KING LEAR. A TRAGEDY.
ACT I
Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law
1.1.230My services are bound. Why am I then
1.1.331Depriv'd of a son's right because I came not
1.1.432In the dull road that custom has prescribed?
1.1.533Why bastard, wherefore base, when I can boast
1.1.634A mind as generous and a shape as true
1.1.735As honest madam's issue? Why are we
1.1.836Held base, who in the lusty stealth of nature
1.1.937Take fiercer qualities than what compound
1.1.1038The scanted births of the stale marriage-bed?
1.1.1139Well then, legitimate Edgar, to thy right
1.1.1240Of law I will oppose a bastard's cunning.
1.1.1341Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund
1.1.1442As to legitimate Edgar. With success
1.1.1543I've practiced yet on both their easy natures.
1.1.1644Here comes the old man chafed with the information
1.1.1745Which last I forged against my brother Edgar:
1.1.1846A tale so plausible, so boldly uttered
1.1.1947And heightened by such lucky accidents
1.1.2048That now the slightest circumstance confirms him,
1.1.2149And base-born Edmund spite of law inherits.
Nay, good my lord, your charity
1.1.2352O'reshoots itself to plead in his behalf.
1.1.2453You are yourself a father, and may feel
1.1.2554The sting of disobedience from a son
1.1.2655First-born and best beloved. Oh, villain Edgar!
Be not too rash, all may be forgery,
1.1.2857And time yet clear the duty of your son.
Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds,
1.1.3059Yet shalt thou never convince me. I have seen
1.1.3160His foul designs through all a father's fondness.
1.1.3261But be this light and thou my witnesses
1.1.3362That I discard him here from my possessions,
1.1.3463Divorce him from my heart, my blood and name.
It works as I could wish. I'll show myself.
Ha Edmund! Welcome, boy. O Kent, see here
1.1.3766Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory.
1.1.3867This by-born, the wild sally of my youth,
1.1.3968Pursues me with all filial offices,
1.1.4069Whilst Edgar, begged of heaven and born in honor,
1.1.4170Draws plagues on my white head that urge me still
1.1.4271To curse in age the pleasure of my youth.
1.1.4372Nay weep not, Edmund, for thy brother's crimes.
1.1.4473O generous boy, thou shar'st but half his blood,
1.1.4574Yet lov'st beyond the kindness of a brother.
1.1.4675But I'll reward thy virtue. Follow me.
1.1.4776My Lord, you wait the king who comes resolved
1.1.4877To quit the toils of empire, and divide
1.1.4978His realms amongst his daughters. Heaven succeed it,
I grieve to see him
1.1.5281With such wild starts of passion hourly seized,
1.1.5382As renders majesty beneath itself.
Alas! 'Tis the infirmity of his age.
1.1.5584Yet has his temper ever been unfixed,
1.1.5685Choleric and sudden. Hark, they approach.
1.1.56.287Flourish. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Burgundy, Edgar, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia. Edgar speaking to Cordelia at entrance. Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet once more,
1.1.5889And ere successful Burgundy receive
1.1.5990The treasure of thy beauties from the king,
1.1.6091Ere happy Burgundy forever fold thee,
1.1.6192Cast back one pitying look on wretched Edgar.
Alas, what would the wretched Edgar with
1.1.6495Who in obedience to a father's will
1.1.6596Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's?
Attend my lords of Albany and Cornwall
We do, my liege.
Give me the map. Know, lords, we have divided
1.1.70101In three our kingdom, having now resolved
1.1.71102To disengage from our long toil of state,
1.1.72103Conferring all upon your younger years.
1.1.74105Long in our court have made your amorous sojourn
1.1.75106And now are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters,
1.1.76107Which of you loves us most, that we may place
1.1.77108Our largest bounty with the largest merit.
1.1.78109Gonerill, our eldest-born, speak first.
Sir, I do love you more than words can utter,
1.1.80111Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
1.1.81112Nor liberty, nor sight, health, fame, or beauty
1.1.82113Are half so dear; my life for you were vile;
1.1.83114As much as child can love the best of fathers.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
1.1.85116With shady forests and wide-skirted meads,
1.1.86117We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue
1.1.87118Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter?
