William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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KING LEAR [THE FOLIO TEXT] Background THE text of King Lear given here represents the revision made probably two or three years after the first version had been written and performed; it is based on the text printed in the 1623 Folio. This is a more obviously theatrical text. It makes a number of significant cuts, amounting to some 300 lines. The most conspicuous ones are the dialogue in which Lear's Fool implicitly calls his master a fool (Quarto Sc. 4, 136-51); Kent's account of the French invasion of England (Quarto Sc. 8, 21-33); Lear's mock-trial, in his madness, of his daughters (Quarto Sc. 13, 13-52); Edgar's generalizing couplets at the end of that scene (Quarto Sc. 13, 97-110); the brief, compassionate dialogue of two of Gloucester's servants after his blinding (Quarto Sc. 14, 97-106); parts of Albany's protest to Goneril about the sisters' treatment of Lear (in Quarto Sc. 16); the entire scene (Quarto Sc. 17) in which a Gentleman tells Kent of Cordelia's grief on hearing of her father's condition; the presence of the Doctor and the musical accompaniment to the reunion of Lear and Cordelia (Quarto Sc. 21); and Edgar's account of his meeting with Kent in which Kent's æstrings of life / Began to crackÆ (Quarto Sc. 24, 201-18). The Folio also adds about 100 lines that are not in the Quarto - mostly in short passages, including Kent's statement that Albany and Cornwall have servants who are in the pay of France (3.1.13-20), Merlin's prophecy spoken by the Fool at the end of 3.2, and the last lines of both the Fool and Lear. In addition, several speeches are differently assigned, and there are many variations in wording. The reasons for these variations, and their effect on the play, are to some extent matters of speculation and of individual interpretation. Certainly they streamline the play's action, removing some reflective passages, particularly at the ends of scenes. They affect the characterization of, especially, Edgar, Albany, and Kent, and there are significant differences in the play's closing passages. Structurally the principal differences lie in the presentation of the military actions in the later part of the play; in the Folio-based text Cordelia is more clearly in charge of the forces that come to Lear's assistance, and they are less clearly a French invasion force. The absence from this text of passages that appeared in the 1608 text implies no criticism of them in themselves. The play's revision may have been dictated in whole or in part by theatrical exigencies, or it may have emerged from Shakespeare's own dissatisfaction with what he had first written. Each version has its own integrity, which is distorted by the practice, traditional since the early eighteenth century, of conflation. THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY LEAR, King of Britain GONERIL, Lear's eldest daughter Duke of ALBANY, her husband REGAN, Lear's second daughter Duke of CORNWALL, her husband CORDELIA, Lear's youngest daughter King of FRANCE } Duke of BURGUNDY } suitors of Cordelia Earl of KENT, later disguised as Caius Earl of GLOUCESTER EDGAR, elder son of Gloucester, later disguised as Tom o'Bedlam EDMOND, bastard son of Gloucester OLD MAN, Gloucester's tenant CURAN, Gloucester's retainer Lear's FOOL OSWALD, Goneril's steward A SERVANT of Cornwall A KNIGHT A HERALD A CAPTAIN Gentlemen, servants, soldiers, attendants, messengers Act 1 Scene 1 (Enter the Earl of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, and Edmond) l1l Kent I thought the King had more affected the Duke of l2l Albany than Cornwall. l3l Gloucester It did always seem so to us, but now in the l4l division of the kingdom it appears not which of the l5l Dukes he values most; for qualities are so weighed that l6l curiosity in neither can make choice of eitherÆs moiety. l7l Kent Is not this your son, my lord? l8l Gloucester His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I l9l have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I l10l am brazed to Æt. l11l Kent I cannot conceive you. l12l Gloucester Sir, this young fellowÆs mother could, l13l whereupon she grew round-wombed and had indeed, l14l sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her l15l bed. Do you smell a fault? l16l Kent I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being l17l so proper. l18l Gloucester But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some l19l year older than this, who yet is no dearer in my l20l account. Though this knave came something saucily l21l to the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother l22l fair, there was good sport at his making, and the l23l whoreson must be acknowledged. (To Edmond) Do you l24l know this noble gentleman, Edmond? l25l Edmond No, my lord. l26l Gloucester (to Edmond) My lord of Kent. Remember him l27l hereafter as my honourable friend. l28l Edmond (to Kent) My services to your lordship. l29l Kent I must love you, and