King Lear : Act 1, Scene 1
Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND.
KENT
1 I thought the king had more affected the Duke of
1. affected: favored.
2 Albany than Cornwall.
2. Cornwall: i.e., the Duke of Cornwall. >>>
GLOUCESTER
3 It did always seem so to us: but now, in the
4 division of the kingdom, it appears not which of
5 the dukes he values most; for equalities are so
5. equalities: equivalences.
6 weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice
6. weighed: balanced. curiosity: meticulous scrutiny.
7 of either's moiety.
7. moiety: portion, allotment. >>>
KENT
8 Is not this your son, my lord? GLOUCESTER
9 His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have
9. breeding: education. charge: expense.
10 so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I
10. acknowledge him: admit that he is my son.
11 am brazed to't.
11. brazed: brazened, hardened.
KENT
12 I cannot conceive you.
12. conceive: understand. —In his reply, Gloucester will jokingly use the word "conceive" in the sense of "become pregnant."
GLOUCESTER
13 Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon
13. could: i.e., could conceive, could become pregnant.
14 she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son 15 for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.
15. ere: before.
16 Do you smell a fault?
16. fault: sin; wrongdoing.
KENT
17 I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
18 being so proper.17-18. the issue of it being so proper: i.e., since the result was the birth of this excellent young man.
GLOUCESTER
19 But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year
19. a son by order of law: legitimate son.
20 elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:
20. who . . . account: i.e., who is no more precious to me than Edmund.
21 though this knave came something saucily into the
21. knave: young fellow, rascal. something saucily: somewhat cheekily.
22 world before he was sent for, yet was his mother
23 fair; there was good sport at his making, and the
23. fair: beautiful.
24 whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know
24. whoreson: rogue; bastard.
25 this noble gentleman, Edmund?
Jim Carter as Earl of Kent, Jim Broadbent as Earl of Gloucester, and John Macmillan as Edmund.
TV Movie 2018.
EDMUND
26 No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
27 My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my
28 honourable friend.
EDMUND
29 My services to your lordship.
KENT
30 I must love you, and sue to know you better.
30. sue: earnestly seek.
EDMUND
31 Sir, I shall study deserving.
31. study deserving: seek ways to deserve your esteem.
GLOUCESTER
32 He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
32. out: abroad.
33 again. The king is coming.
Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL,
Sennet: trumpet call signalling the arrival or departure of a procession of very important persons.
ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA,
and Attendants.
KING LEAR
34 Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
35 I shall, my lord.
Exit [GLOUCESTER with EDMUND].
KING LEAR
36 Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
36. darker: as yet undisclosed.
37 Give me the map there. Know that we have divided
37. Give me the map there: What does the map look like?
38 In three our kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent
38. fast: firm.
39 To shake all cares and business from our age,
40 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
41 Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
41. son: i.e., son-in-law.
42 And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
43 We have this hour a constant will to publish
43. constant will: firm intention. publish: announce.
44 Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
44. several dowers: individual dowries.
45 May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,
46 Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
47 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
48 And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,—
49 Since now we will divest us both of rule,
50 Interest of territory, cares of state,—
50. Interest: possession.
51 Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
52 That we our largest bounty may extend
53 Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
53. Where nature doth with merit challenge: where [my bounty] is claimed by both natural affection and merit.
54 Our eldest-born, speak first.
GONERIL
55 Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;
55. more . . . matter: more than words can express.
56 Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
56. space: freedom of movement.
57 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
58 No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
59 As much as child e'er loved, or father found;
59. e'er: ever. father found: father received love.
60 A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
60. makes breath poor, and speech unable: makes voice feeble and speech inadequate.
61 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
61. Beyond all manner of so much: beyond all manner of comparison.
CORDELIA: [Aside.]
62 What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent.
LEAR
63 Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
64 With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,64. with champains rich'd: enriched by fertile plains.
65 With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
65. wide-skirted meads extensive meadows.
66 We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
66. issue: descendants.
67 Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
68 Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
REGAN
69 I am made of that self metal as my sister,
69. self metal: same stuff; same spirit.
70 And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
70. prize me at her worth: esteem myself her equal [in love for you].
71 I find she names my very deed of love;
71. she names my very deed of love: she describes exactly my love.
72 Only she comes too short, that I profess
73 Myself an enemy to all other joys,
74 Which the most precious square of sense possesses,
75 And find I am alone felicitate
75. felicitate: made happy.
76 In your dear Highness' love.
CORDELIA: [Aside.]
76 Then poor Cordelia!
77 And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
78 More ponderous than my tongue.
78. ponderous: weighty, serious, sincere.
KING LEAR
79 To thee and thine hereditary ever
80 Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
81 No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
81. validity: value. pleasure: pleasurable qualities.
