KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE 1.—A Room of State in King LEAR's Palace. Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND. I Kent. 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 neither1 can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, has 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. 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 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.—Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? Edm. No, my lord. Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. [1] Curiosity is scrupulousness, or captiousness. Shrew, So, in the Taming of the "For curious I cannot be with you. STEEVENS. 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 he shall again:-The king is coming. [Trumpets sound within. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLO. and EDMUND. Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker pur pose.2 Give me the map there.-Know, that we have divided, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, (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 merit doth most challenge it.—Goneril, Gon. Sir, I honour: Do love you more than words can wield the matter, [3] Darker-for more secret ; not for indirect, oblique. WARBURTON. This word may admit a further explication. "We shall express our darker purpose": that is, we have already made known in some measure our design of parting the kingdom; we will now discover what has not been told before, the reasons by which we shall regulate the partition. This interpolation will justify or palliate the exordial dialogue. JOHNSON. [4] Beyond all assignable quantity. I love you beyond limits, and cannot say, It is so much; for how much soever I should name, it would yet be more. JOHNSON. Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. [Aside. Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; In your dear highness' love. Cor. Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's [Aside. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. 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, lov'd me: I Obey you, love you, and most honour you. [5] My sister has equally expressed my sentiments, only she comes short of me in this, that I profess myself an enemy to all joys but you."-That I profess, means, in that I profess. M. MASON. [6] Perhaps square means compass, comprehension. JOHNSON. [7] Validity-for worth, value; not for integrity or good title. WARB. 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 this with thy heart? 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 operations of the orbs, From whom we do exist, and cease to be; The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Kent. Good my liege, Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath : 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? With my two daughters' dowers digest this third : Pre-eminence, and all the large effects 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 The name, and all the additions to a king; The sway, Revenue, execution, of the rest,9 [8] From this-i. e. From this time. STEEVENS. [91 The execution of the rest is, I suppose, all the other business. JOHNS |