The Dramatic Works of Shakspeare

That this tragedy has some merit, it were vain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c.-STEEVENS.

The story is of great antiquity, and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND. Kent. I thought, the king 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 of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety t.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. 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? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper t.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONE-
RIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, & Attendants.
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Bur-
Gloster.
(gundy,

Glo. I shall, my liege.

darker purpose.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND.
Lear. Mean-time we shall express our
[divided,
Give me the map there.-Know, that we have
In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths,whilewe
Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of
Cornwall,

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,

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous
sojourn,

And

here are to be answerd.-Tell me, my daughters,

Glo. 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 some-(Since now we will divest us, both of rule, what saucily into the world before he was sent Interest of territory, cares of state,) for, yet was his mother fair; there was good Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? port at his making, and the whoreson must That we our largest bounty may extend be acknowledged. Do you know this noble Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril, gentleman, Edmund? Our eldest-born, speak first. Sir, I

Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: reinember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away Le shall again:-The king is coming.

[matter,

Gon.
Do love you more than words can wield the
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty,
honour:

As much as child e'er loved, or father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech
unable;

Trumpets sound within. | Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Most scrupulous nicety.

+ Part or division.

» More secret.

Determined resolution.

* Handsome.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. [Aside. Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, [rich'd, With shadowy forests and with champains 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.
Reg.I am made of that self metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
1 find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,-that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys, [sesses;
Which the most precious square† of ɛense pos-
And find, I am alone felicitate $
In your dear highness' love.

Cor.

Then poor Cordelia! [Aside. And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy, [love Although the last, not least; to whore young The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy. Strive to be interess'd: what can yon say to draw A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cor. Nothing, my lord. Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing.

[again.
Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak
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
Lest it may mar your fortunes. [speech a little,
Cor.
Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me: 1
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
[duty:
Half my love with him, half my care, and
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?
Cor.
Ay, good my lord.
Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true. [dower:
Lear. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun;
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operations of the orbs,
From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this**, for ever.

barous Scythian,

The tar

• Open plains. + Comprehension. Kindred. ** From this time.

Reverberates

Or he that makes his generation++ messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,
As thom my sometime daughter.
Kent.
Good my liege,-

Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath: I loved her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight![To CORDELIA.

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:

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects [course,
That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly
With reservation of an hundred knights,
By yon to be sustain'd, shall our abode [tain
Make with you by due turns. Only we still re-
The name, and all the additions to a king;
The sway,

Revenue, execution of the rest $5,
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.

[Giving the Crown.
Kent.
Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make

from the shaft.

[vade Kent. Let it fall rather, thongh the fork inThe region of my heart: be kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thon do, old man? [speak, Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, [doom; When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy And, in thy best consideration, check This hideons rashness: answer my life my judgment.

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty hearted, whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.
Lear.
Kent, on thy life, no more.
ent. My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage agaiust thine enemies; nor fear to
Thy safety being the motive.
[lose it,
Lear.
Out of my sight!
Kent. See Fetter, Lear, and let me still re-
The true blank ¶¶ of thine eye. (main
Lear. Now, by Apollo,-
Kent.

Now, by Apollo, king,

Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

+ Ilis children. I Titles. 95 All other subjects.

The mar to shoot at.

Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee, thou dost evil.
Lear.

Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me!Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, [pride, (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd To come betwixt our sentence and our power; (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency make good, take thy reward. Five days we do allot thee, for provision To shield thee from diseases of the world; And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back. Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions, The moment is thy death: Away! By Jupiter, This shall not be revoked. [wilt appear, Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [T CORDELIA. That justly think'st,and hast most rightly said! And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of

I know no answer.

Lear. Sir, Will you, with those infirmities she owes§, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with Take her, or leave her? [our oath, Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then, leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [TO FRANCE. I would not from your love make such a stray,

Follow his old mode of life.
Owns, is possessed of.

Reproach or censure.

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech
you

To avert your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed
Almost to acknowledge hers.
France.
This is most strange
That she,thát even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice

of time

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence Must be of such unnatural degree, [tion That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd ** affecFall into taint tt: which to believe of her, Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Could never plant in me.

Cor.

I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, [tend, To speak and purpose not; since what I well inI'll do't before I speak,) that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath deprived me of your grace and favour: But even for want of that, for which I am richer; A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue [it, That I am glad I have not, though not to have Hath lost me in your liking. Lear. Better thou [me better. Hadst not been born, than not to have pleased France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects, that stand Aloof from the entire point §§. Will you She is herself a dowry. [have her? Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself proposed, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a That you must lose a husband. [father, Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife. [being poor;

France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, Most choice,forsaken; and most loved,despised! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon : Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unprized precious maid of me.-
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind :
Thou losest here, a better where to find.
Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be
thine; for we

+ Amorons expedition.

Concludes not. Because.

Specious.

Turn. ** Former declaration of. "Who seeks for aught in love but love alone!"

Place.

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of her's again :-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon.
Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY,
CORNWALL, ALBANY, GLOSTER,
and Attendants.

France. Bid farewell to your sisters. [eyes
Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call [father:
Your faults, as they are named. Use well our
Το your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Gon. Prescribe not us our duties.
Reg.

Let your study
Be,to content your lord; who hath received you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have
wanted.
[ning hides;
Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited+ con-
Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Well may you prosper!
France.
Come, my fair Cordelia.
[Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA.
Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say,
of what most nearly appertains to us both.
I think, our father will hence to-night.

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of Jong-ingrafted condition, but therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offen us.

Reg. We shall further think of it. Gon. We must do something, and i'the heats. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Hall in the Earl of Gloster's Castle.

Enter EDMUND, with a Letter. Edm.Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound: Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom; and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me,

The injustice.

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon.
shines
[base?
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generons, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they ns
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality,
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. Igrow; I prosper :-
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!
Enter GLOSTER.

Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in
choler parted!
[power!
And the king gone to-night! subscribed ** his
Confined to exhibition tt! All this done
Upon the gad!-Edmund! How now? what
Edm. So please your lordship, none. [news?
[Putting up the Letter.
Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up
Edm. I know no news, my lord. [that letter?
Glo. What paper were you reading?
Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glo. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.

Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read; for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking.

Glo. Give me the letter, sir.

Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.

Glo. Let's see, let's see.

Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay 5 or taste of my virtue.

Glo. [Reads.] This policy, and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from_us, till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond ||||| bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till 1 waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar. Humph-Conspiracy!-Sleep till 1 waked him-you should enjoy half his revenue,-My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in?When came this to you? Who brought it?

• Blessing. + Folded, donbled. Qualities of mind. The nicety of civil institution. Suddenly. 95 Trial.

tt Allowance.

§ Strike while the iron's hot. **Yielded, surrendered. HWeak and foolish.

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