LEAR, King of Britain.

Fool. King of FRANCE.

Os WALD, Steward so Goneril. Duke of BURGUNDY.

A Captain, emploved by Edmund. Duke of CORNWALL.

Gentleman, astendant on Cordelia. Duke of ALBANY.

A Hirahl, Ear, of GLOSTER.

Old Man, Tenant to Glofter.
Earl of KENT.

Servants to Cornwall.
EDGAR, Son to Glofier.
EDMUND, Bastard Son to Glofter.

GONERIL,
CURAN, a Courtier.

REGAN, Daughters to Lear.
Pbyiciun.

CORDELIA,
Knights attending on the King, Officers, Mellengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Britain.

}

KHI

SCENE 1.

, ged.--Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? King Lear's Palace.

Edm. No, niy lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereaf-
Enter Ken!, Glofter, and Edmund.

ter as my honourable friend.
THOUGHT, the king had more affected Edm. My services to your lordship. [ter.

the duke of Albany, than Cornwall. Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you beta
Glo. It did always seem so to us : but now, in Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.
the division of the kingdom, it appears not which Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away
of the dukes he values most; for equalities are fu he thail again":--The king is coming.
weighed, thar curiosity ' in neither can make

[Trumpets found within. choice of either's moiety 2.

Enter Lear, Co -nwall, Albany, Gineril, Regan, Cor-
Kent. Is not this your son, my lord ?

delia, and Attendants.
Gło. His breeding, fir, hath been at my charge : Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgun-
I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that

dy, Glofter. now I am braz'd to't.

Glo. Ithall, my liege. [Exeunt Glofier,and Edmund. Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker 3 Glo. Sir, this young feilow's mother could :

purpose. whereupon the grew round-womb'd; and had, The map there.--Know, that we have divided, indced, fir, a fon for her cradle, ere she had a In three, our kingdom : and 'tis our fast intent husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? To Thake all cares and business from our age;

Kent. I cannot with the fault undone, the issue Conferring them on younger (trengths, while we of ic being to proper.

Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of Glo. But I have, fir, a son by order of law,

Cornwall, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in And you, our no less loviog fon of Albany, my account, though this knave came fomewhat We have this hour a constant 4 wili to publish faucily into the world before he was sent for : yet Our daughters' several dow'ers, the future Itrife was his mother fair; there was good sport at his May be prevented now, The princes, France and making, and the whoreson muit be acknowled

Burgundy,

Curinfty is scrupulousness, or captiousness. 2 The ftri&t sense of the word moely is !..', one of two equal parts; but Shakspeare commoniy uses it for any part or division, 3 Darker, iur inule fecrei; not for indirect, oblique.

4 Content is firm, determined.
Doo

Grea

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, They love you, all? Haply, when I shall wed, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, That lord, whose hand must take my plighi, 12.. And here are to be answer'd.--Tell me, my daugh

carry (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, [ters, Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Interest of territory, cares of ttate,)

Sure, I thall never marry like my filters,
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most ? To love my fither all.
That we our largest bounty may extend

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?
Where nature doth with meric challenge.-Goneril, Cor. Ay, my good lord.
Our eldest-burn, speak first.

Lear. So young, and so untender :
Gon. Sir, I

Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

[doser Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Lear. Let it be 10,-Thy truth then be to: Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty; For, by the facred radiance of the fun; Beyond what can be valued rich or rare ; (ngur: The mysteries of Hecate, and the nights No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, ho- By all the operations of the orbs, As much as child e'er lov’d, or father found. From whom we do exist, and cease to be ; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable ; Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Beyond all manner of so much! I love you. Propinquity and property of blood, Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Lure, and be And as a ftranger to my heart and me filent.

( Arde. Hold thee, from this s, for ever. The barbarves 1:ar. Of all these bounds, even from this line

Scythian,
to this,

Or he that makes his generation melies
With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, To gorge his appetite, thall to my bolom
With plenteous rivers, and white-skirted meads, Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relies 2,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's itiue is thou my fometime daugliter.
Be this perpetual.-- What says our second daughter, Kint. Good my' liege,
Our deareft Regan, wife to Cornwall ? Speak. Lrar. Peace, Kent !

