King Lear | Act I, Scene I
Scene I
King Lear's palace.
[Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund]
- GLOUCESTER:
-
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(5)
can make choice of either's moiety.
- KENT:
-
Is not this your son, my lord?
- GLOUCESTER:
-
His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so
often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to
it.(10)
- KENT:
-
I cannot conceive you.
- GLOUCESTER:
-
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?(15)
- KENT:
-
I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so
proper.
- GLOUCESTER:
-
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 something saucily into the world before he was(20)
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?
- EDMUND:
-
No, my lord.
- GLOUCESTER:
-
My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my(25)
honorable friend.
- EDMUND:
-
My services to your lordship.
- KENT:
-
I must love you, and sue to know you better.
- EDMUND:
-
Sir, I shall study deserving.
- GLOUCESTER:
-
He hath been out nine years, and away he shall(30)
again. The king is coming.
[Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants]
- KING LEAR:
-
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,
Gloucester.
- GLOUCESTER:
-
I shall, my liege.
[Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund]
- KING LEAR:
-
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.(35)
Give me the map there. 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
Unburthened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,(40)
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,(45)
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters,—
Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state,—(50)
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.
- GONERIL:
-
Sir, I love you more than words can wield the(55)
matter;
Dearer than eyesight, 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'er loved, or father found;(60)
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
- CORDELIA:
-
[Aside]
What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be
silent.
- LEAR:
-
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,(65)
With shadowy forests and with champains riched,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.(70)
- REGAN:
-
Sir, I am made
Of the self-same mettle that my sister is,
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(75)
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.
- CORDELIA:
-
[Aside]
Then poor Cordelia!(80)
And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.
- KING LEAR:
-
To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,(85)
Than that conferred on Goneril. Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interest; what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.(90)
- CORDELIA:
-
Nothing, my lord.
- KING LEAR:
-
Nothing!
- CORDELIA:
-
Nothing.
- KING LEAR:
-
Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.
- CORDELIA:
-
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave(95)
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more nor less.
- KING LEAR:
-
How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,
Lest it may mar your fortunes.
- CORDELIA:
-
Good my lord,(100)
You have begot me, bred me, loved 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,(105)
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.
- KING LEAR:
-
But goes thy heart with this?(110)
- CORDELIA:
-
Ay, good my lord.
- KING LEAR:
-
So young, and so untender?
- CORDELIA:
-
So young, my lord, and true.
- KING LEAR:
-
Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,(115)
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,(120)
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved,(125)
As thou my sometime daughter.
- KENT:
-
Good my liege,—
- KING LEAR:
-
Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest(130)
On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?
Call Burgundy, Cornwall and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:(135)
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights,(140)
By you to be sustained, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
The name, and all the additions to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,(145)
This coronet part betwixt you.
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