The History of King Lear/Act I

[Enter Bastard solus.]

Bast.
 * Thou Nature art my Goddess, to thy Law
 * My Services are bound, why am I then
 * Depriv'd of a Son's Right because I came not
 * In the dull Road that custom has prescrib'd?
 * Why Bastard, wherefore Base, when I can boast
 * A Mind as gen'rous and a Shape as true
 * As honest Madam's Issue? why are we
 * Held Base, who in the lusty stealth of Nature
 * Take fiercer Qualities than what compound
 * The scanted Births of the stale Marriage-bed?
 * Well then, legitimate Edgar, to thy right
 * Of Law I will oppose a Bastard's Cunning.
 * Our Father's Love is to the Bastard Edmund
 * As to Legitimate Edgar: with success
 * I've practis'd yet on both their easie Natures:
 * Here comes the old Man chaf't with th' Information
 * Which last I forg'd against my Brother Edgar,
 * A Tale so plausible, so boldly utter'd
 * And heightned by such lucky Accidents,
 * That now the slightest circumstance confirms him,
 * And Base-born Edmund spight of Law inherits.

[Enter Kent and Gloster.]

Glost.
 * Nay, good my Lord, your Charity
 * O'reshoots it self to plead in his behalf;
 * You are your self a Father, and may feel
 * The sting of disobedience from a Son
 * First-born and best Belov'd: Oh Villain Edgar!

Kent.
 * Be not too rash, all may be forgery,
 * And time yet clear the Duty of your Son.

Glost.
 * Plead with the Seas, and reason down the Winds,
 * Yet shalt thou ne're convince me, I have seen
 * His foul Designs through all a Father's fondness:
 * But be this Light and Thou my Witnesses
 * That I discard him here from my Possessions,
 * Divorce him from my Heart, my Blood and Name.

Bast.
 * It works as I cou'd wish; I'll shew my self.

Glost.
 * Ha Edmund! welcome Boy; O Kent see here
 * Inverted Nature, Gloster's Shame and Glory,
 * This By-born, the wild sally of my Youth,
 * Pursues me with all filial Offices,
 * Whilst Edgar, begg'd of Heaven and born in Honour,
 * Draws plagues on my white head that urge me still
 * To curse in Age the pleasure of my Youth.
 * Nay weep not, Edmund, for thy Brother's crimes;
 * O gen'rous Boy, thou shar'st but half his blood,
 * Yet lov'st beyond the kindness of a Brother.
 * But I'll reward thy Vertue. Follow me.
 * My Lord, you wait the King who comes resolv'd
 * To quit the Toils of Empire, and divide
 * His Realms amongst his Daughters, Heaven succeed it,
 * But much I fear the Change.

Kent.
 * I grieve to see him
 * With such wild starts of passion hourly seiz'd,
 * As renders Majesty beneath it self.

Glost.
 * Alas! 'tis the Infirmity of his Age,
 * Yet has his Temper ever been unfixt,
 * Chol'rick and suddain; hark, They approach.

[Exeunt Gloster and Bast.]

[''Flourish. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Burgundy, Edgar, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Edgar speaking to Cordelia at Entrance''.]

Edgar.
 * Cordelia, royal Fair, turn yet once more,
 * And e're successfull Burgundy receive
 * The treasure of thy Beauties from the King,
 * E're happy Burgundy for ever fold Thee,
 * Cast back one pitying Look on wretched Edgar.

Cord.
 * Alas what wou'd the wretched Edgar with
 * The more Unfortunate Cordelia;
 * Who in obedience to a Father's will
 * Flys from her Edgar ' s Arms to Burgundy's?

Lear.
 * Attend my Lords of Albany and Cornwall
 * With Princely Burgundy.

Alb.
 * We do, my Liege.

Lear.
 * Give me the Mapp — know, Lords, We have divided
 * In Three our Kingdom, having now resolved
 * To disengage from Our long Toil of State,
 * Conferring All upon your younger years;
 * You, Burgundy, Cornwall and Albany
 * Long in Our Court have made your amorous sojourn
 * And now are to be answer'd — tell me my Daughters
 * Which of you Loves Us most, that We may place
 * Our largest Bounty with the largest Merit.
 * Gonerill, Our Eldest-born, speak first.

Gon.
 * Sir, I do love You more than words can utter,
 * Beyond what can be valu'd, Rich or Rare,
 * Nor Liberty, nor Sight, Health, Fame, or Beauty
 * Are half so dear, my Life for you were vile,
 * As much as Child can love the best of Fathers.