My sister, sir, in part expressed my love,
1.1.89120For such as hers, is mine, though more extended.
1.1.90121Sense has no other joy that I can relish;
1.1.91122I have my all in my dear liege's love!
Therefore to thee and thine hereditary
1.1.93124Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom.
Now comes my trial. How am I distressed,
1.1.95127That must with cold speech tempt the choleric king
1.1.96128Rather to leave me dowerless, than condemn me
Speak now our last, not least in our dear love--
1.1.99131So ends my task of state--Cordelia speak.
1.1.100132What canst thou say to win a richer third
Now must my love in words fall short of theirs
1.1.103135As much as it exceeds in truth. Nothing, my lord.
Nothing can come of nothing; speak again.
Unhappy am I that I can't dissemble,
Take heed, Cordelia,
1.1.109141Thy fortunes are at stake. Think better on it
O my liege,
1.1.112144You gave me being, bred me, dearly love me,
1.1.115147Why have my sisters husbands, if they love you all?
1.1.116148Haply when I shall wed, the lord whose hand
1.1.117149Shall take my plight will carry half my love;
1.1.118150For I shall never marry, like my sisters,
And goes thy heart with this?
1.1.121153'Tis said that I am choleric. Judge me, gods,
1.1.122154Is there not cause? Now, minion, I perceive
1.1.123155The truth of what has been suggested to us,
1.1.124156Thy fondness for the rebel son of Gloster,
1.1.125157False to his father, as thou art to my hopes.
1.1.126158And, oh take heed, rash girl, lest we comply
1.1.127159With thy fond wishes, which thou wilt too late
1.1.128160Repent, for know our nature cannot brook
So young, my lord, and true.
Thy truth then be thy dower,
1.1.134166And from this minute hold thee as a stranger
This is frenzy.
Peace, Kent.
1.1.140172I loved her most, and in her tender trust
1.1.141173Designed to have bestowed my age at ease!
1.1.143175My heart from her, and with it all my wealth.
1.1.146178In this fair third, Cordelia's forfeit dower.
1.1.147179Mark me, my lords, observe our last resolve:
1.1.148180Our self attended with an hundred knights,
1.1.149181Will make abode with you in monthly course.
1.1.152184This is our final will, and to confirm it
Royal Lear,
1.1.156188Loved as my father, as my master followed,
1.1.157189And as my patron thought on in my prayers --
Away, the bow is bent, make from the shaft.
No, let it fall and drench within my heart.
On thy life, no more.
What wilt thou do, old man?
Out of my sight!
See better first.
Now by the gods --
Now by the gods, rash king, thou swear'st in vain.
Ha, traitor --
Do, kill thy physician, Lear.
1.1.170202Strike through my throat, yet with my latest breath
1.1.171203I'll thunder in thine ear my just complaint,
1.1.172204And tell thee to thy face that thou dost ill.
Hear me, rash man, on thy allegiance hear me.
1.1.174206Since thou hast striven to make us break our vow
1.1.175207And pressed between our sentence and our power,
1.1.176208Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
1.1.178210And kingdom. If when three days are expired
1.1.179211Thy hated trunk be found in our dominions,
Why fare thee well, king. Since thou art resolved,
1.1.182214I take thee at thy word, and will not stay
1.1.183215To see thy fall. The gods protect the maid
1.1.184216That truly thinks and has most justly said.
1.1.185217Thus to new climates my old truth I bear.
1.1.186218Friendship lives hence, and banishment is here.
Now Burgundy, you see her price is fallen,
1.1.188221Yet if the fondness of your passion still
1.1.189222Affects her as she stands, dowerless and lost
1.1.190223In our esteem, she's yours; take her or leave her.
Pardon me, royal Lear, I but demand
1.1.192225The dower yourself proposed, and here I take
1.1.193226Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.
Then leave her, sir, for by a father's rage
Then sir be pleased to charge the breach
Has heaven then weighed the merit of my love,
1.1.200234Or is it the raving of my sickly thought?
