King Lear, William Shakespeare [good book recommendations TXT] 📗

King Lear

By William Shakespeare.

Table of Contents Titlepage Imprint Dramatis Personae King Lear Act I Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Act II Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Act III Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Scene VI Scene VII Act IV Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Scene VI Scene VII Act V Scene I Scene II Scene III Colophon Uncopyright Imprint

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Dramatis Personae

Lear, king of Britain

King of France

Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Cornwall

Duke of Albany

Earl of Kent

Earl of Gloucester

Edgar, son to Gloucester

Edmund, bastard son to Gloucester

Curan, a courtier

Old Man, tenant to Gloucester

Doctor

Fool

Oswald, steward to Goneril

A Captain employed by Edmund

Gentleman attendant on Cordelia

A Herald

Servants to Cornwall

Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, daughters to Lear

Knights of Lear’s train, Captains, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants

Scene: Britain

King Lear Act I Scene I

King Lear’s palace

Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund. Kent I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Gloucester 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. Kent Is not this your son, my lord? Gloucester 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. Gloucester 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. Gloucester 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 something 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? Edmund No, my lord. Gloucester My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edmund My services to your lordship. Kent I must love you, and sue to know you better. Edmund Sir, I shall study deserving. Gloucester He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. King Lear Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. Gloucester I shall, my liege. Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund. King Lear

Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
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
Unburthen’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 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 nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Goneril

Sir, I 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 loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cordelia Aside. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. 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.

Regan

Sir, I am made
Of the self-same metal that my sister is,
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.

Cordelia

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

King Lear

To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that conferr’d on Goneril. Now, our joy,
Although the last, not