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KingLearShakespearehomepage|KingLear|EntireplayACTISCENEI.KingLear'spalace.EnterKENT,GLOUCESTER,andEDMUNDKENTIthoughtthekinghadmoreaffectedtheDukeofAlbanythanCornwall.GLOUCESTERItdidalwaysseemsotous:butnow,inthedivisionofthekingdom,itappearsnotwhichofthedukeshevaluesmost;forequalitiesaresoweighed,thatcuriosityinneithercanmakechoiceofeither'smoiety.KENTIsnotthisyourson,mylord?GLOUCESTERHisbreeding,sir,hathbeenatmycharge:Ihavesooftenblushedtoacknowledgehim,thatnowIambrazedtoit.KENTIcannotconceiveyou.GLOUCESTERSir,thisyoungfellow'smothercould:whereuponshegrewround-wombed,andhad,indeed,sir,asonforhercradleereshehadahusbandforherbed.Doyousmellafault?KENTIcannotwishthefaultundone,theissueofitbeingsoproper.GLOUCESTERButIhave,sir,asonbyorderoflaw,someyearelderthanthis,whoyetisnodearerinmyaccount:thoughthisknavecamesomethingsaucilyintotheworldbeforehewassentfor,yetwashismotherfair;therewasgoodsportathismaking,andthewhoresonmustbeacknowledged.Doyouknowthisnoblegentleman,Edmund?EDMUNDNo,mylord.GLOUCESTERMylordofKent:rememberhimhereafterasmyhonourablefriend.EDMUNDMyservicestoyourlordship.KENTImustloveyou,andsuetoknowyoubetter.EDMUNDSir,Ishallstudydeserving.GLOUCESTERHehathbeenoutnineyears,andawayheshallagain.Thekingiscoming.Sennet.EnterKINGLEAR,CORNWALL,ALBANY,GONERIL,REGAN,CORDELIA,andAttendantsKINGLEARAttendthelordsofFranceandBurgundy,Gloucester.GLOUCESTERIshall,myliege.ExeuntGLOUCESTERandEDMUNDKINGLEARMeantimeweshallexpressourdarkerpurpose.Givemethemapthere.KnowthatwehavedividedInthreeourkingdom:and'tisourfastintentToshakeallcaresandbusinessfromourage;Conferringthemonyoungerstrengths,whileweUnburthen'dcrawltowarddeath.OursonofCornwall,Andyou,ournolesslovingsonofAlbany,WehavethishouraconstantwilltopublishOurdaughters'severaldowers,thatfuturestrifeMaybepreventednow.Theprinces,FranceandBurgundy,Greatrivalsinouryoungestdaughter'slove,Longinourcourthavemadetheiramoroussojourn,Andherearetobeanswer'd.Tellme,mydaughters,--Sincenowwewilldivestusbothofrule,Interestofterritory,caresofstate,--Whichofyoushallwesaydothloveusmost?ThatweourlargestbountymayextendWherenaturedothwithmeritchallenge.Goneril,Oureldest-born,speakfirst.GONERILSir,Iloveyoumorethanwordscanwieldthematter;Dearerthaneye-sight,space,andliberty;Beyondwhatcanbevalued,richorrare;Nolessthanlife,withgrace,health,beauty,honour;Asmuchaschilde'erloved,orfatherfound;Alovethatmakesbreathpoor,andspeechunable;BeyondallmannerofsomuchIloveyou.CORDELIA[Aside]WhatshallCordeliado?Love,andbesilent.LEAROfallthesebounds,evenfromthislinetothis,Withshadowyforestsandwithchampainsrich'd,Withplenteousriversandwide-skirtedmeads,Wemaketheelady:tothineandAlbany'sissueBethisperpetual.Whatsaysourseconddaughter,OurdearestRegan,wifetoCornwall?Speak.REGANSir,IammadeOftheself-samemetalthatmysisteris,Andprizemeatherworth.InmytrueheartIfindshenamesmyverydeedoflove;Onlyshecomestooshort:thatIprofessMyselfanenemytoallotherjoys,Whichthemostprecioussquareofsensepossesses;AndfindIamalonefelicitateInyourdearhighness'love.CORDELIA[Aside]ThenpoorCordelia!Andyetnotso;since,Iamsure,mylove'sMorericherthanmytongue.KINGLEARTotheeandthinehereditaryeverRemainthisamplethirdofourfairkingdom;Nolessinspace,validity,andpleasure,Thanthatconferr'donGoneril.Now,ourjoy,Althoughthelast,notleast;towhoseyoungloveThevinesofFranceandmilkofBurgundyStrivetobeinteress'd;whatcanyousaytodrawAthirdmoreopulentthanyoursisters?Speak.CORDELIANothing,mylord.KINGLEARNothing!CORDELIANothing.KINGLEARNothingwillcomeofnothing:speakagain.CORDELIAUnhappythatIam,IcannotheaveMyheartintomymouth:IloveyourmajestyAccordingtomybond;normorenorless.KINGLEARHow,how,Cordelia!mendyourspeechalittle,Lestitmaymaryourfortunes.CORDELIAGoodmylord,Youhavebegotme,bredme,lovedme:IReturnthosedutiesbackasarerightfit,Obeyyou,loveyou,andmosthonouryou.Whyhavemysistershusbands,iftheysayTheyloveyouall?Haply,whenIshallwed,ThatlordwhosehandmusttakemyplightshallcarryHalfmylovewithhim,halfmycareandduty:Sure,Ishallnevermarrylikemysisters,Tolovemyfatherall.KINGLEARButgoesthyheartwiththis?CORDELIAAy,goodmylord.KINGLEARSoyoung,andsountender?CORDELIASoyoung,mylord,andtrue.KINGLEARLetitbeso;thytruth,then,bethydower:For,bythesacredradianceofthesun,ThemysteriesofHecate,andthenight;ByalltheoperationoftheorbsFromwhomwedoexist,andceasetobe;HereIdisclaimallmypaternalcare,Propinquityandpropertyofblood,AndasastrangertomyheartandmeHoldthee,fromthis,forever.ThebarbarousScythian,OrhethatmakeshisgenerationmessesTogorgehisappetite,shalltomybosomBeaswellneighbour'd,pitied,andrelieved,Asthoumysometimedaughter.KENTGoodmyliege,--KINGLEARPeace,Kent!Comenotbetweenthedragonandhiswrath.Ilovedhermost,andthoughttosetmyrestOnherkindnursery.Hence,andavoidmysight!Sobemygravemypeace,ashereIgiveHerfather'sheartfromher!CallFrance;whostirs?CallBurgundy.CornwallandAlbany,Withmytwodaughters'dowersdigestthisthird:Letpride,whichshecallsplainness,marryher.Idoinvestyoujointlywithmypower,Pre-eminence,andallthelargeeffectsThattroopwithmajesty.Ourself,bymonthlycourse,Withreservationofanhundredknights,Byyoutobesustain'd,