82 Than that conferr'd on Goneril. —Now, our joy,
83 Although our last and least, to whose young love
83. least: youngest? smallest?
84 The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
84. vines: vineyards. vines . . . Burgandy: i.e.,the riches of both France and Burgandy.
85 Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw
85. Strive to be interess'd: compete to establish a claim [to Cordelia's love]. draw: earn, win.
86 A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
CORDELIA
87 Nothing, my lord.
Olivia Vinall as Cordelia
KING LEAR
88 Nothing?
CORDELIA
89 Nothing.
KING LEAR
90 Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.
CORDELIA
91 Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
92 My heart into my mouth, I love your majesty
93 According to my bond, nor more nor less.
93. bond: duty.
KING LEAR
94 How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little,
95 Lest it may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA
Good my lord,
96 You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I
97 Return those duties back as are right fit,
97. Return those duties back as are right fit: i.e., am properly dutiful in return.
98 Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
99 Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
100 They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
100. Haply: by good fortune.
101 That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
101. plight: marriage vow.
102 Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
103 Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
104 To love my father all.
KING LEAR
105 But goes thy heart with this?
Romola Garai as Cordelia, Ian McKellen as King Lear
2008 film.
CORDELIA
Ay, good my lord.
KING LEAR
106 So young, and so untender?
CORDELIA
107 So young, my lord, and true.
KING LEAR
108 Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower!
109 For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
110 The mysteries of Hecat, and the night;
110. Hecat: Goddess of Witchcraft.
111 By all the operation of the orbs
111. operation: influence. orbs: celestial spheres.
112 From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
112. From whom we do exist, and cease to be: by the effect of which we live and die.
113 Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
114 Propinquity and property of blood,
114. propinquity: kinship. property of blood: blood relationship.
115 And as a stranger to my heart and me
116 Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,
116. from this: from this moment. barbarous: barbaric
117 Or he that makes his generation messes
117. makes his generation messes: makes meals of his children and grandchildren.
118 To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
119 Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,
120 As thou my sometime daughter.
120. sometime: former.
KENT
Good my liege,—
120. liege: sovereign.
KING LEAR
121 Peace, Kent!
121. Peace: shut up!
122 Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
123 I loved her most, and thought to set my rest123. set my rest: bet everything
124 On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!
124. kind nursery: loving care. avoid: leave.
125 So be my grave my peace, as here I give
125-126. So be . . . from her!: i.e., in order to rest peacefully in my grave I now withdraw all my love from her!
126 Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?
127 Call Burgundy! Cornwall and Albany,
128 With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
128. digest this third: i.e., share between you Cordelia's third of the kingdom. >>>
129 Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
129. plainness: honesty, frankness.
130 I do invest you jointly with my power,
131 Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
132 That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
133 With reservation of an hundred knights,
134 By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
135 Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
136 The name, and all th' addition to a king;
136. addition: honors and prerogatives.
137 The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
137. The sway . . . rest: sovereign authority, taxation, administration of everything except what pertains to me personally. — Lear is giving all the hard work of being a king to his sons-in-law.
138 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
139 This coronet part betwixt you.
[Giving a coronet.]
139. This coronet part betwixt you: divide this coronet (which was to be Cordelia's) between you.
KENT
139 Royal Lear,
140 Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
141 Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,
142 As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—
KING LEAR
143 The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.
143. make from the shaft: get out of the way of the arrow.
KENT
144 Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
144. Let it fall rather: let it strike, no matter what. fork: arrowhead.
145 The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
145-146. be Kent . . . mad: i.e., my bluntness is justified by your craziness.
146 When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?
147 Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
148 When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,
148. plainness: honesty [as opposed to flattery].
149 When majesty stoops to folly. Reserve thy state;
149. Reserve thy state: retain your royal status; i.e., act like a king ought to act. in thy best consideration: using your best judgment. check: restrain. answer my life my judgment: i.e., I'll stake my life on my opinion.
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;
153 Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound
153-154. low sound / Reverbs no hollowness: whose soft voice echoes no hollowness.
154 Reverbs no hollowness.
KING LEAR
154 Kent, on thy life, no more.
KENT
155 My life I never held but as a pawn
155-156. My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thy enemies: The only value I ever put on my life was as a stake in a wager against your enemies.
156 To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,
157 Thy safety being the motive.
KING LEAR
157 Out of my sight!
KENT
158 See better, Lear; and let me still remain
159 The true blank of thine eye.
159. 
blank: white center of an archery target. >>>
blank: white center of an archery target. >>> KING LEAR
160 Now, by Apollo,—
KENT
Now, by Apollo, king,
161 Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
KING LEAR
161 O, vassal! miscreant!
161. miscreant: villain, misbeliever.
