1.1.24I thought the King had more affected the 5Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

It did always seem so to us, but 7now in the division of the kingdom it 8appears not which of the dukes he values 9most, for qualities are so weighed that curiosity in 10neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Is not this your son, my lord?

His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have 13so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am 14brazed to't.

I cannot conceive you.

Sir, this young fellow's mother could, 17whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had indeed, sir, a 18son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. 19Do you smell a fault?

I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it 21being so proper.

But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some 23year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my 24account, though this knave came something saucily to the 25world before he was sent for. Yet was his mother fair, 26there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must 27be acknowledged.--Do you know this noble 28gentleman, Edmund?

No, my lord.

My Lord of Kent. 31Remember him hereafter as my honorable friend.

My services to your lordship.

I must love you, and sue to know you better.

Sir, I shall study deserving.

He hath been out nine years, and away he shall 36again. The King is coming.

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

I shall, my lord.

Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

1.1.2042Give me the map there. Know that we have divided

1.1.2143In three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent

1.1.2244To shake all cares and business from our age,

1.1.2345Conferring them on younger strengths2, while we2.1

1.1.2446Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,

1.1.2547And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

1.1.2648We have this hour a constant will to publish

1.1.2749Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife

1.1.2850May be prevented now. 3The princes France and Burgundy,

1.1.2951Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,

1.1.3052Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,

1.1.3153And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters--

1.1.3254Since now we will divest us both of rule,

1.1.3355Interest of territory, cares of state--

1.1.3456Which of you shall we say doth love us most,

1.1.3557That we our largest bounty may extend

1.1.3658Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,

1.1.3759Our eldest born, speak first.

Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter;

1.1.3961Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,

1.1.4062Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,

1.1.4163No less than life; with grace, health, beauty, honor,

1.1.4264As much as child e'er loved or father found;

1.1.4365A love that makes breath poor and speech unable.

1.1.4466Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

[Aside] What shall Cordelia speak? Love and be silent.

Of all these bounds even from this line to this,

1.1.4769With shadowy forests and 6with champaigns riched6.1

1.1.4870With plenteous rivers and 7wide-skirted meads,7.1

1.1.4971We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issues

1.1.5072Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,

1.1.5173Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall?

I am made of that self-mettle as my sister,

1.1.5375And prize me at her worth. In my true heart

1.1.5476I find she names my very deed of love--

1.1.5577Only she comes too short--that I profess

1.1.5678Myself an enemy to all other joys

1.1.5779Which the most precious square of sense professes,

1.1.5880And find I am alone felicitate

1.1.5981In your dear highness' love.

In your dear highness' love. [Aside] Then poor Cordelia--

1.1.6083And yet not so, since I am sure my love's

1.1.6184More ponderous than my tongue.

To thee and thine hereditary ever

1.1.6386Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,

1.1.6487No less in space, validity, and pleasure

1.1.6588Than that conferred on Goneril. Now our joy,

1.1.6689Although our last and least, to 8whose young love8.1

1.1.6790The vines of France and milk of Burgundy

1.1.6891Strive to be interessed,9 what can you say to draw

1.1.6992A third, more opulent than your sisters'? Speak.

Nothing my lord.

Nothing?

Nothing.

Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

1.1.7598My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty

1.1.7699According to my bond, no more nor less.

How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,

1.1.78101Lest you may mar your fortunes.

Lest you may mar your fortunes. Good my lord,

1.1.79103You have begot me, bred me, loved me.

1.1.80104I return those duties back as are right fit;

1.1.81105Obey you, love you, and most honor you.

1.1.82106Why have my sisters husbands if they say

1.1.83107They love you all? Haply when I shall wed,

1.1.84108That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry

1.1.85109Half my love with him, half my care and duty.

1.1.86110Sure I shall never marry like my sisters0.1.

But goes thy heart with this?

But goes thy heart with this? Ay, my good lord.

So young and so untender?

So young, my lord, and true.

Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower;

1.1.91116For by the sacred radiance of the sun,

1.1.92117The mysteries of Hecate and the night,

1.1.93118By all the operation of the orbs

1.1.94119From whom we do exist and cease to be,

1.1.95120Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

1.1.96121Propinquity and property of blood,

1.1.97122And as a stranger to my heart and me

1.1.98123Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian,

1.1.99124Or he that makes his generation messes

1.1.100125To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

1.1.101126Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved

1.1.102127As thou my sometime daughter.

As thou my sometime daughter. Good my liege--

Peace, Kent!

1.1.104130Come not between the dragon and his wrath.

1.1.105131I loved her most, and thought to set my rest

1.1.106132On her kind nursery. [To Cordelia] Hence and avoid my sight--

1.1.107133So be my grave my peace, as here I give

1.1.108134Her father's heart from her. Call France. Who stirs?

1.1.109135Call Burgundy.

Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,

1.1.110136With my two daughters' dowers digest the third.

1.1.111137Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.

1.1.112138I do invest you jointly with my power,

1.1.113139Preeminence, and all the large effects

1.1.114140That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,

1.1.115141With reservation of an hundred knights

1.1.116142By you to be sustained, shall our abode

1.1.117143Make with you by due turn; only we shall retain

1.1.118144The name and all th'addition to a king. The sway,

1.1.119145Revenue, execution of the rest,

1.1.120146Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm,

1.1.121147This coronet part between you.

This coronet part between you. Royal Lear,

1.1.122149Whom I have ever honored as my king,

1.1.123150Loved as my father, as my master followed,

1.1.124151As my great patron thought on in my prayers--

The bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft.

Let it fall rather, 136though the fork invade

1.1.127154The region of my heart. 137Be Kent unmannerly

1.1.128155When Lear is mad. 138What wouldst thou do, old man?

1.1.129156Think'st thou that duty 139shall have dread to speak

1.1.130157When power to flattery bows? 158140To plainness honor's bound

1.1.131159When majesty falls to folly. 141Reserve thy state,

1.1.132160And in thy best consideration 142check

1.1.133161This hideous rashness. Answer my life 143my judgment;

1.1.134162Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;

1.1.135163144Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds

1.1.136164Reverb no hollowness.

Reverb no hollowness. Kent, on thy life no more.

My life I never held but as pawn

1.1.138167To wage against thine enemies, ne'er feared to lose it,

1.1.139168Thy safety being motive.

Thy safety being motive. Out of my sight!

See better Lear, and let me still remain

1.1.141171The true blank of thine eye.

The true blank of thine eye. Now by Apollo--

Now, by Apollo, King, 174thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

[Threatening Kent] O vassal! Miscreant!

[Threatening Kent] O vassal! Miscreant! Dear sir, forbear!

Kill thy physician, 157and thy fee bestow

1.1.145178Upon the foul disease. 158Revoke thy gift,

1.1.146179Or whilst I can vent clamor 159from my throat

1.1.147180I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me.

1.1.149182That thou hast sought to make us break our vows,

1.1.150183Which we durst never yet, and with strained pride

1.1.151184To come betwixt our sentences and our power,

1.1.152185Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,

1.1.153186Our potency made good, take thy reward.

1.1.154187Five days we do allot thee for provision

1.1.155188To shield thee from disasters of the world,

1.1.156189And on the sixth to turn thy hated back

1.1.157190Upon our kingdom. If on the next day following

1.1.158191Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions,

1.1.159192The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,

1.1.160193This shall not be revoked.

Fare thee well, King, sith thus thou wilt appear,

1.1.162195Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.

1.1.163196[To Cordelia] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,

1.1.164197That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said.

1.1.165198[To Goneril and Regan] And your large speeches may your deeds approve,

1.1.166199That good effects may spring from words of love.

1.1.167200Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;

1.1.168201He'll shape his old course in a country new.

Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

My lord of Burgundy,

1.1.171206We first address toward you, 184who with this king

1.1.172207Hath rivaled for our daughter. 185What in the least

1.1.173208Will you require in present 186dower with her,

1.1.174209Or cease your quest of love?

Or cease your quest of love? Most royal majesty,

1.1.175211I crave no more than hath 188your highness offered,

1.1.176212Nor will you tender less.

Nor will you tender less. Right noble Burgundy,

1.1.177214When she was dear to us 190we did hold her so,

1.1.178215But now her price is fallen. 191Sir, there she stands.

1.1.179216If aught within that little-192seeming substance,

1.1.180217Or all of it with our displeasure pieced

1.1.181218193And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,

1.1.182219She's there, and she is yours.

She's there, and she is yours. I know no answer.

Will you with those infirmities she owes,

1.1.184222Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,

1.1.185223Dowered with our curse and strangered with our oath,

1.1.186224Take her or leave her?

