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[Dramatis Personae
KING LEAR
GONERIL,
REGAN, Lear's daughters
CORDELLA,
DUKE OF ALBANY, Goneril's husband
DUKE OF CORNWALL, Regan's husband
KING OF FRANCE, Cordelia's suitor and husband
DUKE OF BURGUNDY, suitor to Cordelia
EARL OF KENT, later disguised as Caius
EARL OF GLOUCESTER
EDGER, Gloucester's son and heir, later disguised as poor Tom
EDMUND, Gloucester's bastard son
OSWALD, Goneril's steward
A KNIGHT serving King Lear
Lear's fool
CURAN, in Gloucester's household
GENTLEMEN
Three servants
old man, a tenant of Gloucester
Three MESSENGERS
A GENTLEMEN attending Cordelia as a Doctor
Two captains
HERALD
Knights, Gentlemen, Attendants, Servants, Officers, Soldiers, Trumpeters
scene: Britain]
1.1. Location: King Lear's palace.
1 affected favored
2 Albany i.e., Scotland
5-7 equalities . . . moiety the shares balance so equally that close scrutiny cannot find advantage in either's portion.
9 breeding raising, care. charge expense.
11 brazed hardened
12 conceive understand. (But Gloucester puns in the sense of "become pregnant.")
16 fault (1) sin (2) loss of scent by the hounds.
17 issue (1) result (2) offspring
18 proper (1) excellent (2) handsome.
19 by order of law legitimate
19-20 some year about a year
20-1 account estimation.
21 knave young fellow. (Not said disapprovingly, though the word is ironic.). something somewhat
24 whoreson low fellow; suggesting bastardy, but (like knave above) used with affectionate condescension
[1.1] A Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.
KENT I thought the King had more affected the Duke of 1
Albany than Cornwall. 2
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 5
that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's 6
moiety. 7
KENT Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. 9
I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now
I am brazed to't. 11
KENT I cannot conceive you. 12
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? 16
KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it 17
being so proper. 18
GLOUCESTER But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some 19
year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my ac- 20
count. Though this knave came something saucily to 21
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 24
noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDMUND No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter
as my honorable friend.
29 services duty
30 sue petition, beg
31 study deserving strive to be worthy (of your esteem).
32 out i.e., abroad, absent
33.1 Sennet trumpet signal heralding a procession.. one . . . then (This direction is from the Quarto. The coronet is perhaps intended for Cordelia or her betrothed. A coronet signifies nobility below the rank of king.)
34 Attend wait upon, usher ceremoniously
36 we, our (The royal plural; also in lines 37-44, etc.). darker purpose undeclared intention.
38 fast firm
43 constant . . . publish firm resolve to proclaim
44 several individual
50 Interest of right or title to, possession of
EDMUND My services to Your Lordship. 29
KENT I must love you, and sue to know you better. 30
EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving. 31
GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away 32
he shall again. The King is coming. 33
Sennet. Enter [one bearing a coronet, then] King
Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and attendants.
LEAR
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. 34
GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege. Exit.
LEAR
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. 36
Give me the map there. [He takes a map.] Know that
we have divided
In three our kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent 38
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we
Unburdened 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 43
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife 44
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 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
53 Where . . . challenge where both natural affection and merit claim our bounty as its due.
56 space, and liberty possession of land, and freedom of action
59 found i.e., found himself to be loved
60 breath . . . unable utterance impoverished and speech inadequate.
64 shadowy shady.. champains riched fertile plains
65 plenteous . . . meads abundant rivers bordered with wide meadows
69 that self mettle that same spirited temperament
70 prize . . . worth value myself as her equal (in love for you). (Prize suggests "price.")
71 names . . . love describes my love in action
72 that in that
74 Which . . . possesses which the most delicately sensitive part of my nature can enjoy
75 felicitate made happy
78 ponderous weighty
81 validity value.. pleasure pleasing features
Where nature doth with merit challenge? Goneril, 53
Our eldest born, speak first.
GONERIL
Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty, 56
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; 59
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 [indicating on map]
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains riched, 64
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
I am made of that self mettle as my sister, 69
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart 70
I find she names my very deed of love; 71
Only she comes too short, that I profess 72
Myself an enemy to all other joys
Which the most precious square of sense possesses, 74
And find I am alone felicitate 75
In your dear Highness' love.
CORDELIA [aside] Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so, since I am sure my love's
More ponderous than my tongue. 78
LEAR
To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity, and pleasure 81
83 least youngest
84 vines vineyards. milk pastures (?)
85 be interessed be affiliated, establish a claim, be admitted as to a privilege. draw win
93 bond filial obligation
97 right fit proper and fitting
100 all exclusively, and with all of themselves.. Haply Perhaps, with luck
101 plight pledge in marriage
Than that conferred on Goneril.--Now, our joy,
Although our last and least, to whose young love 83
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy 84
Strive to be interessed, what can you say to draw 85
A third more opulent than your sisters'? Speak.
CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.
LEAR Nothing?
CORDELLA Nothing.
LEAR
Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.
CORDELIA
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth. I love Your Majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less. 93
LEAR
How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I
Return those duties back as are right fit, 97
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 101
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
Sure I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.
LEAR
But goes thy heart with this?
CORDELIA Ay, my good lord.
LEAR So young, and so untender?
CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.
LEAR
Let it be so! Thy truth then be thy dower!
110 mysteries secret rites.. Hecate goddess of witchcraft and the moon
111 operation influence.. orbs planets and stars
112 From whom under whose influence
114 Propinquity . . . blood close kinship, and rights and duties entailed in blood ties
116 his this time forth.. Scythian (Scythians were famous in antiquity for savagery.)
117 makes . . . messes makes meals of his children or parents
119 neighbored helped in a neighborly way
120 sometime former
123 set my rest rely wholly. (A phrase from a game of cards, meaning "to stake all.")
124 nursery nursing, care. avoid get out of
125 So . . . peace, as As I hope to rest peacefully in my grave
126 Who stirs? i.e., Jump to it; don't just stand there.
128 digest assimilate, incorporate
129 Let . . . her Let pride, which she calls plain speaking, be her dowry and get her a husband.
131 effects outward shows
132 troop with accompany, serve.. Ourself (The royal "we.")
133 With reservation of reserving to myself the right to be attended by
136 th'addition the honors and prerogatives
137 sway sovereign authority
139 coronet (Perhaps Lear gestures toward this coronet that was to have symbolized Cordelia's dowry and marriage, or hands it to his sons-in-law, or actually attempts to divide it.)
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night, 110
By all the operation of the orbs 111
From whom we do exist and cease to be, 112
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity, and property of blood, 114
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous Scythian, 116
Or he that makes his generation messes 117
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved 119
As thou my sometime daughter.
KENT Good my liege-- 120
LEAR Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest 123
On her kind nursery. [To Cordelia] Hence, and avoid
my sight!-- 124
So be my grave my peace, as here I give 125
Her father's heart from her. Call France. Who stirs? 126
Call Burgundy. [Exit one.]
Cornwall and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest the third. 128
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. 129
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Preeminence, and all the large effects 131
That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course, 132
With reservation of an hundred knights 133
By you to be sustained, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we shall retain
The name and all th'addition to a king. 136
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest, 137
Beloved sons, be yours, which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.
KENT Royal Lear, 139
Whom I have ever honored as my king,
143 Make from Get out of the way of
144 fall strike.. fork barbed head of an arrow
149 To . . . bound Loyalty demands frankness
150 Reserve thy state Retain your royal authority
151 And . . . check and with wise deliberation restrain
152 Answer . . . judgment I wager my life on my judgment that
155 Reverb no hollowness do not reverberate like a hollow drum, insincerely.
156-7 My . . . wage I never regarded my life other than as a pledge to hazard in warfare
158 motive that which prompts me to act.
160 The true . . . eye i.e., the means to enable you to see better. (Blank means "the white center of the target," or, "the true direct aim," as in "point-blank," traveling in a straight line.)
164 vassal i.e., wretch.. Miscreant (Literally, infidel, heretic; hence, villain, rascal.)
Loved as my father, as my master followed,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers--
LEAR
The bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft. 143
KENT
Let it fall rather, though the fork invade 144
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 149
When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, 150
And in thy best consideration check 151
This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment, 152
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
Nor are those emptyhearted whose low sounds
Reverb no hollowness.
LEAR Kent, on thy life, no more. 155
KENT
My life I never held but as a pawn 156
To wage against thine enemies, nor fear to lose it, 157
Thy safety being motive.
LEAR Out of my sight! 158
KENT
See better, Lear, and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye. 160
LEAR Now, by Apollo--
KENT Now, by Apollo, King,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
LEAR Oh, vassal! Miscreant! 164
[Laying his hand on his sword.]
ALBANY, CORNWALL Dear sir, forbear.
KENT
Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
170 recreant traitor
171 That In that, since
172 strained excessive
173 To . . . power i.e., to block my power to command and judge
174 Which . . . place which neither my temperament nor my office as king
175 Our . . . good my power enacted, demonstrated
180 trunk body
183 Sith Since
187 your . . . approve may your deeds confirm your speeches with their vast claims
190 shape . . . course follow his traditional plainspoken ways.
190.1 Flourish Trumpet fanfare used for the entrance or exit of important persons
193 address address myself
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.
LEAR
Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me! 170
That thou hast sought to make us break our vows, 171
Which we durst never yet, and with strained pride 172
To come betwixt our sentence and our power, 173
Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, 174
Our potency made good, take thy reward. 175
Five days we do allot thee for provision
To shield thee from disasters of the world,
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom. If on the tenth day following
Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions, 180
The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revoked.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "King Lear"
by .
Copyright © 1988 William Shakespeare.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
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