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Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
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Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmond.
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Kent. I thought the King had more affected the
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Duke of Albany, then Cornwall
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Glou. It did alwayes seeme so to vs: But
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now in the diuision of the Kingdome, it appeares
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not which of the Dukes hee valewes
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most, for qualities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither,
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can make choise of eithers moity
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Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord?
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Glou. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I haue
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so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am
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braz'd too't
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Kent. I cannot conceiue you
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Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could; wherevpon
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she grew round womb'd, and had indeede (Sir) a
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Sonne for her Cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed.
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Do you smell a fault?
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Kent. I cannot wish the fault vndone, the issue of it,
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being so proper
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Glou. But I haue a Sonne, Sir, by order of Law, some
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yeere elder then this; who, yet is no deerer in my account,
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though this Knaue came somthing sawcily to the
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world before he was sent for: yet was his Mother fayre,
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there was good sport at his making, and the horson must
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be acknowledged. Doe you know this Noble Gentleman,
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Edmond?
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Edm. No, my Lord
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Glou. My Lord of Kent:
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Remember him heereafter, as my Honourable Friend
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Edm. My seruices to your Lordship
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Kent. I must loue you, and sue to know you better
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Edm. Sir, I shall study deseruing
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Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares, and away he shall
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againe. The King is comming.
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Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan,
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Cordelia, and
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attendants.
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Lear. Attend the Lords of France & Burgundy, Gloster
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Glou. I shall, my Lord.
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Enter.
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Lear. Meane time we shal expresse our darker purpose.
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Giue me the Map there. Know, that we haue diuided
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In three our Kingdome: and 'tis our fast intent,
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To shake all Cares and Businesse from our Age,
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Conferring them on yonger strengths, while we
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Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Our son of Cornwal,
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And you our no lesse louing Sonne of Albany,
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We haue this houre a constant will to publish
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Our daughters seuerall Dowers, that future strife
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May be preuented now. The Princes, France & Burgundy,
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Great Riuals in our yongest daughters loue,
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Long in our Court, haue made their amorous soiourne,
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And heere are to be answer'd. Tell me my daughters
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(Since now we will diuest vs both of Rule,
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Interest of Territory, Cares of State)
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Which of you shall we say doth loue vs most,
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That we, our largest bountie may extend
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Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
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Our eldest borne, speake first
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Gon. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild y matter,
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Deerer then eye-sight, space, and libertie,
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Beyond what can be valewed, rich or rare,
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No lesse then life, with grace, health, beauty, honor:
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As much as Childe ere lou'd, or Father found.
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A loue that makes breath poore, and speech vnable,
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Beyond all manner of so much I loue you
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Cor. What shall Cordelia speake? Loue, and be silent
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Lear. Of all these bounds euen from this Line, to this,
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With shadowie Forrests, and with Champains rich'd
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With plenteous Riuers, and wide-skirted Meades
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We make thee Lady. To thine and Albanies issues
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Be this perpetuall. What sayes our second Daughter?
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Our deerest Regan, wife of Cornwall?
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Reg. I am made of that selfe-mettle as my Sister,
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And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,
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I finde she names my very deede of loue:
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Onely she comes too short, that I professe
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My selfe an enemy to all other ioyes,
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Which the most precious square of sense professes,
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