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? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. Glou. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in 20 my account: though this knave came something 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. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? Edm. No, my lord. Glou. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you 30 better. Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. Glou. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. Sennet. Enter one bearing a coronet, King Lear, Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glou. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent 18. proper, goodly. 20. some year, a year or so. 37. darker, more secret. To shake all cares and business from our age, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, daughters, Tell me, my 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? Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril, Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; Cor. [Aside] What shall Cordelia do? Love, Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, 40. from our age; so Ff. 'Of our state,' Qq. 50, 51. These two lines are not in Qq. 54. challenge, claim. Where the claim of merit is added to 40 50 60 that of birth.' Qq 'Where merit most doth challenge it.' 56. wield the matter, express. 62. all manner of so much, all possible comparison. 63. do; so Qq. Ff 'speak.' With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, 70 Only she comes too short: that I profess Which the most precious square of sense possesses; In your dear highness' love. Cor. Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever Strive to be interess'd, what can you say to draw Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. 80 90 85. the last, not least; so Qq. Ffour last and least.' 87. to be interess'd... to, to acquire a concern in. Ff'interest'; but the verb 'interesse' is abundantly attested in this sense. 92. Nothing will come of nothing. Alluding to the proverb: Ex nihilo nihil fit.' Cor. 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 it may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I Return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honour 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 thy heart with this? Cor. Ay, good my lord. Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. 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; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be; Propinquity and property of blood, 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 neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved, 102. all, exclusively. 119. generation, offspring. 100 110 120 As thou my sometime daughter. Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath. Her father's heart from her! Call France. Who Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: 130 I do invest you jointly with my power, 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 Kent. Royal Lear, Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade 125. set my rest (in the game of primero, to stake all upon the cards in one's hand), entrust myself absolutely. 126. nursery, nursing. 140 |