[Laying his hand on his sword.]
ALBANY:, CORNWALL
162 Dear sir, forbear.
KENT
163 Do: Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
163. Do: i.e., Go ahead and kill me.
164 Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
164. thy gift: i.e., your gift of Portia's portion of the kingdom to Albany and Cornwall.
165 Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
166 I'll tell thee thou dost evil.
KING LEAR
Hear me, recreant!
166. recreant: traitor.
167 On thine allegiance, hear me!
168 That thou hast sought to make us break our vows,
168. That: because. >>>
169 Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride
169. Which we durst never yet: which we never before have dared to do. strain'd: excessive, outrageous.
170 To come between our sentence and our power,
171 Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
172 Our potency made good, take thy reward.
173 Five days we do allot thee, for provision
174 To shield thee from disasters of the world;
174. disasters: misfortunes.
175 And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
176 Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
177 Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
177. trunk: body.
178 The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,
179 This shall not be revoked.
KENT
180 Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,
180. sith: since.
181 Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
[To CORDELIA.]
182 The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
183 That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!
[To REGAN and GONERIL.]
184 And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
184-185. And your . . . words of love : i.e., may your deeds show that you really meant what you said in those grand speeches to King Lear, so that we may all see that good effects spring from loving words. (Kent is being sarcastic.)
185 That good effects may spring from words of love.
186 Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
187 He'll shape his old course in a country new.
187. He'll shape his old course: i.e., he will continue to be the person he has always been.
Exit
Flourish. Enter GLOUCESTER,
Flourish: trumpet fanfare.
with [KING of] FRANCE and
BURGUNDY; Attendants.
GLOUCESTER
188 Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
KING LEAR
189 My lord of Burgundy,
190 We first address towards you, who with this king
190. address: address ourselves.
191 Hath rivall'd for our daughter. What, in the least,
192 Will you require in present dower with her,
192. present: immediate. — A dowry could include "present dower," to be given as a promise of future gifts upon the event of the marriage.
193 Or cease your quest of love?
BURGUNDY
193 Most royal majesty,
194 I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,
195 Nor will you tender less.
195. tender: offer. — Lear appears to be trying to back out of a previous offer, and Burgundy is reminding him that that is not a kingly thing to do.
KING LEAR
195 Right noble Burgundy,
196 When she was dear to us, we did hold her so,
196. When she was dear to us, we did hold her so: i.e., when I loved her dearly I considered her dear [of great worth].
197 But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands:
198 If aught within that little seeming substance,
198. little seeming substance: small creature who only seems substantial.
199 Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
199. piec'd: joined.
200 And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
200. like: please.
201 She's there, and she is yours.
BURGUNDY
I know no answer.
KING LEAR
202 Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
202. owes: possesses.
203 Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,
204 Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,
204. stranger'd with: made a stranger by.
205 Take her, or leave her?
BURGUNDY
205 Pardon me, royal sir;
206 Election makes not up on such conditions.
206. Election makes not up on such conditions: it is impossible to choose on these terms.
KING LEAR
207 Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,
208 I tell you all her wealth.
[To KING OF FRANCE.]
For you, great king,
209 I would not from your love make such a stray,
210 To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
210. I would not from your love make such a stray / To match you where I hate: i.e., I would not want to alienate you by marrying you to one I hate.
210 T'avert your liking a more worthier way
212 Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed
213 Almost t'acknowledge hers.
KING OF FRANCE
213 This is most strange,
214 That she, that even but now was your best object,
214. best object: object of your dearest affections.
215 The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
215. argument: theme.
216 Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time
216. in this trice of time: in this instant.
217 Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
217. dismantle: strip off.
218 So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence
218. folds of favour: —The King of France imagines Cordelia wrapped in robes of royal favor.
219 Must be of such unnatural degree,
220 That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
220. That monsters it: that makes it monstrous. or your fore-vouch'd affection / Fall into taint: or [makes] your previously avouched affection suddenly go rotten.
221 Fall into taint: which to believe of her,
222 Must be a faith that reason without miracle
223 Should never plant in me.
223. Should never: Shall not ever.
CORDELIA
I yet beseech your majesty,—
224 If for I want that glib and oily art,
224. for I want: because I lack.
225 To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,
225. speak and purpose not: make speeches with no intention of living up to what I say.
226 I'll do't before I speak,—that you make known
226. do't before I speak: do it rather than talk about it.
227 It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
228 No unchaste action, or dishonoured step,
228. dishonoured step: dishonorable action.
229 That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;
230 But even for want of that for which I am richer,
230. want of that for which I am richer: lack of that which makes me richer for not having.
231 A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
231. still-soliciting: continually begging for favor and attention [like politicians].