1.1.202236And leave her to despairing Edgar's arms?
1.1.203237Have I thy hand, Cordelia, do I clasp it,
1.1.204238The hand that was this minute to have joined
1.1.205239My hated rival's? Do I kneel before thee
1.1.207241Smile, princess, and convince me, for as yet
1.1.208242I doubt, and dare not trust the dazzling joy.
Some comfort yet that 'twas no vicious blot
1.1.210244That has deprived me of a father's grace,
1.1.211245But merely want of that that makes me rich
1.1.212246In wanting it, a smooth professing tongue.
1.1.213247O sisters, I am loath to call your fault
1.1.214248As it deserves; but use our father well,
1.1.215249And wronged Cordelia never shall repine.
O heavenly maid that art thyself thy dower,
1.1.217251Richer in virtue than the stars in light,
1.1.218252If Edgar's humble fortunes may be graced
1.1.219253With thy acceptance, at thy feet he lays them.
Talked of love.
Then I've offended oft. Cordelia too
When, Edgar, I permitted your addresses,
1.1.228262And live dependent on my lover's fortune.
1.1.230264And therefore study to forget your passion,
Thus majesty takes most state in distress!
1.1.233267How are we tossed on fortune's fickle flood!
1.1.234268The wave that with surprising kindness brought
1.1.235269The dear wreck to my arms, has snatched it back,
1.1.236270And left me mourning on the barren shore.
This baseness of the ignoble Burgundy
1.1.238273Draws just suspicion on the race of men.
1.1.239274His love was interest, so may Edgar's be,
1.1.240275And he but with more compliment dissemble.
1.1.242277But if his love be fixed, such constant flame
1.1.243278As warms our breasts: if such I find his passion,
1.1.244279My heart as grateful to his truth shall be,
Brother, I've found you in a lucky minute.
1.1.247284Fly and be safe, some villain has incensed
Distressed Cordelia! But, oh! More cruel!
Hear me sir, your life, your life's in danger.
A resolve so sudden
'Twas not sudden,
1.1.254291Some villain has of long time laid the train.
And yet perhaps 'twas but pretended coldness,
He hears me not. Wake, wake sir.
Say ye, brother? --
1.1.259296No tears, good Edmund. If thou bring'st me tidings
1.1.260297To strike me dead, for charity delay not.
Your danger, sir, comes on so fast
1.1.263300That I want time to inform you; but retire
1.1.264301Whilst I take care to turn the pressing stream.
Pardon me, sir, a serious thought
1.1.267304Had seized me, but I think you talked of danger
1.1.268305And wished me to retire. Must all our vows
1.1.269306End thus! —- Friend, I obey you -— Oh, Cordelia!
Ha! ha! Fond man, such credulous honesty
1.1.273311That he suspects none. If this letter speed
1.1.274312And pass for Edgar's, as himself would own
1.1.275313The counterfeit but for the foul contents,
1.1.276314Then my designs are perfect--Here comes Gloster.
Stay Edmund, turn, what paper were you reading?
A trifle, sir.
What needed then that terrible dispatch of it
A letter from my brother, sir, I had
1.1.282321Just broke the seal but knew not the contents.
1.1.284323Endeavored to conceal it from your sight.
'Tis Edgar's character.
1.1.286326"This policy of fathers is intolerable, that keeps our
1.1.287327fortunes from us till age will not suffer us to enjoy them. I am
1.1.288328weary of the tyranny. Come to me that of this I may speak more.
1.1.289329If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half
1.1.290330his possessions, and live beloved of your brother
1.1.291332"Slept till I waked him, you should enjoy
1.1.292333Half his possessions" -- Edgar to write this
1.1.293334Against his indulgent father! Death and hell!
1.1.294335Fly, Edmund, seek him out, wind me into him
1.1.295336That I may bite the traitor's heart, and fold
1.1.296337His bleeding entrails on my vengeful arm.
Perhaps 'twas writ, my lord, to prove my virtue.