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my fifter, Come not between the dragon and his wrath :
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I lov'd her mott, and thought to set my rett
I find, the names my very deed of love; On her kind nursery.--Hence, and avoid my fighe-
Only she comes too short: that? I profess

[To Codriia. Myself an enemy to all other jovs,

So be my grave my peace, as here I give Which the mott precious square 3 of sense poffelies; Her father's heart from lier Call France ; And find, I am alone felicitate

Who stirs? In your dear highness' love.

Call Burgundy. ---Cornwall, and Albany, Cor. Then poor Cordelia !

[-4fide. With my two daughters' dowers digeft this third : And yet not fo; since, I am sure, my love's Let pride, which the calls plainness, marry her. More pond'rous than my tongue.

I do invest you jointly with niy power, Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Preheminence, and all the large effects [course, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monity No leis in fpace, validity a, and pleature, With reiervation of an hundred knights, Than that confirm'd on Goneril.--Now, our joy, By you to be fustain'd, thall our aboute [tan Although the last, not least; to whole young love Make with you by due turns. Only we shall 16The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, The name, and all the addition to a king ; Strive to be interess'd; what can you say, to draw The twav, revenue, execution of the rett, A thin, more opulent than your filters ? Speak. Beloved tons, be yours: which to confirm, Cor. Nothing, my lord.

This coronet part between you. [Giving the core. Lear. Nothing?

Kent. Roval Lear, Cor. Nothing.

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lear. Notining can come of nothing: speak again. Lord as my father, as iny master follow'd,

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave As my great patron thought on in my prayers, My heart into my mouth : I love your majesty Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make fruta According to my bond; nor more, nor less.

the thak. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech Kirt. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade a little,

The region of my heart : be Kent unmannerly, Left it may mar rour fortunes.

When Lear is mad. What would'st thou do, old Cor. Good mv lord,

man? You have hegot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Think'st thou that duty Mall have dread to speak, Return thote duties back as are right fit, When power to fattery bows ? To plainness hoObey you, love you, and most honour you.

nour's bound, Why hare my fifters huíbanes, if they say, When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse tły doom ;

1 That is, bevond all asiignable quantity. 2 That seems to stand without relation, but is referred to find the firit conjunction being inaccurately supprelied. I find that the names my deed, I find that I profete, &c. 3 Square here means con bass, comprehenfion. 4 l'alidity, for worth, value. . oi. e. the execution of all the oiher business.

And,

Si c. from this tiine

A

And, in thy best confideration, check [ment, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd,
*This hideous raihness: answer my life my juug- Nor will you tender less.
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Lear. Right noble Burgundy,
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound When she was dear to us, we did hold her so ;
Reverbs I no hollow nefs.

But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she tands ;
Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.

16 aught within that little feeming subitance,
Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
To wage against thine enemies: nor fear to lose it, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
Thy safety being the motive.

She's there, and he is yours.
Lear. Out of my light!

Bur. I know no answer.

Cowes ?, Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain Lear. Sir, will you, with those infirmities the The true blank 2 of thine eye.

Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, [oath, Lear. Now, by Apollo,

Dower'd with our curse, and itranger'd with our
Kent. Now, by Apollo, king,

Take her, or leave her?
Thou swear'it thy gods in vain.

Bur. Pardon me, royal sir ;
Lear. O, vallal! miscreant !

Election makes not ups on such conditions.
[Laying his hand on his sword. Lear. Then leave her, sir ; for, by the power
Alb. Corn. Dear fir, forbear.

that made me, Keni. Do; kill thy physician, and the fee bestow I tell you all her wealth.--For you, great king, Upon the foul difeale. Revoke thy gift;

[To France. Or, whilft I can vent clamour from my throat, I would not from your love make such a itray, I'll tell thee, thou dost cvil.