Take her or leave her? Pardon me royal sir,

1.1.187226Election makes not up in such conditions.

Then leave her sir, for by the power that made me

1.1.189228I tell you all her wealth. [To France] For you, great king,

1.1.190229I would not from your love make such a stray

1.1.191230To match you where I hate. Therefore, beseech you

1.1.192231T'avert your liking a more worthier way

1.1.193232Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed

1.1.194233Almost t'acknowledge hers.

Almost t'acknowledge hers. This is most strange,

1.1.195235That she whom even but now 210was your object,

1.1.196236The argument of your praise, 211balm of your age,

1.1.197237The best, the dearest, 212should in this trice of time

1.1.198238Commit a thing 213so monstrous to dismantle

1.1.199239So many folds of favor. 214Sure her offence

1.1.200240Must be of such unnatural degree

1.1.201241215That monsters it, or your fore-vouched affection

1.1.202242Fall into taint; which to believe of her

1.1.203243Must be a faith that reason without miracle

1.1.204244Should never plant in me.

I yet beseech your majesty,

1.1.206246If for I want that glib and oily art,

1.1.207247To speak and purpose not--since what I will intend

1.1.208248I'll do't before I speak--that you make known

1.1.209249It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,

1.1.210250No unchaste action or dishonored step

1.1.211251That hath deprived me of your grace and favor,

1.1.212252But even for want of that for which I am richer--

1.1.213253A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue

1.1.214254That I am glad I have not, though not to have it

1.1.215255Hath lost me in your liking.

Hath lost me in your liking. Better thou hadst

1.1.216257Not been born than not t'have pleased me better.

Is it but this? A tardiness in nature

1.1.218259Which often leaves the history unspoke

1.1.219260That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,

1.1.220261What say you to the lady? Love's not love

1.1.221262When it is mingled with regards that stands

1.1.222263Aloof from th'entire point. Will you have her?

1.1.223264She is herself a dowry.

She is herself a dowry. Royal King,

1.1.224266Give but that portion 239which yourself proposed,

1.1.225267And here I take Cordelia 240by the hand,

1.1.226268Duchess of Burgundy.

Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm.

[To Cordelia] I am sorry then you have so lost a father

1.1.229271That you must lose a husband.

Peace be with Burgundy;

1.1.231273Since that respect 245and fortunes are his love,

1.1.232274I shall not be his wife.

Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor,

1.1.234276Most choice, forsaken, and most loved, despised,

1.1.235277Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.

1.1.236278Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.

1.1.237279Gods, gods! 'Tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect

1.1.238280My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

1.1.239281Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance,

1.1.240282Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.

1.1.241283Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy,

1.1.242284Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.

1.1.243285Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind.

1.1.244286Thou losest here a better where to find.

Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine, 259for we

1.1.246288Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see

1.1.247289260That face of hers again. Therefore be gone,

1.1.248290Without our grace, our love, our benison.

1.1.249291Come, noble Burgundy.

Bid farewell to your sisters.

The jewels of our father, 265with washed eyes

1.1.252294Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are,

1.1.253295266And like a sister am most loath to call

1.1.254296Your faults as they are named. Love well our father.

1.1.255297To your professèd bosoms I commit him;

1.1.256298But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,

1.1.257299I would prefer him to a better place.

1.1.258300So farewell to you both.

Prescribe not us our duty.

Prescribe not us our duty. Let your study

1.1.260303Be to content your lord, 274who hath received you

1.1.261304At fortune's alms. 275You have obedience scanted,

1.1.262305276And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides;

1.1.264307Who covers faults at last with shame derides.

1.1.265308Well may you prosper.

Well may you prosper. Come my fair Cordelia.

Sister, it is not little I have to say 311282of what most nearly appertains to us both. 312283I think our father will hence tonight, next month with us.

That's most certain, and with you.

You see how full of changes his age is. The 315observation we have made of it hath been little. He always 316loved our sister most, and with what poor judgment he 317hath now cast her off appears too grossly.

'Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever but 319slenderly known himself.

The best and soundest of his time hath been but 321rash. Then must we look from his age to receive not 322alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but 323therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and 324choleric years bring with them.

Such unconstant starts are we like to have from 326him as this of Kent's banishment.

There is further compliment of leave-taking 328between France and him. Pray you let us sit together. If our 329father carry authority with such disposition as he bears, 330this last surrender of his will but offend us.

We shall further think of it.

We must do something, and i'th'heat.