King Lear

King Lear

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

Gloucester

I shall, my liege.

Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund.

King Lear

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 Unburthen’d 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’ several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The 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 answer’d. 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.

Goneril

Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; 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.

Cordelia

Aside. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent.

Lear

Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take More composition and fierce quality Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops, Got ’tween asleep and wake? Well, then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land: Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate: fine word⁠—legitimate! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper: Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Enter Gloucester.

Gloucester

Kent banish’d thus! and France in choler parted! And the king gone to-night! subscribed his power! Confined to exhibition! All this done Upon the gad! Edmund, how now! what news?

King Lear

Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there’s earnest of thy service. Giving Kent money.

Enter Fool.

Fool

Let me hire him too: here’s my coxcomb. Offering Kent his cap.

King Lear

How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?

Fool

Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Kent

Why, fool?

Fool

Why, for taking one’s part that’s out of favour: nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou’lt catch cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow has banished two on’s daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!

King Lear

Why, my boy?

Fool

If I gave them all my living, I’ld keep my coxcombs myself. There’s mine; beg another of thy daughters.

King Lear

Take heed, sirrah; the whip.

Fool

Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink.

King Lear

A pestilent gall to me!

Fool

Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech.

King Lear

Do.

Fool

Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou trowest, Set less than thou throwest; Leave thy drink and thy whore, And keep in-a-door, And thou shalt have more Than two tens to a score.

Kent

This is nothing, fool.

Albany

Pray, sir, be patient.

King Lear

To Goneril. Detested kite! thou liest. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know, And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! That, like an engine, wrench’d my frame of nature From the fix’d place; drew from heart all love, And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in, Striking his head. And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.

Albany

My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath moved you.

King Lear

It may be so, my lord. Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful! Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honour her! If she must teem, Create her child of spleen; that it may live, And be a thwart disnatured torment to her! Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth; With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks; Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits To laughter and contempt; that she may feel How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child! Away, away! Exit.

Albany

Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Goneril

Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it.

What need one?

King Lear

O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life’s as cheap as beast’s: thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear’st, Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need⁠— You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both! If it be you that stir these daughters’ hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger, And let not women’s weapons, water-drops, Stain my man’s cheeks! No, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall⁠—I will do such things⁠— What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be The terrors of the earth. You think I’ll weep No, I’ll not weep: I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or ere I’ll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!