,
227 Which we durst never yet, and with strain’d pride
228 To come betwixt our sentences and our power,
229 Which nor our nature, nor our place can bear,
230 Our potency made good, take thy reward.
231 Five days we do allot thee for provision,
232 To shield thee from disasters of the world;
233 And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
234 Upon our kingdom: if, on the next day following,
235 Thy banish’d trunk be found in our dominions,
236 The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
237 This shall not be revok’d.
238 KENT.
239 Fare thee well, King: sith thus thou wilt appear,
240 Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
241 [_To Cordelia._] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
242 That justly think’st and hast most rightly said!
243 [_To Goneril and Regan._] And your large speeches may your deeds
244 approve,
245 That good effects may spring from words of love.
246 Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
247 He’ll shape his old course in a country new.
248 [_Exit._]
249 Flourish. Re-enter Gloucester, with France, Burgundy and Attendants.
250 CORDELIA.
251 Here’s France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
252 LEAR.
253 My Lord of Burgundy,
254 We first address toward you, who with this king
255 Hath rivall’d for our daughter: what in the least
256 Will you require in present dower with her,
257 Or cease your quest of love?
258 BURGUNDY.
259 Most royal majesty,
260 I crave no more than hath your highness offer’d,
261 Nor will you tender less.
262 LEAR.
263 Right noble Burgundy,
264 When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;
265 But now her price is fall’n. Sir, there she stands:
266 If aught within that little-seeming substance,
267 Or all of it, with our displeasure piec’d,
268 And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
269 She’s there, and she is yours.
270 BURGUNDY.
271 I know no answer.
272 LEAR.
273 Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
274 Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,
275 Dower’d with our curse, and stranger’d with our oath,
276 Take her or leave her?
277 BURGUNDY.
278 Pardon me, royal sir;
279 Election makes not up in such conditions.
280 LEAR.
281 Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,
282 I tell you all her wealth. [_To France_] For you, great king,
283 I would not from your love make such a stray
284 To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
285 T’avert your liking a more worthier way
286 Than on a wretch whom nature is asham’d
287 Almost t’acknowledge hers.
288 FRANCE.
289 This is most strange,
290 That she, who even but now was your best object,
291 The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
292 The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time
293 Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
294 So many folds of favour. Sure her offence
295 Must be of such unnatural degree
296 That monsters it, or your fore-vouch’d affection
297 Fall into taint; which to believe of her
298 Must be a faith that reason without miracle
299 Should never plant in me.
300 CORDELIA.
301 I yet beseech your majesty,
302 If for I want that glib and oily art
303 To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,
304 I’ll do’t before I speak,—that you make known
305 It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
306 No unchaste action or dishonour’d step,
307 That hath depriv’d me of your grace and favour;
308 But even for want of that for which I am richer,
309 A still soliciting eye, and such a tongue
310 As I am glad I have not, though not to have it
311 Hath lost me in your liking.
312 LEAR.
313 Better thou hadst
314 Not been born than not to have pleas’d me better.
315 FRANCE.
316 Is it but this?—a tardiness in nature
317 Which often leaves the history unspoke
318 That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,
319 What say you to the lady? Love’s not love
320 When it is mingled with regards that stands
321 Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?
322 She is herself a dowry.
323 BURGUNDY.
324 Royal King,
325 Give but that portion which yourself propos’d,
326 And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
327 Duchess of Burgundy.
328 LEAR.
329 Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.
330 BURGUNDY.
331 I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father
332 That you must lose a husband.
333 CORDELIA.
334 Peace be with Burgundy!
335 Since that respects of fortunes are his love,
336 I shall not be his wife.
337 FRANCE.
338 Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;
339 Most choice forsaken; and most lov’d, despis’d!
340 Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
341 Be it lawful, I take up what’s cast away.
342 Gods, gods! ’Tis strange that from their cold’st neglect
343 My love should kindle to inflam’d respect.
344 Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance,
345 Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
346 Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
347 Can buy this unpriz’d precious maid of me.
348 Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
349 Thou losest here, a better where to find.
350 LEAR.
351 Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we
352 Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
353 That face of hers again. Therefore be gone
354 Without our grace, our love, our benison.
355 Come, noble Burgundy.
356 [_Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloucester and
357 Attendants._]
358 FRANCE.
359 Bid farewell to your sisters.
360 CORDELIA.
361 The jewels of our father, with wash’d eyes
362 Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
363 And like a sister am most loath to call
364 Your faults as they are nam’d. Love well our father:
365 To your professed bosoms I commit him:
366 But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
367 I would prefer him to a better place.
368 So farewell to you both.
369 REGAN.
370 Prescribe not us our duties.
371 GONERIL.
372 Let your study
373 Be to content your lord, who hath receiv’d you
374 At fortune’s alms. You have obedience scanted,
375 And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
376 CORDELIA.
377 Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides:
378 Who covers faults, at last shame derides.
379 Well may you prosper.
380 FRANCE.
381 Come, my fair Cordelia.
382 [_Exeunt France and Cordelia._]
383 GONERIL.
384 Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most nearly
385 appertains to us both. I think our father will hence tonight.
386 REGAN.
387 That’s most certain, and with you; next month with us.
388 GONERIL.
389 You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we
390 have made of it hath not been little: he always loved our
391 sister most; and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her
392 off appears too grossly.
393 REGAN.
394 ’Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly
395 known himself.
396 GONERIL.
397 The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must
398 we look from his age to receive not alone the imperfections of
399 long-engrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
400 that infirm and choleric years bring with them.
401 REGAN.
402 Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent’s
403 banishment.
404 GONERIL.
405 There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and
406 him. Pray you let us hit together: if our father carry authority
407 with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his
408 will but offend us.
409 REGAN.
410 We shall further think of it.
411 GONERIL.
412 We must do something, and i’ th’ heat.
413 [_Exeunt._]