sue to know you better. l30l Edmond Sir, I shall study deserving. l31l Gloucester (to Kent) He hath been out nine years, and l32l away he shall again. (Sennet) l33l The King is coming. (Enter King Lear, the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and attendants) l34l Lear Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. l35l Gloucester I shall, my lord. (Exit) l36l Lear Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. l37l Give me the map there. Know that we have divided l38l In three our kingdom, and Ætis our fast intent l39l To shake all cares and business from our age, l40l Conferring them on younger strengths while we l41l Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, l42l And you, our no less loving son of Albany, l43l We have this hour a constant will to publish l44l Our daughtersÆ several dowers, that future strife l45l May be prevented now. The princes France and Burgundyù l46l Great rivals in our youngest daughterÆs loveù l47l Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, l48l And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughtersù l49l Since now we will divest us both of rule, l50l Interest of territory, cares of stateù l51l Which of you shall we say doth love us most, l52l That we our largest bounty may extend l53l Where nature doth with merit challenge? Goneril, l54l Our eldest born, speak first. l55l Goneril Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; l56l Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty; l57l Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, l58l No less than life; with grace, health, beauty, honour; l59l As much as child eÆer loved or father found; l60l A love that makes breath poor and speech unable. l61l Beyond all manner of so much I love you. l62l Cordelia (aside) What shall Cordelia speak? Love and be silent. l63l Lear (to Goneril) Of all these bounds even from this line to this, l64l With shadowy forests and with champaigns riched, l65l With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, l66l We make thee lady. To thine and AlbanyÆs issues l67l Be this perpetual.ùWhat says our second daughter? l68l Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? l69l Regan I am made of that self mettle as my sister, l70l And prize me at her worth. In my true heart l71l I find she names my very deed of loveù l72l Only she comes too short, that I profess l73l Myself an enemy to all other joys l74l Which the most precious square of sense possesses, l75l And find I am alone felicitate l76l In your dear highnessÆ love. Cordelia (aside) Then poor Cordeliaù l77l And yet not so, since I am sure my loveÆs l78l More ponderous than my tongue. l79l Lear (to Regan) To thee and thine hereditary ever l80l Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, l81l No less in space, validity, and pleasure l82l Than that conferred on Goneril. (To Cordelia) Now our joy, l83l Although our last and least, to whose young love l84l The vines of France and milk of Burgundy l85l Strive to be interessed: what can you say to draw l86l A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. l87l Cordelia Nothing, my lord. l88l Lear Nothing? l89l Cordelia Nothing. l90l Lear Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. l91l Cordelia Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave l92l My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty l93l According to my bond, no more nor less. l94l Lear How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little l95l Lest you may mar your fortunes. Cordelia Good my lord, l96l You have begot me, bred me, loved me. l97l I return those duties back as are right fitù l98l Obey you, love you, and most honour you. l99l Why have my sisters husbands if they say l100l They love you all? Haply when I shall wed l101l That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry l102l Half my love with him, half my care and duty. l103l Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters. l104l Lear But goes thy heart with this? l105l Cordelia Ay, my good lord. l106l Lear So young and so untender? l107l Cordelia So young, my lord, and true. l108l Lear Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower; l109l For by the sacred radiance of the sun, l110l The mysteries of Hecate and the night, l111l By all the operation of the orbs l112l From whom we do exist and cease to be, l113l Here I disclaim all my paternal care, l114l Propinquity, and property of blood, l115l And as a stranger to my heart and me l116l Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, l117l Or he that makes his generation messes l118l To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom l119l Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved l120l As thou, my sometime daughter. Kent Good my liegeù l121l Lear Peace, Kent. l122l Come not between the dragon and his wrath. l123l I loved her most, and thought to set my rest l124l On her kind nursery. (To Cordelia) Hence, and avoid my sight!