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
Lear. Hear me, recreant;

To avert your liking a more worthier way,
On thine allegiance hear me !

Than on a wretch whom nature is atham'd
Since thou bait fought to make us break our vow, Almost to acknowledge hers.
(Which we durit never yet,) and, with strain'd France. This is mott strange!
pride 3,

That she, who even but now was your best object,
To come betwixt our sentence and our power 4, The argument of your praile, balm of your age,
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) The best, the deareft ; thould in this trice of time
Our potency made good, take thy reward. Commit a thing so monitrous, to dismantle
Five days we do allot thee for provision

So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
To Thield thee from difusters of the world; Must be of such unnatural degree,
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Upon our kingilom: if, on the tenth day following, Fall into taint 9 : which to believe of her,
Thy banith'd trunk be found in our dominions, Must be a faith, that reason without miracle
The moment is thy death : Away! By Jupiter, Should never plant in me.
'Thuis thall not be revok'd.

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,
Kini. Why, fare thee well, king : since thus (If for I want that glib and oily art,
thou wilt appear,

To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. I'll do't before I speak) that you make known The gods to their dear fhelter take thee, maid, It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,

[To Cordelia. No unchalte action, or dishonour'd itep, Thae juftly think'st, and hast moft rightly faid !- That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour : And your large speeches may your deeds approve, But even for want of that, for which I am richer

[To Rrgan and Goneril

. A ftill-foheiting eye, and such a tongue
That good etfects may spring from words of love.--That I am g'ad I have not, though not to have it,
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu ; Hath lost me in your liking.
He'll jhape his old course in a country new. (Exit. Lear, Better thou

(better.

Huutt not been born, than not to have pleas d me Re-enter Glofier, with Franci, Burgundy, and ar

Franeo. Is it no more but this ? a tardineis in iendants.

nature,
Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble Which often leaves the history unspoke,
lord.

That it intends to do ?--My lord of Burgundy,
Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

What lay you to the lady? love is not love,
We first address towards you, who with this king When it is mingled with regards, that itand
Have rivall’d for our daughter ; What, in the lealt, Aloof from the entire 10 point. Will you have her?
Will you require in prefent dower with tius, She is her:elt a dowry.
Or ceate your queft of loves?

B:r. Royal Lear,
Bur. Moft royal majetty,

Give but that portion which yourself propos’d,

of

I Means the same as neuerberates. 2 The blank is the white or exact mark at which the arrow is shot. See better, tays Kent, and keep me alwars in vour view. 3 i. e. foride exorbitant; pride pailing due bonnds. 41. c. our power to execute inat jenter e. 5 Quiji of love is amoursus expedition. The lerin originated from Romance. A quee was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. o Seeming is specious.

71. e. is poficli d'ot. $1.0.1:6 nu! watts. 9 72126 is here wied for corruption and for dilsva6e.

io Entire for first

II.

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is : Dutchess of Burgundy.'

che observation we have made of it hath no beat Lear. Nothing; I have swom : I am firm. little: he always lov'd our filter moft; and with

Bur. l-am forry then, you have so lott a father, what poor judgment he hath now cait her ot!, That you must lose a husband.

appears too grofily. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!

Rrg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age : yet he bach Since that respects of fortune are his love, ever but Nenderly known himself. I shall not be his wife.

Gon. The beít and foundeft of his time hazir France. Fairest Cordelia, that art molt rich, be- been but rath; then must we look to receive from ing poor;

his age, not alone the imperfections of long-taMost choice, forfaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! grafted condition, but, therewithal, the only Thee and thy virtues here I seize npon : waywardness that infirm and chulerick years Be it hawful, I take up what's cast away. bring with them. Gods, gods ! 'tis strange, that from their cold'it Reg. Such unconftant starts are we like to have neglect

from him, as this of Kent's hanishment. My love should kindle to inflam'd respecto

Gon. There is further compliment of leatsThy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my taking between France and him. Pray you, let chance,

us hit together 4 : If our father carry authority with Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France : such dispofitions as he bears, this last surrender of Not all the dukes of wat’rith Burgundy

his will but oifend us. Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me. Reg. We tall further think of it. Bid them farewel, Cordelia, though unkind: Gon. We must do something, and i' the heat. Thou losest here, a better where I to find.