232 As I am glad I have not, though not to have it
233 Hath lost me in your liking.
KING LEAR
233 Better thou
234 Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.
KING OF FRANCE
235 Is it but this,—a tardiness in nature
236 Which often leaves the history unspoke
237 That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,
236-237. leaves the history unspoke / That it intends to do: i.e., resolves on an action without telling the world about it.
238 What say you to the lady? Love's not love
239 When it is mingled with regards that stand
240 Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?
240. regards that stand / Aloof from the entire point: totally irrelevant considerations.
241 She is herself a dowry.
BURGUNDY
241 Royal Lear,
242 Give but that portion which yourself proposed,
243 And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
244 Duchess of Burgundy.
KING LEAR
245 Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.
BURGUNDY: [To Cordelia.]
246 I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father
247 That you must lose a husband.
CORDELIA
247 Peace be with Burgundy!
248 Since that respects of fortune are his love,
248. respects of fortune: financial considerations.
249 I shall not be his wife.
KING OF FRANCE
250 Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;
251 Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!
252 Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,
253 Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.
254 Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
255 My love should kindle to inflamed respect.
255. inflamed respect: impassioned admiration.
256 Thy dow'rless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
256. thrown to my chance: i.e., mine by good luck.
257 Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
258 Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
258. wat'rish: watery, weak.
259 Can buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.
259. unpriz'd: not valued [at her real worth by King Lear or the Duke of Burgundy].
260 Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
261 Thou losest here, a better where to find.
261. Thou losest here, a better where to find: you have lost this place, only to find a better place elsewhere.
KING LEAR
262 Thou hast her, France; let her be thine, for we
Cordelia's Portion by Ford Maddox Brown
263 Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
264 That face of hers again.
[To CORDELIA.]
264 Therefore be gone
265 Without our grace, our love, our benison.—
265. grace: favor. benison: blessing.
266 Come, noble Burgundy.
Flourish. Exeunt [all but KING of
100. Flourish: trumpet fanfare.
FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN,
and CORDELIA].
KING OF FRANCE
267 Bid farewell to your sisters.
CORDELIA
268 The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
269 Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are,
270 And like a sister am most loath to call
271 Your faults as they are named. Love well our father:
271. as they are named: by their true names.
272 To your professed bosoms I commit him,
272. professed bosoms: i.e., hearts that have professed love for King Lear.
273 But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
274 I would prefer him to a better place.
274. prefer: recommend.
275 So, farewell to you both.
The Three Daughters of King Lear by Gustav Pope
REGAN
276 Prescribe not us our duties.
GONERIL
Let your study
277 Be to content your lord, who hath received you
278 At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
277-278. received . . . alms: taken you as a small handout from Fortune.
279 And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
279. well . . . wanted: well deserve the same lack [of affection] that you have lacked [in your treatment of your father].
CORDELIA
280 Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides.
280. Time . . . hides: time will reveal what hides under layers of hypocrisy. >>>
281 Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
281. Who cover faults, at last shame them derides: whoever conceals their faults will, in the course of time, be derided by the shamefulness of their faults.
282 Well may you prosper!
KING OF FRANCE
282 Come, my fair Cordelia.
Exeunt [KING of] FRANCE
and CORDELIA.
GONERIL
283 Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what
284 most nearly appertains to us both. I think our
285 father will hence tonight.
REGAN
286 That's most certain, and with you; next month
287 with us.
GONERIL
288 You see how full of changes his age is; the
289 observation we have made of it hath not been
290 little: he always loved our sister most; and
291 with what poor judgment he hath now cast her
292 off appears too grossly.
292. grossly: obviously.
REGAN
293 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever
294 but slenderly known himself.
GONERIL
295 The best and soundest of his time hath been but
296 rash; then must we look to receive from his age,
295-296. The best . . . but rash: i.e., even in the prime of his life he was no better than rash.
297 not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
297. long-engraffed: deep-rooted.
298 condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
298. therewithal: along with that.
299 that infirm and choleric years bring with them.
299. choleric: bad-tempered, irritable.
REGAN
300 Such unconstant starts are we like to have from
300. unconstant starts: unpredictable and impetuous actions.
301 him as this of Kent's banishment.
GONERIL
302 There is further compliment of leave-taking
302. compliment: i.e., ceremonious exchange of compliments.
303 between France and him. Pray you, let us hit
304 together: if our father carry authority with
303-304. hit together: i.e., agree on a course of action.
305 such dispositions as he bears, this last
306 surrender of his will but offend us.
305-306. this last surrender of his: i.e., this recent surrender to his passions.
306. will but offend us: will only harm us.
REGAN
307 We shall further think of it.
GONERIL
308 We must do something, and i' the heat.
308. i' the heat: while the iron is hot.
Exeunt.