Lear.
 * Of all these Bounds, ev'n from this Line to this
 * With shady Forests and wide-skirted Meads,
 * We make Thee Lady, to thine and Albany's Issue
 * Be this perpetual — What says Our Second Daughter?

Reg.
 * My Sister, Sir, in part exprest my Love,
 * For such as Hers, is mine, though more extended;
 * Sense has no other Joy that I can relish,
 * I have my All in my dear Lieges Love!

Lear.
 * Therefore to thee and thine Hereditary
 * Remain this ample Third of our fair Kingdom.

Cord. [Aside]
 * Now comes my Trial, how am I distrest,
 * That must with cold speech tempt the chol'rick King
 * Rather to leave me Dowerless, than condemn me
 * To loath'd Embraces!

Lear.
 * Speak now Our last, not least in Our dear Love,
 * So ends my Task of State, — Cordelia speak,
 * What canst Thou say to win a richer Third
 * Than what thy Sisters gain'd?

Cord.
 * Now must my Love in words fall short of theirs
 * As much as it exceeds in Truth — Nothing my Lord.

Lear.
 * Nothing can come of Nothing, speak agen.

Cord.
 * Unhappy am I that I can't dissemble,
 * Sir, as I ought, I love your Majesty,
 * No more nor less.

Lear.
 * Take heed Cordelia,
 * Thy Fortunes are at stake, think better on't
 * And mend thy Speech a little.

Cord.
 * O my Liege,
 * You gave me Being, Bred me, dearly Love me,
 * And I return my duty as I ought,
 * Obey you, Love you, and most Honour you!
 * Why have my Sisters Husbands, if they love you All?
 * Happ'ly when I shall Wed, the Lord whose Hand
 * Shall take my Plight, will carry half my Love,
 * For I shall never marry, like my Sisters,
 * To Love my Father All.

Lear.
 * And goes thy Heart with this?
 * 'Tis said that I am Chol'rick, judge me Gods,
 * Is there not cause? now Minion I perceive
 * The Truth of what has been suggested to Us,
 * Thy Fondness for the Rebel Son of Gloster,
 * False to his Father, as Thou art to my Hopes:
 * And oh take heed, rash Girl, lest We comply
 * With thy fond wishes, which thou wilt too late
 * Repent, for know Our nature cannot brook
 * A Child so young and so Ungentle.

Cord.
 * So young my Lord and True.

Lear.
 * Thy Truth then be thy Dow'r,
 * For by the sacred Sun and solemn Night
 * I here disclaim all my paternal Care,
 * And from this minute hold thee as a Stranger
 * Both to my Blood and Favour.

Kent.
 * This is Frenzy.
 * Consider, good my Liege —

Lear.
 * Peace Kent.
 * Come not between a Dragon and his Rage.
 * I lov'd her most, and in her tender Trust
 * Design'd to have bestow'd my Age at Ease!
 * So be my Grave my Peace as here I give
 * My Heart from her, and with it all my Wealth:
 * My Lords of Cornwall and of Albany,
 * I do invest you jointly with full Right
 * In this fair Third, Cordelia's forfeit Dow'r.
 * Mark me, My Lords, observe Our last Resolve,
 * Our Self attended with an hundred Knights
 * Will make Aboad with you in monthly Course,
 * The Name alone of King remain with me,
 * Yours be the Execution and Revenues,
 * This is Our final Will, and to confirm it
 * This Coronet part between you.

Kent.
 * Royal Lear,
 * Whom I have ever honour'd as my King,
 * Lov'd as my Father, as my Master follow'd,
 * And as my Patron thought on in my Pray'rs&mdash;

Lear.
 * Away, the Bow is bent, make from the Shaft.

Kent.
 * No, let it fall and drench within my Heart,
 * Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad:
 * Thy youngest Daughter&mdash;

Lear.
 * On thy Life no more.

Kent.
 * What wilt thou doe, old Man?

Lear.
 * Out of my sight!

Kent.
 * See better first.

Lear.
 * Now by the gods&mdash;

Kent.
 * Now by the gods, rash King, thou swear'st in vain.

Lear.
 * Ha Traytour&mdash;

Kent.
 * Do, kill thy Physician, Lear,
 * Strike through my Throat, yet with my latest Breath
 * I'll Thunder in thine Ear my just Complaint,
 * And tell Thee to thy Face that Thou dost ill.

Lear.
 * Hear me rash Man, on thy Allegiance hear me;
 * Since thou hast striv'n to make Us break our Vow
 * And prest between our Sentence and our Pow'r,
 * Which nor our Nature nor our Place can bear,
 * We banish thee for ever from our Sight
 * And Kingdom; if when Three days are expir'd
 * Thy hated Trunk be found in our Dominions
 * That moment is thy Death; Away.

Kent.
 * Why fare thee well, King, since thou art resolv'd,
 * I take thee at thy word, and will not stay
 * To see thy Fall: the gods protect the Maid
 * That truly thinks, and has most justly said.
 * Thus to new Climates my old Truth I bear,
 * Friendship lives Hence, and Banishment is Here.

[Exit.]

Lear.
 * Now Burgundy, you see her Price is faln,
 * Yet if the fondness of your Passion still
 * Affects her as she stands, Dow'rless, and lost
 * In our Esteem, she's yours, take her or leave her.

Burg.
 * Pardon me, Royal Lear, I but demand
 * The Dow'r your Self propos'd, and here I take
 * Cordelia by the Hand Dutchess of Burgundy.

Lear.
 * Then leave her Sir, for by a Father's rage
 * I tell you all her Wealth. Away.

Burg.
 * Then Sir be pleas'd to charge the breach
 * Of our Alliance on your own Will
 * Not my Inconstancy.

[''Exeunt. Manent Edgar and'' Cordelia.]

Edg.
 * Has Heaven then weigh'd the merit of my Love,
 * Or is't the raving of my sickly Thought?
 * Cou'd Burgundy forgoe so rich a Prize
 * And leave her to despairing Edgar ' s Arms?
 * Have I thy Hand Cordelia, do I clasp it,
 * The Hand that was this minute to have join'd
 * My hated Rivals? do I kneel before thee
 * And offer at thy feet my panting Heart?
 * Smile, Princess, and convince me, for as yet
 * I doubt, and dare not trust the dazling Joy.

Cord.
 * Some Comfort yet that 'twas no vicious Blot
 * That has depriv'd me of a Father's Grace,
 * But meerly want of that that makes me rich
 * In wanting it, a smooth professing Tongue:
 * O Sisters, I am loth to call your fault
 * As it deserves; but use our Father well,
 * And wrong'd Cordelia never shall repine.

Edg.
 * O heav'nly Maid that art thy self thy Dow'r,
 * Richer in Vertue than the Stars in Light,
 * If Edgar's humble fortunes may be grac't
 * With thy Acceptance, at thy feet he lays 'em.
 * Ha my Cordelia! dost thou turn away?
 * What have I done t'offend Thee?

Cord.
 * Talk't of Love.

Edg.
 * Then I've offended oft, Cordelia too
 * Has oft permitted me so to offend.

Cord.
 * When, Edgar, I permitted your Addresses,
 * I was the darling Daughter of a King,
 * Nor can I now forget my royal Birth,
 * And live dependent on my Lover's Fortune.
 * I cannot to so low a fate submit,
 * And therefore study to forget your Passion,
 * And trouble me upon this Theam no more.

Edg.
 * Thus Majesty takes most State in Distress!
 * How are we tost on Fortune's fickle flood!
 * The Wave that with surprising kindness brought
 * The dear Wreck to my Arms, has snatcht it back,
 * And left me mourning on the barren Shore.

Cord. [Aside]
 * This Baseness of th' ignoble Burgundy
 * Draws just suspicion on the Race of Men,
 * His Love was Int'rest, so may Edgar's be
 * And He but with more Complement dissemble;
 * If so, I shall oblige him by Denying:
 * But if his Love be fixt, such Constant flame
 * As warms our Breasts, if such I find his Passion,
 * My Heart as gratefull to his Truth shall be,
 * And Cold Cordelia prove as Kind as He.

[Exit.]

[Enter Bastard hastily.]

Bast.
 * Brother, I've found you in a lucky minute,
 * Fly and be safe, some Villain has incens'd
 * Our Father against your Life.

Edg.
 * Distrest Cordelia! but oh! more Cruel!

Bast.
 * Hear me Sir, your Life, your Life's in Danger.

Edg.
 * A Resolve so sudden
 * And of such black Importance!

Bast.
 * 'Twas not sudden,
 * Some Villain has of long time laid the Train.

Edg.
 * And yet perhaps 'twas but pretended Coldness,
 * To try how far my passion would pursue.

Bast.
 * He hears me not; wake, wake Sir.

Edg.
 * Say ye Brother?&mdash;
 * No Tears good Edmund, if thou bringst me tidings
 * To strike me dead, for Charity delay not,
 * That present will befit so kind a Hand.

Bast.
 * Your danger Sir comes on so fast
 * That I want time t'inform you, but retire
 * Whilst I take care to turn the pressing Stream.
 * O gods! for Heav'ns sake Sir.

Edg.
 * Pardon me Sir, a serious Thought
 * Had seiz'd me, but I think you talkt of danger
 * And wisht me to Retire; must all our Vows
 * End thus!&mdash; Friend I obey you&mdash; O Cordelia!

[Exit.]

Bast.
 * Ha! ha! fond Man, such credulous Honesty
 * Lessens the Glory of my Artifice,
 * His Nature is so far from doing wrongs
 * That he suspects none: if this Letter speed
 * And pass for Edgar ' s, as himself wou'd own
 * The Counterfeit but for the foul Contents,
 * Then my designs are perfect&mdash; here comes Gloster.

[Enter Gloster.]

Glost.
 * Stay Edmund, turn, what paper were you reading?

Bast.
 * A Trifle Sir.

Glost.
 * What needed then that terrible dispatch of it
 * Into your Pocket, come produce it Sir.

Bast.
 * A Letter from my Brother Sir, I had
 * Just broke the Seal but knew not the Contents,
 * Yet fearing they might prove to blame
 * Endeavour'd to conceal it from your sight.

Glost.
 * 'Tis Edgar ' s Character.
 * [Reads.] This Policy of Fathers is intollerable that keeps our Fortunes from us till Age will not suffer us to enjoy 'em; I am weary of the Tyranny: Come to me that of this I may speak more: if our Father would sleep till I wak't him, you shou'd enjoy half his Possessions, and live beloved of your Brother
 * Edgar.


 * Slept till I wake him, you shou'd enjoy
 * Half his possessions — Edgar to write this
 * 'Gainst his indulgent Father! Death and Hell!
 * Fly, Edmund, seek him out, wind me into him
 * That I may bite the Traytor's heart, and fold
 * His bleeding Entrals on my vengefull Arm.

Bast.
 * Perhaps 'twas writ, my Lord, to prove my Vertue.

Glost.
 * These late Eclipses of the Sun and Moon
 * Can bode no less; Love cools, and friendship fails,
 * In Cities mutiny, in Countrys discord,
 * The bond of Nature crack't 'twixt Son and Father:
 * Find out the Villain, do it carefully
 * And it shall lose thee nothing.

[Exit.]

Bast.
 * So, now my project's firm, but to make sure
 * I'll throw in one proof more and that a bold one;
 * I'll place old Gloster where he shall o're-hear us
 * Confer of this design, whilst to his thinking,
 * Deluded Edgar shall accuse himself.
 * Be Honesty my Int'rest and I can
 * Be honest too, and what Saint so Divine
 * That will successfull Villany decline!

[Exit.]

[Enter Kent disguis'd.]

Kent.
 * Now banisht Kent, if thou canst pay thy duty
 * In this disguise where thou dost stand condemn'd,
 * Thy Master Lear shall find thee full of Labours.

[Enter Lear attended.]

Lear.
 * In there, and tell our Daughter we are here
 * Now; What art Thou?

Kent.
 * A Man, Sir.

Lear.
 * What dost thou profess, or wou'dst with us?

Kent.
 * I do profess to be no less then I seem, to serve him truly that puts me in Trust, to love him that's Honest, to converse with him that's wise and speaks little, to fight when I can't choose; and to eat no Fish.

Lear.
 * I say, what art Thou?

Kent.
 * A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the King.

Lear.
 * Then art thou poor indeed — What can'st thou do?

Kent.
 * I can keep honest Counsel, marr a curious Tale in the telling, deliver a plain Message bluntly, that which ordinary Men are fit for I am qualify'd in, and the best of me is Diligence.

Lear.
 * Follow me, thou shalt serve me.

[Enter one of Gonerill's Gentlemen.]
 * Now Sir?

Gent.
 * Sir&mdash;

[Exit; Kent runs after him.]

Lear.
 * What says the fellow? Call the Clatpole back.

Att.
 * My Lord, I know not, but methinks your Highness is entertain'd with slender Ceremony.