ù l125l So be my grave my peace as here I give l126l Her fatherÆs heart from her. Call France. Who stirs? l127l Call Burgundy. (Exit one or more) Cornwall and Albany, l128l With my two daughtersÆ dowers digest the third. l129l Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. l130l I do invest you jointly with my power, l131l Pre-eminence, and all the large effects l132l That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course, l133l With reservation of an hundred knights l134l By you to be sustained, shall our abode l135l Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain l136l The name and all thÆ addition to a king. The sway, l137l Revenue, execution of the rest, l138l BelovΦd sons, be yours; which to confirm, l139l This crownet part between you. Kent Royal Lear, l140l Whom I have ever honoured as my king, l141l Loved as my father, as my master followed, l142l As my great patron thought on in my prayersù l143l Lear The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft. l144l Kent Let it fall rather, though the fork invade l145l The region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly l146l When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? l147l ThinkÆst thou that duty shall have dread to speak l148l When power to flattery bows? To plainness honourÆs bound l149l When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, l150l And in thy best consideration check l151l This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgement, l152l Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least, l153l Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds l154l Reverb no hollowness. Lear Kent, on thy life, no more! l155l Kent My life I never held but as a pawn l156l To wage against thine enemies, neÆer feared to lose it, l157l Thy safety being motive. Lear Out of my sight! l158l Kent See better, Lear, and let me still remain l159l The true blank of thine eye. Lear Now, by Apolloù l160l Kent Now, by Apollo, King, thou swearÆst thy gods in vain. l161l Lear (making to strike him) O vassal! Miscreant! Albany and [Cordelia] Dear sir, forbear. l162l Kent (to Lear) Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow l163l Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift, l164l Or whilst I can vent clamour from my throat l165l IÆll tell thee thou dost evil. l166l Lear Hear me, recreant; on thine allegiance hear me! l167l That thou hast sought to make us break our vows, l168l Which we durst never yet, and with strained pride l169l To come betwixt our sentence and our power, l170l Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, l171l Our potency made good take thy reward: l172l Five days we do allot thee for provision l173l To shield thee from disasters of the world, l174l And on the sixth to turn thy hated back l175l Upon our kingdom. If on the seventh day following l176l Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions, l177l The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter, l178l This shall not be revoked. l179l Kent Fare thee well, King; sith thus thou wilt appear, l180l Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. (To Cordelia) l181l The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, l182l That justly thinkÆst, and hast most rightly said. (To Goneril and Regan) l183l And your large speeches may your deeds approve, l184l That good effects may spring from words of love. l185l Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; l186l HeÆll shape his old course in a country new. (Exit) (Flourish. Enter the Duke of Gloucester with the King France, the Duke of Burgundy, and attendants) l187l [Cordelia] HereÆs France and Burgundy, my noble lord. l188l Lear My lord of Burgundy, l189l We first address toward you, who with this King l190l Hath rivalled for our daughter: what in the least l191l Will you require in present dower with her l192l Or cease your quest of love? Burgundy Most royal majesty, l193l I crave no more than hath your highness offered; l194l Nor will you tender less. Lear Right noble Burgundy, l195l When she was dear to us we did hold her so; l196l But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands. l197l If aught within that little seeming substance, l198l Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced, l199l And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, l200l SheÆs there, and she is yours. Burgundy I know no answer. l201l Lear Will you with those infirmities she owes, l202l Unfriended, new adopted to our hate, l203l Dowered with our curse and strangered with our oath, l204l Take her or leave her? Burgundy Pardon me, royal sir. l205l Election makes not up in such conditions. l206l Lear Then leave her, sir; for by the power that made me, l207l I tell you all her wealth. (To France) For you, great King, l208l I would not from your love make such a stray l209l To match you where I hate, therefore beseech you l210l TÆ avert your liking a more worthier way l211l Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed l212l Almost tÆ acknowledge hers. France This is most strange, l213l That she whom even but now was your best object, l214l The argument of your praise, balm of your age, l215l The best, the dearÆst, should in this trice of time l216l Commit a thing so monstrous to dismantle l217l So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence l218l Must be of such unnatural degree l219l That monsters it, or your fore-vouched affection l220l Fall into taint; which to believe of her l221l Must be a faith that reason without miracle l222l Should never plant in me. l223l Cordelia (to Lear) I yet beseech your majesty, l224l If for I want that glib and oily art l225l To speak and purpose notùsince what I well intend, l226l IÆll do Æt before I speakùthat you make known l227l It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, l228l No unchaste action or dishonoured step l229l That hath deprived me of your grace and favour, l230l But even the want of that for which I am richerù l231l A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue l232l That I am glad I have not, though not to have it l233l Hath lost me in your liking. Lear Better thou l234l Hadst not been born than not tÆ have pleased me better. l235l France Is it but thisùa tardiness in nature, l236l Which often leaves the history unspoke l237l That it intends to do?ùMy lord of Burgundy, l238l What say you to the lady? LoveÆs not love l239l When it is mingled with regards that stands l240l Aloof from thÆ entire point. Will you have her? l241l She is herself a dowry. Burgundy (to Lear) Royal King, l242l Give but that portion which yourself proposed, l243l And here I take Cordelia by the hand, l244l Duchess of Burgundy. l245l Lear Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm. l246l Burgundy (to Cordelia) I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father l247l That you must lose a husband. Cordelia Peace be with Burgundy; l248l Since that respect and fortunes are his love, l249l I shall not be his wife. l250l France Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; l251l Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised: l252l Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon. l253l Be it lawful, I take up whatÆs cast away. l254l Gods, gods! ÆTis strange that from their coldÆst neglect l255l My love should kindle to inflamed respect.ù l256l Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance, l257l Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France. l258l Not all the dukes of watÆrish Burgundy l259l Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.ù l260l Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind. l261l Thou losest here, a better where to find. l262l Lear Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine, for we l263l Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see l264l That face of hers again. Therefore be gone, l265l Without our grace, our love, our benison.ù l266l Come, noble Burgundy. (Flourish. Exeunt all but France and the sisters) France Bid farewell to your sisters. l267l Cordelia Ye jewels of our father, with washed eyes l268l Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are, l269l And like a sister am most loath to call l270l Your faults as they are named. Love well our father. l271l To your professΦd bosoms I commit him. l272l But yet, alas, stood I within his grace l273l I would prefer him to a better place. l274l So farewell to you both. l275l Regan Prescribe not us our duty. l276l Goneril Let your study l277l Be to content your lord, who hath received you l278l At fortuneÆs alms. You have obedience scanted, l279l And well are worth the want that you have wanted. l280l Cordelia Time shall unfold what pleated cunning hides, l281l Who covert faults at last with shame derides. l282l Well may you prosper. France Come, my fair Cordelia. (Exeunt France and Cordelia) l283l Goneril Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most l284l nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will l285l hence tonight. l286l Regan ThatÆs most certain, and with you. Next month l287l with us. l288l Goneril You see how full of changes his age is. The l289l observation we have made of it hath been little. He l290l always loved our sister most, and with what poor l291l judgement he hath now cast her off appears too grossly. l292l Regan ÆTis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but l293l slenderly known himself. l294l Goneril The best and soundest of his time hath been but l295l rash; then must we look from his age to receive not l296l alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but l297l therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and l298l choleric years bring with them. l299l Regan Such unconstant starts are we like to have from l300l him as this of KentÆs banishment. l301l Goneril There is further compliment of leave-taking l302l between France and him. Pray you, let us sit together. l303l If our father carry authority with such disposition as l304l he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. l305l Regan We shall further think of it. l306l Goneril We must do something, and iÆ thÆ heat. (Exeunt)