[Exu!. Lear. Thou haft her, France : let her be thine;

S CE N E for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever sce

A Castle belonging to the Earlof Glater. That face of her's again :---Therefore he gone,

Enter Edmund, with a Latter. Without our grace, our love, our benizon.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddeis; to the law Come, nobie Burgundy.

My services are bound : Wherefore thould I [Flourijk. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, & c. Stand in the plague o of custom ; and permit France. Bid farewel to your fifters.

The curiosity ? of nations to 3 deprise me, Cor. The jewels of our father, with wath d eyes For that I am some twelve or fourteen more Cordelia leaves you : I know you what you are :

Thines

Chate? And, like a filter, am most lothi to call

Lag of a brother? Why bastard ? whereive Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father: When my dimensions are as well compact, To your profeffing bosoms I commit him : My mind as generous, and my shape as true, But yet, alas ! ftood I within his grace,

As honeft madam's itsue. Why brand they us I would prefer him to a better place.

With baie ? with baseness? bastardy? bale, bale? So farewel to you both.

W'bo, in the lusty stealth of nature, take Reg. Prescribe not us our duties.

More composition and fierce quality, Gun. Let your study

Than doch, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Be, to content your lord; who hath receivid you Go to the creating of a whole tribe of fops, At fortune's alms: You have obedience icanted, Got 'tween alleep and wake?-Well then, And well are worth the want that you have wanted?. Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land : Cor. Time Thall unfold what plaited 3 cunning Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund, hides,

As to the legitimate : Fine word,—legitimate ! Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, Well may you prosper!

And my invention thrive, Edmund the base France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I proper :[Exeunt France, and Cordelia. Now, gods, stand up for bastards ! Gor. Sifter, it is not a little I have to say, or

Enter Glofier. what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, Glo. Kent bavilh'd thus! And France in choler our father will hence to-night.

parted! Reg. That's most certain, and with you ; next And the king gone to-night! subscrib'do his power! month with us.

Confin'd to exhibition 10! All this done

1 Here and where have the power of nouns. Thou Soleft this residence to find a better rehdence in another place. 2 The meaning is, * You well deserve to meet with that want of love from your hulband, which you have profetied to want for our father.” 3 i. e. complicated, invelred cianing. 4 i.e. agree.

5 i. c. We must Alrike while the iron's hot. ó That is, Wherefore fhould I acquiesce, submit tamely to the plagues and injuftice of cultom? 7 Curioty, in the time of Shakspeare, was a word that signified an over-nice fcrupuloufness in manners, dress, &c. The curie ofty of nations means, the idle, nice distinctions of the world. $ To deprive was, in our author's time, tynonymous to dijinherit. 9 Subferi'd, for transferred, alicanied. 10 Exhzeities is allowance.

Upon

2

3

6

Upon the gal!!--Edmund! How now? what the letter! ---Abhorred villain! Unnatural, de. news?

tested, brutish villain! worse than brutih GO, Edm. So please your lorship, none.

firrah, feck him; I'll apprehend him :-Abomine

[Putting up the letter. able villain !- Where is he?
Glo. Why so earneftly seek you to put up that Edin. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall
letier

please you to suspend your indignation against my
I'dm. I know no news, my lord.

brother, 'till you can derive from him better teia Gle. What paper were you reading?

timony of his intent, you should run a certain Edm. Nothin', my lord.

course; where, if you violently proceed against Ch. No? What needed then that terrible dil-him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a patch of it into your pocket ? the quality of no- great gap in your own honour, and thake in pieces thing hath not such need to file itself. Let's fee: the heart of liis obedience. I dare pawn down Come, if it be nothing, I hall not need spectacles. my life for him, that he hath writ this to feel my

Edm. I beseech you, fir, pardon me: it is a affection to your honour, and to no other pretence letter from my brother, that I have not all o'er- of danger. read; and for so much as I have perus'd, I find Gle. Think you so ? it not fit for your overtroking.

Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place Glo. Give me the letter, fir.

you where you shall hear us confer of this, and by Elm. I fall offend, either to detain or give it. an auricular ailurance have your satisfaction; and The contents, as in part I understand them, are that without any further delty than this very evening. to blame.

Glo. He cannot be fich a monfter. Glo. Let's see, let's see.

Edı. Ner is not, sure. Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he Glo. Tobis father, that fo tenderly and entirely wrote this but as an effav or taite of my virtue. loves him.--Heaven and earth Edmund, feek

Glo. reads. ] “ This policy, and reverence of him out; wind me into him, I pray you: frame

age, makes the world bitter to the best of our the business after your own wisdom: I would un-
“ times; keeps our fortunes from us, 'till our olu- tate myself, to be in a due resolution 4.
“ nefs cannot relish them. I hegin to find an idle Edn. I will seek him, fir', presently ; conveys
" and fond a bondage in the oppresīion of aged ty- the bufmers as I shall find means, and acquaint

ranny; who iway, not as it hath power, but you withal.
as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I Glo. These late eclipses in the sun and moon

may speak more. If our father would Neep 'till portend no good to us : Though the wisdom of " I wak'd him, you should enjoy half liis revenue nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds " for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, itself scourg'd by the sequent effects 6: love cools, “ Edgirr-11-Conspiracy!--Sleep, 'till I wakih friendship talls ott, brothers divide : in cities, mu" him,-you shall enjoy half his revenue.” - tinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; My fon Edgar! Had he a hand to write this ? a and the bond crack'd 'twixt fon and father. This heart and brain to breed it in ?-When came this villain of mine comes under the prediction; there's to you? Who brought it?

fon againtt father : the king falls frona bias of naEdm. It was not brought me, my lori, there's cure; there's father against child. We have seen the the cunning of ic ; I found it thrown in at the best of our time: Machinations, hollowness,treach. calement of my closet.

ery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to Glo. You know the character to be your bro- our graves! ----Find out this villain, Edmund : it ther's?

hall lose thee nothing ; do ji carefully : And Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, 1 durft the noble and true-hearted Kent banillid! his of, swear it were l.is; but, in respect of that, I would fence, honesty !---Strange! ftrange! [Exir. fain think it were not.

Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the world! Gio. It is his.

that, when we are fick in fortune, (often the surEdm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope, his feit of our own behaviour) we make guilty of our heart is not in the contents. [this bulines ? dilalters, the sun, the moon, and the stars : as if

Glo. Hath he never heretofore founded you in we were villains, by necessity; fools, by heavenly

Edm. Never, my lord : But I have often heard compulfion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by him maintain it to be fit, that, sons af perfect age, spherical predominance; drunkards, lyars, and and fathers declining, the father should be as ward adulterers, by an enforc'd ubedience of planetary to the son, and the fon manage his revenue. influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine

Glo. O villain, villain - His very opinion in thrutting on : An admirable evasion of whore,

* To do upon the gnd, is, to act by the sudden stimulation of caprice, as cattle run madding when they are ftung by the gad fly. 2 i. e. weak and foolih. 3 Pretence is design, purpoice * The meaning is, according to Dr. Johnson, Do you frame the busine's, who can act with less emotion; I would unfiate myself; it would in me be a departure from the patemal character, to be in a due refilution, to be settled and composed on such an occasion. Mr. Srecvens comments on this partage thus:

Edgar has been represented as wilhing to possess his father's fortune, i. c. to unstute Lim; and therefore his father says, he would unftate himself to be fufficiently resolved to punish him, To ensate is to confer a fortune. 5 To convey here means, to manage artfully. • That is, thought patural philosophy can give account eclipses, yet we feel their consequcaces.

000 3

matter