These late eclipses of the sun and moon
1.1.299340Can bode no less: love cools, and friendship fails,
1.1.301342The bond of nature cracked 'twixt son and father.
So, now my project's firm, but to make sure
1.1.305347I'll throw in one proof more and that a bold one:
1.1.306348I'll place old Gloster where he shall overhear us
1.1.307349Confer of this design, whilst to his thinking,
Now banished Kent, if thou canst pay thy duty
1.1.313357In this disguise where thou dost stand condemned,
1.1.314358Thy master Lear shall find thee full of labors.
In there, and tell our daughter we are here.
A man, sir.
What dost thou profess, or wouldst with us?
I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him truly that
1.1.320365puts me in trust, to love him that's honest, to converse with him
1.1.321366that's wise and speaks little, to fight when I can't choose; and
I say, what art thou?
A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.
Then art thou poor indeed. What canst thou do?
I can keep honest counsel, mar a curious tale in the telling,
1.1.327372deliver a plain message bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit
1.1.328373for I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.
Follow me, thou shalt serve me.
Sir --
What says the fellow? Call the clatpole back.
My Lord, I know not, but methinks Your Highness is entertained
He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
Why came not the slave back when I called him?
My lord, he answered me in the surliest manner,
I hope our daughter did not so instruct him.
My lady's father.
My lord's knave --
I'll not be struck, my lord.
Nor tripped neither, thou vile civet-box.
By day and night, this is insufferable.
Now, daughter, why that frontlet on?
1.1.348399Speak, does that frown become our presence?
Sir, this licentious insolence of your servants
1.1.351402In quarrels bred by their unbounded riots.
1.1.352403I had fair hope by making this known to you
1.1.353404To have had a quick redress, but find too late
1.1.354405That you protect and countenance their outrage.
1.1.355406And therefore, sir, I take this freedom, which
Are you our daughter?
Come, sir, let me entreat you to make use
1.1.360411This disposition that of late transforms you
Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear.
1.1.363414Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Come, sir, this admiration's much of the savor
1.1.368419As you are old, you should be staid and wise.
1.1.369420Here do you keep an hundred knights and squires,
1.1.370421Men so debauched and bold that this our palace
1.1.371422Shows like a riotous inn, a tavern, brothel.
1.1.372423Be then advised by her that else will take
1.1.373424The thing she begs, to lessen your attendance.
1.1.374425Take half away, and see that the remainder
Darkness and devils!
1.1.378429Saddle my horses, call my train together.
1.1.379430Degenerate viper, I'll not stay with thee;
1.1.380431I yet have left a daughter -- Serpent, monster.
1.1.382433All men approved of choice and rarest parts,
1.1.384435How small, Cordelia, was thy fault? Oh, Lear,
1.1.385436Beat at this gate that let thy folly in,
1.1.386437And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people.
What, sir?
Death! Fifty of my followers at a clap!
The matter, madam?
Never afflict yourself to know the cause,
Blasts upon thee,
1.1.394446The untented woundings of a father's curse
1.1.395447Pierce every sense about thee. Old fond eyes
1.1.396448Lament this cause again, I'll pluck ye out
1.1.397449And cast ye with the waters that ye lose
1.1.398450To temper clay -- No, gorgon, thou shalt find
1.1.399451That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
Mark ye that.
Hear, Nature,
1.1.403455Dear goddess, hear. And if thou dost intend
1.1.404456To make that creature fruitful, change thy purpose.
1.1.405457Pronounce upon her womb the barren curse,
1.1.407459A babe to honor her. But if she must bring forth,
1.1.408460Defeat her joy with some distorted birth
1.1.409461Or monstrous form, the prodigy o'th'time,
1.1.410462And so perverse of spirit, that it may live
1.1.411463Her torment as 'twas born, to fret her cheeks
1.1.412464With constant tears, and wrinkle her young brow.
1.1.413465Turn all her mother's pains to shame and scorn,
1.1.414466That she may curse her crime too late, and feel
1.1.415467How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
Presuming thus upon his numerous train
1.1.418471He thinks to play the tyrant here, and hold
Well, you may bear too far.