King Lear — William Shakespeare
The Chronicle History of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters Layout 2 The Yale Shakespeare THE CHRONICLE HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING LEAR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS EDITED BY WILLIAM LYON PHELPS NEW HAVEN · YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON · HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS · MCMXVII Copyright , 1917 By Yale University Press First published, October, 1917 Here Love the slain with Love the slayer lies; Deep drown'd are both in the same sunless pool. Up from its depths that mirror thundering skies Bubbles the wan mirth of the mirthless Fool. — William Watson TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE The Text1 Act I1 Act II36 Act III61 Act IV85 Act V113 Notes131 Appendix A. Sources of the Play138 Appendix B. History of the Play143 Appendix C. Text of the Present Edition146 Appendix D. Suggestions for Collateral Reading147 Index of Words Glossed148 The facsimile opposite represents the title-page of the Elizabethan Club copy of the spurious "1608" quarto. Though purporting to belong to that year, this edition is now known to be an interesting forgery, executed about 1619. A discussion of the relation between this and the genuine 1608 quarto, together with the imprint of the latter, will be found on p. 143. Of the spurious edition, some twenty-eight copies, are known to survive; of the genuine, ten . THE YALE SHAKESPEARE Edited by Wilbur L. Cross Tucker Brooke Willard Higley Durham Published under the Direction of the Department of English, Yale University, on the Fund Given to the Yale University Press in 1917 by the Members of the Kingsley Trust Association To Commemorate the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Society The Text Layout 2 King Lear [DRAMATIS PERSONÆ Lear , King of Britain King of France Duke of Burgundy Duke of Cornwall Duke of Albany Earl of Kent Earl of Gloucester Edgar , Son to Gloucester Edmund , Bastard Son to Gloucester Curan , a Courtier Oswald , Steward to Goneril Old Man, Tenant to Gloucester Doctor Fool A Captain, employed by Edmund A Gentleman, Attendant on Cordelia A Herald Servants to Cornwall Goneril , Daughters to Lear Regan , Cordelia , Knights of Lear's Train, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants Scene : Britain .] Act I Layout 2 ACT FIRST Scene One [ King Lear's Palace ] Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund . Kent . I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Glo . 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 equali- ties are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety . Kent . Is not this your son, my lord? 8 Glo . His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am so brazed to it. Kent . I cannot conceive you. 12 Glo . 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? 16 Kent . I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper . Glo . 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 some- what saucily into 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 gentle- man, Edmund? 26 Edm . No, my lord. Glo . My Lord of Kent: remember him here- after as my honourable friend. Edm . My services to your lordship. Kent . I must love you, and sue to know you better. 32 Edm . Sir, I shall study deserving . Glo . He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. Sennet . Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants . Lear . Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. 36 Glo . I shall, my liege. Exit [ with Edmund .] 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, 41 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, 44 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, 48 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,— 52 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. 56 Gon . Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space , and liberty; Beyond what can be valu'd, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; 60 As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found; A love that makes breath poor and speech unable ; Beyond all manner of so much I love you. Cor . [ Aside .] What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. 64 Lear . Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter, 69 Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak. Reg . I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love; 73 Only she comes too short: that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys Which the most precious square of sense possesses 76 And find I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love. Cor . [ Aside .] Then, poor Cordelia! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love 's More richer than my tongue. 80 Lear . To thee and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of