King Lear

---

I thought the king had more affected

the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

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.

Is not this your son, my lord?

His breeding, sir,

hath been at my charge.

I have so often blushed to acknowledge him

that now I am brazed to it.

- I cannot conceive you.

- 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?

I cannot wish the fault undone,

the issue of it being so proper.

But I have a son, sir, by order of law,

some year elder than this

who yet is no dearer in my account.

Though this knave came something saucily

to 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?

No, my lord.

My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter

as my honourable friend.

My services to your lordship.

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

- Sir, I shall study deserving.

He has been out nine years,

and away he shall again.

The King is coming.

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy...

- Gloucester.

- I shall, my liege.

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 unburdened 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' separate dowers,

that future strife may be prevented now.

The two great 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 answered.

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.

Sir, I love you more than words

can wield the matter,

dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty,

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.

Of all these bounds,

even from this line to this,

we make thee lady.

To thine and Albany's issues

be this perpetual.

What says our second daughter,

our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall?

Speak.

I am made of that self mettle 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.

To thee and thine hereditary ever

remain this ample third

of our fair kingdom.

No less in space, validity, and pleasure,

than that conferred on Goneril...

And now, our joy,

although our last not least,

to whose young love

The vines of France and milk of Burgundy

strive to be interessed.

What can you say to draw

a 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

my heart into my mouth.

I love your majesty

according to my bond, no more nor less.

How, how, Cordelia!

Mend your speech a little

lest you may mar your fortunes.

Good my lord,

you have begot me, bred me, loved 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 shall 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.

But goes thy heart with this?

- Ay, good my lord.

- So young, and so untender?

So young, my lord, and true.

Let it be so! Thy truth then be thy dower!

For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

from whom we do exist, and cease to be,

here I disclaim all my paternal care,

propinquity and property of blood,

and as a stranger to my heart and thee

hold thee from this for ever.

- Good, my liege?

- Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon

and his wrath. I loved her most.

Hence! Avoid my sight!

Call France! Who stirs?

Call Burgundy. Cornwall, Albany.

With my two daughters' dowers

digest the third.

Let pride, which she calls plainness,

marry her.

I do invest you jointly with my power,

pre-eminence.

Ourself by monthly course,

with reservation of one hundred knights,

by you to be sustained, shall our abode

make with you by due turn.

Only we shall retain the name,

and all the addition to a king.

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

beloved sons, be yours, which to confirm,

this coronet part between you.

Royal Lear, whom I have

ever honoured as my king,

loved as my father, as my master followed.

The bow is bent and drawn;

make from the shaft.

Let it fall rather, though the fork invade

the region of my heart.

Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad.

What wouldst thou do, old man?

Think'st thou that duty shall have dread

to speak when power to flattery bows?

On thy life, no more!

My life I never held but as a pawn

to wage against thine enemies.

- Out of my sight.

- See better, Lear.

Now, by Apollo...

Now, by Apollo, King,

thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

O, vassal, miscreant!

- Forbear!

- Revoke thy gift.

Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat

I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Hear me, recreant,

On thine allegiance hear me!

That thou hast sought

to make us break our vow,

which we durst never yet,

take thy reward.

Five days we do allot thee for provision

and on the sixth to turn thy hated back

upon our kingdom.

If on the next day following

thy banished trunk be found in our dominion,

the moment is thy death.

Away!

By Jupiter, this shall not be revoked.

Fare thee well, King,

sith thus thou wilt appear,

freedom lives hence,

and banishment is here.

The gods to their dear shelter

take thee, maid,

that justly think'st,

and hast most rightly said.

And your large speeches

may your deeds approve

that good effects may spring

from words of love.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu.

He'll shape his old course

in a country new.

Here's France and Burgundy,

my noble lord.

My lord of Burgundy,

we first address toward you,

what in the least will you require

in present dower with her,

or cease your quest of love?

Most royal majesty, I crave no more

than what your highness offered.

Nor will you tender less.

Right noble Burgundy, when she was

dear to us, we did hold her so.

But now her price is fallen.

Sir, there she stands.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes