King Lear Act 1, Scene 1 Enter,, and 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, for equalities are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either s moiety. (indicating ) 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, sir, a son by order of law, some year older 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. 25 My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honorable friend. My services to your lordship.,, and enter. I thought the king liked the Duke of Albany more than the Duke of Cornwall. It always seemed like that to me too. But now that he has divided the kingdom, no one can tell which duke he prefe the most. He's divided the kingdom so evenly that not even the closest scrutiny reveals any favoritism to either one. (pointing to ) Isn't this your son, my lord? Well, his education has certainly been at my expense. I used to be embarrassed to acknowledge him as my son, but I've done it so many times now that I can do it without blushing. I can't conceive what you mean. Well, sir, this young fellow's mother certainly could conceive she conceived him. She got pregnant and had a son for her crib before she had a husband in her bed. Do you smell a sin in this? Well, I can't wish to undo the sin, since its result your son turned out so well. I also have a legitimate son, sir, a few years older than this one, though he's not more valuable to me than Edmund. This rascal Edmund may have come into this world somewhat rudely, and before he was meant to, but his mother was beautiful, we had a good time making him, and I must now acknowledge the bastard as my son. (to Edmund) Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? No, my lord. This is Lord Kent. Remember him from now on, as he is my honorable friend. I'm at your service, my lord. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 1
I must love you and sue to know you better. Sir, I shall study deserving. 30 He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. I sincerely look forward to knowing you better. Sir, I'll try to earn your approval. He's been abroad for nine years, and he's soon leaving again. Sennet. A trumpet call announces the arrival of the king. The king is coming. Enter one bearing a coronet, then King, then the Dukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY, next GONERIL, REGAN,, and attendants Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. I shall, my lord. Exit Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. 35 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, 40 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 two great princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter s love, 45 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 50 That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge? Goneril, Our eldest born, speak first. GONERIL Sir, I do love you more than words can wield the matter, Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty, 55 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor, 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. 60 (aside) What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. The king is coming. A man enters bearing a crown, followed by KING, then the Dukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY, then GONERIL, REGAN,, and attendants. Go attend to the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. I will, my lord. and exit. In the meantime I will discuss my more secret plan. Give me that map there. I now declare that I have divided my kingdom into three parts, which will be handed over to my son-in-laws. It's my firm intention to free myself from all worry and business in my old age, so that I can crawl unburdened towards death. To my son-in-law Cornwall, and my equally loving son-in-law Albany, at this time I want to publicly announce what each of my daughters will inherit from me, so as to prevent quarreling after I die. The two great rulers of France and Burgundy, who are rivals in pursuing my youngest daughter's love, have stayed at my court for a long time, and they will soon have their answer. Now tell me, my daughters, (since I'm about to give up my throne, my lands, and the worries and stress of being a ruler), tell me which one of you loves me the most, so I can give my greatest gifts to the one who best deserves them. Goneril, my oldest, you speak first. GONERIL Sir, I love you more than words can express, more dearly than eyesight, space, and liberty, beyond all wealth, no matter how valuable or precious. I love you as much as life itself, and I love you with all my grace, health, beauty, and honor, as much as any daughter ever loved, or any father ever received my love is so great that it makes my voice weak and my words fail. I love you beyond any comparison I could ever make. (to herself) What will I do when it's my turn to speak? I can only love, and be silent. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 2
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains riched, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady. To thine and Albany s issue 65 Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak. REGAN Sir, I am made of that self mettle as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart, 70 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. 75 (aside) Then poor Cordelia! And yet not so, since I am sure my love s More ponderous than my tongue. To thee and thine hereditary ever Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, 80 No less in space, validity, and pleasure Than that conferred on Goneril. But now, our joy, Although our last and least, to whose young love The vines of France and milk of Burgundy Strive to be interessed. What can you say to draw 85 A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Nothing, my lord. Nothing? Nothing. How? Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. 90 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. I now give you all this land, from this line to that one, containing dark forests, fertile plains, bountiful rivers, and wide meadows. This land will forever belong to you and Albany's descendants. Now what does my second daughter, my dear Regan, Cornwall's wife, have to say? Speak. REGAN Sir, I am made of the same materials as my sister, and I consider myself her equal in my love for you. Truly, she has described my feelings for you exactly but she fell a little short. I reject any joy whatsoever except my love for you, which is everything I need in life, and I find that the only thing that makes me truly happy is your dear highness's love. (to herself) And now it's poor Cordelia's turn! And yet I'm not poor at all, for my love is weightier and more sincere than my words. To you and your heirs I now give this large third of my fair kingdom, which is no less in area, value, or beauty than the land I gave to Goneril. But now for Cordelia, the joy of my life, though the youngest of my daughters, who has been courted so seriously by the rulers of fertile France and Burgundy. What can you tell me that will earn a larger portion of my kingdom than your sisters? Nothing, my lord. Nothing? Nothing. What is this? "Nothing" will earn you nothing. Speak again. I am unlucky, for I can't put my heart's emotions into words. I love your majesty as a daughter should love her father, no more and no less. What is this, Cordelia? Fix your speech a little, or you may damage your future. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 3
Good my lord, 95 You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I Return those duties back as are right fit Obey you, love you, and most honor you. Why have my sisters husbands if they say They love you all? Haply when I shall wed 100 That lord whose hand must 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? 105 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, 110 The mysteries of Hecate and the night, By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity, and property of blood, 115 And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved As thou my sometime daughter. 120 Good my liege Peace, Kent. Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I loved her most and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery. (to ) Hence, and avoid my sight! 125 So be my grave my peace as here I give Her father s heart from her. Call France. Who stirs? Call Burgundy. Exeunt several attendants My lord, you fathered me, raised me, and loved me. In return, I am dutiful to you, as I should be I obey you, love you, and honor you. Why do my sisters have husbands if they claim that they love only you? I hope that when I get married, my husband will take half of my love, and half of my care and sense of duty. Surely I'll never get married like my sisters are married loving only their father. But do you really mean this? Yes, my good lord. So young and so heartless? So young, my lord, and honest. Then this is how it will be: your truth will be your only inheritance. For now I swear by the holy light of the sun, the mysteries of witchcraft and the night, and by all the stars whose movements contro our lives I hereby disown you as my daughter. I give up all my duties as a father and dissolve all family ties between us. From now on you will be a stranger to me. Even a foreign barbarian who eats his own children will be as close to my heart as you are, my former daughter. But your majesty Quiet, Kent. Don't come between the dragon and its anger. I loved Cordelia most of all, and had hoped to spend my old age in her loving care. (to ) Now go away, get out of my sight! I'll only have peace when I'm dead, now that I've decided to stop loving her. Call the King of France. Will someone go? Call the Duke of Burgundy. Several attendants exit. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 4
Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third. Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. 130 I do invest you jointly with my power, Preeminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of an hundred knights By you to be sustained, shall our abode 135 Make with you by due turns. Only shall we retain The name, and all th' additions to a king. The sway, revenue, execution of the rest, Belovèd sons, be yours; which to confirm, This coronet part between you. (gives CORNWALL and ALBANY the coronet) Royal Lear, 140 Whom I have ever honored as my king, Loved as my father, as my master followed, As my great patron thought on in my prayers The bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade 145 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? To plainness honor s bound When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, 150 And in thy best consideration check This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least, Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound Reverbs no hollowness. Cornwall and Albany, you divide Cornelia's third of my kingdom between you. Let her marry her pride, which she calls "honesty." I now give the two of you all my power, privileges, and the riches that come with kingship. For myself I will keep an entourage of a hundred knights, and I will live with one of you one month, and the other the next month. I'll keep the title of king and its accompanying honors, but everything else the power, responsibility, and income is now yours, my beloved son-inlaws. To confirm this, take this crown and share it between you. (giving CORNWALL and ALBANY the crown) Royal Lear, I've always honored you as my king, loved you as my father, followed you as my master, and thanked you as my benefactor in my prayers I've already bent my bow and taken aim. Get out of the way of the arrow. Let it strike me, no matter what, even if the arrow strikes my heart. Kent must be rude when Lear is acting madly. What are you doing, old man? Do you think that loyal men will be afraid to speak when a king gives in to flattery? If I consider myself honorable, then I'm obligated to speak bluntly when majesty turns to foolishness. Use your best judgment and rethink this rash, horrible decision. I swear on my life that your youngest daughter doesn't love you the least just because her words don't echo hollowly, it doesn't mean her heart is unloving. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent, if you value your life, say no more. 155 My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies, nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being motive. I've never valued my life except as a tool you could use against your enemies. I don't fear to lose my life if it will help preserve your safety. Out of my sight! Get out of my sight! See better, Lear, and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. 160 Now, by Apollo Now, by Apollo, King, Thou swear st thy gods in vain. O vassal! Miscreant! If it will help you see better, Lear, let me stay here and always be the target of your angry looks. Now, I swear by Apollo You swear by Apollo, King? Now you're taking the names of the gods in vain. You peasant! Villain! 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 5