Glou. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall[2425] 30
again. The king is coming.[2425][2439]
Sennet. Enter one bearing a coronet, King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.[2440]
Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.[2441]
Glou. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund.[2442]
Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.[2443]
Give me the map there. Know we have divided[2444] 35
In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent[2445]
To shake all cares and business from our age,[2446]
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we[2447][2448]
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,[2448]
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,[2448][2449] 40
We have this hour a constant will to publish[2448]
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife[2448][2450]
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,[2448][2451]
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,[2452]
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, 45
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,[2453]
Since now we will divest us both of rule,[2454]
Interest of territory, cares of state,[2454][2455]
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend 50
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,[2456]
Our eldest-born, speak first.[2457]
Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter,[2457][2458]
Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty,[2459]
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, 55
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour,
As much as child e'er loved or father found;[2460]
A love that makes breath poor and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.[2461]
Cor. [Aside] What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent.[2462]60
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,[2463][2464][2465]
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,[2464]
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue[2466]
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,[2467] 65
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.[2468]
Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,[2469]
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart[2470]
I find she names my very deed of love;[2471]
Only she comes too short: that I profess[2471][2472] 70
Myself an enemy to all other joys[2471]
Which the most precious square of sense possesses,[2473]
And find I am alone felicitate[2474][2475]
In your dear highness' love.[2474]