Servant.
 * He says, my Lord, your Daughter is not well.

Lear.
 * Why came not the Slave back when I call'd him?

Serv.
 * My Lord, he answer'd me i'th' surliest manner,
 * That he wou'd not.

[Re-enter Gentleman brought in by Kent.]

Lear.
 * I hope our Daughter did not so instruct him:
 * Now, who am I Sir?

Gent.
 * My Ladies Father.

Lear.
 * My Lord's Knave&mdash;

[Strikes him.]

[Gonerill at the Entrance.]

Gent.
 * I'll not be struck my Lord.

Kent.
 * Nor tript neither, thou vile Civet-box.

[Strikes up his heels.]

Gon.
 * By Day and Night this is insufferable,
 * I will not bear it.

Lear.
 * Now, Daughter, why that frontlet on?
 * Speak, do's that Frown become our Presence?

Gon.
 * Sir, this licentious Insolence of your Servants
 * Is most unseemly, hourly they break out
 * In quarrels bred by their unbounded Riots,
 * I had fair hope by making this known to you
 * T'have had a quick Redress, but find too late
 * That you protect and countenance their out-rage;
 * And therefore, Sir, I take this freedom, which
 * Necessity makes Discreet.

Lear.
 * Are you our Daughter?

Gon.
 * Come, Sir, let me entreat you to make use
 * Of your discretion, and put off betimes
 * This Disposition that of late transforms you
 * From what you rightly are.

Lear.
 * Do's any here know me? why this is not Lear.
 * Do's Lear walk thus? speak thus? where are his Eyes?
 * Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Gon.
 * Come, Sir, this Admiration's much o'th' savour
 * Of other your new humours, I beseech you
 * To understand my purposes aright;
 * As you are old, you shou'd be staid and wise,
 * Here do you keep an hundred Knights and Squires,
 * Men so debaucht and bold that this our Palace
 * Shews like a riotous Inn, a Tavern, Brothel;
 * Be then advised by her that else will take
 * The she beggs, to lessen your Attendance,
 * Take half a way, and see that the remainder
 * Be such as may befit your Age, and know
 * Themselves and you.

Lear.
 * Darkness and Devils!
 * Saddle my Horses, call my Train together,
 * Degenerate Viper, I'll not stay with Thee;
 * I yet have left a Daughter — Serpent, Monster,
 * Lessen my Train, and call 'em riotous?
 * All men approv'd of choice and rarest Parts,
 * That each particular of duty know —
 * How small, Cordelia, was thy Fault? O Lear,
 * Beat at this Gate that let thy Folly in,
 * And thy dear Judgment out; Go, go, my People.

[Going off meets Albany entring.]
 * Ingratefull Duke, was this your will?

Alb.
 * What Sir?

Lear.
 * Death! fifty of my Followers at a clap!

Alb.
 * The matter Madam?

Gon.
 * Never afflict your self to know the Cause,
 * But give his Dotage way.

Lear.
 * Blasts upon thee,
 * Th' untented woundings of a Father's Curse
 * Pierce ev'ry Sense about Thee; old fond Eyes [390]
 * Lament this Cause again, I'll pluck ye out
 * And cast ye with the Waters that ye lose
 * To temper Clay&mdash; No, Gorgon, thou shalt find
 * That I'll resume the Shape which thou dost think
 * I have cast off for ever.

Gon.
 * Mark ye that.

Lear.
 * Hear Nature!
 * Dear Goddess hear, and if thou dost intend
 * To make that Creature fruitfull, change thy purpose;
 * Pronounce upon her Womb the barren Curse,
 * That from her blasted Body never spring
 * A Babe to honour her&mdash; but if she must bring forth,
 * Defeat her Joy with some distorted Birth,
 * Or monstrous Form, the Prodigy o'th' Time,
 * And so perverse of spirit, that it may Live
 * Her Torment as 'twas Born, to fret her Cheeks
 * With constant Tears, and wrinkle her young Brow.
 * Turn all her Mother's Pains to Shame and Scorn,
 * That she may curse her Crime too late, and feel
 * How sharper than a Serpent's Tooth it is
 * To have a Thankless Child! Away, away.

[Exit cum suis.]

Gon.
 * Presuming thus upon his numerous Train
 * He thinks to play the Tyrant here, and hold
 * Our Lives at will.

Alb.
 * Well, you may bear too far.

[Ex.]