King Lear

A Tragedy

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: HarperPerennial Classics
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781443443395
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Shakespeare Drama
• Index: Literature

King Lear is driven to the brink of madness by his own actions when he disinherits his youngest daughter, the lovely Cordelia, because of her inability to express her love for him. Having divided his realm between his remaining daughters, Goneril and Regan, Lear is betrayed by his two foolish and deceitful children, and is left to wander the heath with only his Fool, his servant Caius, and the madman Tom O'Bedlam for company. Eventually reunited with Cordelia, Lear is too late repents his rashness, and must face the tragic consequences of his choices.

Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.

HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

ACT ONE

SCENE I. King Lear’s palace.

Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND.

KENT I thought the King had more affected the

Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

[6]

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 weigh’d that curiosity in neither can make choice of either’s moiety.

KENT Is not this your son, my lord?

[10]

GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blush’d to acknowledge him that now I am braz’d to’t.

KENT I cannot conceive you.

[15]

GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow’s mother could; whereupon she grew round-womb’d, and had indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

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

GLOUCESTER 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 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?

[25]

EDMUND No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER My Lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

EDMUND My services to your lordship.

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

[30]

EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.

GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. [Sennet] The King is coming.

Enter One bearing a coronet; then LEAR, then the DUKES OF ALBANY and CORNWALL, next GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, with Followers. LEAR Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege.

[Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund.

[35]

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

Unburden’d crawl toward death. Our son of

[40]

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,

[45]

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 --

[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 love you more than word 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, honour;

As much as child e’er lov’d, 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 rich’d,

With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,

[65]

We make thee lady: to thine and Albany’s issues

Be this perpetual. – What says our second daughter,

Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.

REGAN I am made of that self metal 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]

CORDELIA [Aside] Then poor Cordelia!

And yet not so; since I am sure my love’s

More ponderous than my tongue.

LEAR To thee and thine hereditary ever

Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;

[80]

No less in space, validity, and pleasure,

Than that conferr’d on Goneril. – Now, our joy,

Although our last and least; to whose young love

The vines of France and milk of Burgundy

Strive to be interess’d; what can you say to draw

[85]

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.

LEAR Nothing!

CORDELIA Nothing.

LEAR Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.

[90]

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.

LEAR How, how, Cordelia! Mend your speech a little.

Lest you may mar your fortunes.

CORDELIA Good my lord,

[95]

You have begot me, bred me, lov’d me; I

Return those duties hack as are right fit,

Obey you, love you, and most honour 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.

LEAR But goes thy heart with this?

CORDELIA Ay, my good lord.

[105]

LEAR So young and so untender?

CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.

LEAR Let it be so! Thy truth, then, be thy dower!

For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

The mysteries of Hecat and the night;

[110]

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,

And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous

[115]

Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation messes

To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

Be as well neighbour’d, pitied, and reliev’d,

As thou my sometime daughter.

KENT Good my liege --

[120]

LEAR Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.

I lov’d her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery. [To Cordelia] Hence, a...

Table of contents

• Contents
• King Lear
• Dramatis Personae
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• About the Author
• About the Series
• Copyright
• About the Publisher