KING LEAR "The story of King Lear and his three daughters, is found in Holinshed's Chronicle; sad was originally told by Geoffry of Monmouth, who says that Lear was the eldest son of Bladud, and nobly governed his country for sixty years. According to that his torian, he died about 800 years before Christ. Shakspeare has taken the hint for the behavior of the steward, and the reply of Cordelia to her father concerning her future marriage. from the Mirror of Magistrates, 1587. According to Steevens, the episode of Gloster and his sons is borrowed from Sidney's Arcadia." Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, and Lear, are placed by general consent as first in the list of Shakspeare's inspired creations, but to the character of Lear, is yielded the pre-eminence. It is perhaps the most wonderfu dramatic conception on record. We have en deavored to incorporate into our selections, the entire development of this extraordinary creation. PERSONS REPRESENTED. LEAR, King of Britain. DUKE OF BURGUNDY. DUKE OF CORNWALL. DUKE OF ALBANY. EARL OF KENT. EARL OF GLOSTER. EDGAR, son to Gloster. EDMUND, illegitimate son te Gloster CURAN, a courtier. Old Man, tenant to Gloster. Physician. Fool. OSWALD, steward to Goneril. GONERIL, REGAN, Cordelia, daughters to Lear. Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers and Attendants. SCENE, BRITAIN. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Room of State in King Lear's Palace. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exit GLOSTER & EDMUND Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. -Know, that we have divided, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, Interest of territory, cares of state,) Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? 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 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor: Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; [Aside 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 Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, good my lord. 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; Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath: [TO CORDELIA. On her kind nursery. -Hence, and avoid my sight! Call Burgundy. -Cornwall, and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third. I do invest you jointly with my power, 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, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, This coronet part between you. Kent. [Giving the crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honor'd as my king, As my great patron thought on in my prayers, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound Reverbs no hollowness. Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo,- Thou swear'st thy gods in vain Lear. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Now, by Apollo, king, O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his sword. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Or, whilst I can vent clamor from my throat, I'll tell thee thou dost evil. Lear. Hear me, recreant On thine allegiance hear me!— Kent. Fare thee well, king; since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.- That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said! [TO CORDELIA And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [TO REGAN and GONERIL. Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu: [Exit. That good effects may spring from words of love. He'll shape his old course in a country new. Re-enter GLOSTER: with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king Will you require in present dower with her, Or cease your quest of love? Bur. I crave no more than hath Most royal majesty, your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Right noble Burgundy, Lear. When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; If aught within that little, seeming substance, Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd, And nothing more may fitly like your grace, She's there, and she is yours. Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath, |