William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of King Lear

Warsaw 2019

Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I

Scene I. A Room of State in King Lear's Palace.

Scene II. A Hall in the Earl of Gloucester's Castle.

Scene III. A Room in the Duke of Albany's Palace.

Scene IV. A Hall in Albany's Palace.

Scene V. Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace.

ACT II

Scene I. A court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloucester.

Scene II. Before Gloucester's Castle.

Scene III. The open Country.

Scene IV. Before Gloucester's Castle; Kent in the stocks.

ACT III

Scene I. A Heath.

Scene II. Another part of the heath. Storm continues.

Scene III. A Room in Gloucester's Castle.

Scene IV. A part of the Heath with a Hovel. Storm continues.

Scene V. A Room in Gloucester's Castle.

Scene VI. A Chamber in a Farmhouse adjoining the Castle.

Scene VII. A Room in Gloucester's Castle.

ACT IV

Scene I. The heath.

Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's Palace.

Scene III. The French camp near Dover.

Scene IV. The French camp. A Tent.

Scene V. A Room in Gloucester's Castle.

Scene VI. The country near Dover.

Scene VII. A Tent in the French Camp.

ACT V

Scene I. The Camp of the British Forces near Dover.

Scene II. A field between the two Camps.

Scene III. The British Camp near Dover.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

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.

Old Man, Tenant to Gloucester.

Physician.

Fool.

Oswald, steward to Goneril.

An Officer employed by Edmund.

Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia.

A Herald.

Servants to Cornwall.

Goneril, daughter to Lear.

Regan, daughter to Lear.

Cordelia, daughter to Lear.

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE: Britain.

ACT I

Scene I. A Room of State in King Lear’s Palace

[Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund]

Kent.

I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than

Cornwall.

Glou.

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.

Kent.

Is not this your son, my lord?

Glou.

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.

Glou.

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?

Kent.

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

Glou.

But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than

this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came

something 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 gentleman,

Edmund?

Edm.

No, my lord.

Glou.

My Lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm.

My services to your lordship.

Kent.

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

Edm.

Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glou.

He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again.–The king

is coming.

[Sennet within.]

[Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and

Attendants.]

Lear.

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,

Gloucester.

Glou.

I shall, my liege.

[Exeunt Gloucester and 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;

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,

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,

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,–

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.

Gon.

Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;

Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valu’d, 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;

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor.

[Aside.] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.

Lear.

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