KING LEAR.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Room of State in King Lear's Palace.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND.

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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 weigh’d, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety":

- in the division of the kingdom,] There is something of obscurity or inaccuracy in this preparatory scene. The king has already divided his kingdom, and yet when he enters he examines his daughters

, to discover in what proportions he should divide it. Perhaps Kent and Gloster only were privy to his design, which he still kept in his own hands, to be changed or performed as subsequent reasons should determine him. Johnson. - that curiosity in neither —] Curiosity is scrupulousness, or

of either's moiety.] The strict sense of the word moiety is half, one of two equal parts : but Shakspeare commonly uses it for any part or division.

captiousness.

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Kent. Is not this your son, my lord ?

Glo. His breeding, sir, bath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd 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. 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 GLOSTER and EDMUND.

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being so proper.] i. e. handsome.
some year elder than this,] i. e. about a year.

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Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker pur

pose.

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
Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Corn-

wall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will o to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Bur-

gundy, 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 ? That we our largest bounty may extend Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon.

Sir, I Do love you more than words can wield the matter, 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 lov'd, or father found.

express our darker purpose.] That is, we have already made known in some measure our desire of parting the kingdom ; we will now discover what has not been told before, the reasons by which we shall regulate the partition. This interpretation will justify or palliate the exordial dialogue. Johnson.

- and 'tis our fast intent —] Our determined resolution.

constant will -] Constant is firm, determined. Constant will is the certa voluntas of Virgil.

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A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable ;
Beyond all manner of so much! I love you.
Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent.

[Aside.
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains rich’d,
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
I find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,—that I profess'
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.
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,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,

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9 Beyond all manner of so much —] 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 be yet more.

that I profess, &c.] In that, i. e. inasmuch as, I profess myself, &c.

? Which the most precious square of sense possesses ;) Perhaps square means only compass, comprehension ; or, the full complement of all the senses.

3 No less in space, validity,] Validity, for worth, value ; not for integrity, or good title.

Strive to be interess'd“; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters ? Speak.

Cor. Nothing, my lord.
Lear. Nothing?
Cor. Nothing
Lear. Nothing can come f 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
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 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; Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

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* Strive to be interess’d ;) To interest and to interesse, are not, perhaps, different spellings of the same verb, but are two distinct words though of the same import ; the one being derived from the Latin, the other from the French interesser.

† “ will come "--Malone.