No Fear Shakespeare: King Lear: Act 5, Scene 1 - Napa Valley College

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Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2

Act 1, Scene 1

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Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND

KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND enter.

KENT I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

KENT I thought the king preferred the Duke of Albany to the Duke of Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER 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.

GLOUCESTER We used to think so too. But the way he's divided the kingdom recently, nobody can tell which of the dukes he favors more. He's split the kingdom so evenly that it's impossible to see any indication of favoritism.

KENT (indicating EDMUND) Is not this your son, my lord?

KENT (pointing to EDMUND) Isn't this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed to it.

GLOUCESTER Yes, I've been responsible for his upbringing. I've had to acknowledge that he's my son so many times that now I can do it without embarrassment.

KENT I cannot conceive you.

KENT I can't conceive of what you mean.

GLOUCESTER 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?

GLOUCESTER You can't conceive? Well, this guy's mother could conceive him all to well. She grew a big belly and had a baby for her crib before she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell something naughty?

KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

KENT Well, I wouldn't want to undo the naughtiness, since the boy turned out so well.

GLOUCESTER 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?

GLOUCESTER But I have a legitimate son a few years older than this one, and I don't love him any more than I love my bastard. Edmund may have snuck into the world a little before his time, but his mother was pretty, we had a fun time making him, and now I have to acknowledge the guy as my son.--Do you know this gentleman, Edmund?

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EDMUND No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER 25 (to EDMUND) My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter

as my honorable friend.

EDMUND My services to your lordship.

KENT I must love you and sue to know you better.

EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.

GLOUCESTER 30 He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again.

Sennet.

The king is coming.

Enter one bearing a coronet, then King LEAR, then the Dukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY, next GONERIL,

REGAN, CORDELIA, and attendants

LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my lord.

Exit GLOUCESTERLEAR

LEAR 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

EDMUND No, I don't, my lord.

GLOUCESTER (to EDMUND) This is Lord Kent. Remember him as my friend and an honorable man.

EDMUND Very pleased to meet you, my lord.

KENT I look forward to getting to know you better.

EDMUND I'll try to make myself worth your knowledge.

GLOUCESTER He's been gone for nine years and he's leaving again soon.

Trumpets announce the arrival of King LEAR.

The king is coming.

A man bearing a crown enters, followed by KING LEAR, the Dukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY,

then GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and attendants.

LEAR Go escort the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER Yes, my lord.

GLOUCESTER exits.

LEAR In the meantime I'll get down to my real business. --Hand me that map over there.--I hereby announce that I've divided my kingdom into three parts, which I'm handing over to the younger generation so I can enjoy a little rest and peace of mind in my old age.--Cornwall and Albany, my loving sons-in-law, I now want to announce publicly what each of my daughters will inherit, to avoid hostilities after I die. The two

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Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The two great princes, France and Burgundy, 45 Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, 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) 50 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 do love you more than words can wield the matter, 55 Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty, 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. 60 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

CORDELIA (aside) What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.

LEAR Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains riched, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, 65 We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue 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

great princes of France and Burgundy, vying for the hand of my youngest Cordelia, have been at my court a long time and will soon have their answers. --My daughters, since I'm about to give up my throne and the worries that go along with it, tell me which one of you loves me most, so that I can give my largest gift to the one who deserves it most.-- Goneril, my oldest daughter, you speak first.

GONERIL Sir, I love you more than words can say. I love you more than eyesight, space, and freedom, beyond wealth or anything of value. I love you as much as life itself, and as much as status, health, beauty, or honor. I love you as much as any child has ever loved her father, with a love too deep to be spoken of. I love you more than any answer to the question "How much?"

CORDELIA (to herself) What will I say? I can only love and be silent.

LEAR I give you all this land, from this line to that one-- dense forests, fertile fields, rivers rich with fish, wide meadows. This land will belong to your and Albany's children forever.--And now what does my second daughter Regan, the wife of Cornwall, have to say? Tell me.

REGAN Sir, I'm made of the same stuff as my sister and consider myself just as good as she is. She's described my feelings of love for you precisely, but her description falls a little short of the truth. I reject completely any

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