ACT I

SCENE I.

Enter KENT, GLO'STER, and EDMUND the

Bastard.

Kent. I thought the King (1) 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

KING LEAR.

I now offer a few short notes upon the play of King Lear; and they need not be other than short, if the reader will carry in his recollection the figures already drawn, and compare them and the references thereto in the notes with their originals in the moon: for the same prototypes, with some occasioal additions to their numbers, are again about to be brought into action under other characters.

(1) King Lear himself is referable to the same prototype as Crowdero in Hudibras (fig. 14), and Polonius in Hamlet (fig. 56); but it is scarcely necessary to observe, that, as the character now ascribable to the prototype is endowed with even royal dignity, so the original, or prototype itself, is to be considered as exalted proportionally in all the exterior appendages of costume, manners, &c. as Crowdero's name is derived from a crowd, or fiddle, so is Lear's from a lyre or fiddle.

of the Dukes (2) he values most; for qualities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my Lord? (3)

Glo. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. (4) I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to it. (5)

(2) Figure 78 gives a view of Gloster, who is to be referred to the same original in the moon as King Claudius in Hamlet (fig. 54). Fig. 78.

(3) Kent is the same as Talgol in Hudibras (fig. 17), and Laertes in Hamlet (fig. 57).

(4) Edmund the Bastard is the same as Magnano in Hudibras (fig. 19), and Guildenstern in Hamlet (fig. 67).

(5) The terms weighed and moiety refer to the librations and changes of the moon, as that of brazed does to its general colour of brass.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could ; whereupon she grew round-womb'd; and had indeed, Sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do 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, (6) 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. you know this nobleman, Edmund ? Edm. No, my Lord.

Do

Glo. My Lord of Kent ;

Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
Edm. My services to your Lordship. [better.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you
Edm. Sir, I shall study your deserving.
Glo. He hath been out nine years, (7) and
he shall again. [Trumpets, sound within.

The King is coming.

away

(6) Edgar is the same as Rosencrantz in Hamlet, drawn ante in figure 68. His person in the moon is larger than that of his brother Edmund, which may be the case of his being called elder.

(7) The shadow which composes Edmund's right shoul

Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'ster. (S)

der and side is like the figure of 9 in shape, which may be here alluded to (vide fig. 67). I scarcely dare observe that the heads of Edmund and Edgar, situate just before that 9, have been aptly assimilated in a former note (in the 50th note upon Hamlet) to two ears: but there are worse puns in Shakspeare.

(8) The Kings of France and Burgundy I take to be referable to the first and second of the three outlines of the prototype of Hudibras in the moon, such as they are drawn

in

Fig. 79.

Glo. I shall, my liege.

[Exit. Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker

purpose.

Give me the

map

here: know, we have divided, In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our first intent, To shake all cares and business from our age: Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of CornAnd you, our no less loving son of Albany, [wall, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters sev'ral dow'rs, that future strife May be prevented. The princes France and BurGreat rivals in our younger daughter's love, [gundy Long in our court have made their am'rous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, daughters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Int'rest of territory, and cares of state) Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend,

The first, or nearest on the right hand, is marked by the vine-like appearance of the streaks of light on his person, as alluded to by the mention of the vines of France; and the second as having the appearance of milk running down his face, noticed by the mention of the milk of Burgundy. We have not hitherto seen so prominent a figure as that of Hudibras in the moon assigned to characters that fill so inconsiderable a part as those of the Kings of France and Burgundy in this play.