xvi REMARKS ON SHAKSPEARE'S KING LEAR.' with his dog-hearted daughter. Lear loves him, and he loves Cordelia, and thus there is a bond of affection which knits him to the two as part of the family. His reckless and all-licensed speeches serve the part of the Greek chorus, in explaining many things which would not otherwise be so readily intelligible. Altogether, his childlike affection to Cordelia, his devoted attachment to the King, his daring contempt for the bad daughters, his profound insight into the motives of human action, cynical yet tempered by love, render him a most charming character, and give him an easy pre-eminence over all others who have philosophised in motley. Although called a boy, his great knowledge of the heart indicates his age to have been at least adult. So far from being in any degree imbecile, his native powers of intellect are of the finest order. His wayward rambling of thought may be partly natural, partly the result of his professed office, an office then held in no light esteem. In physique he is small and weak. His suffering from exposure to the inclement night excites Lear's tender compassion, even in his wildest mood, and it does in effect extinguish his frail life. A waif of wayward unmuscular intellect in an age of iron. An admirable union of faithful affection with daring universal cynicism; he also illustrates the truth of the opinion, that the scoffer and the hater are different beings. The 'comic sublime' of this character forms a grotesque counterpart and contrast to that of the King, and heightens the effect while it relieves the pain of the tragic development.-BUCKNILL. (Appears) . Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 4. Act III. sc. 2; sc. 4; sc. 6. Act IV. sc. 6. Act V. sc. 2; sc. 3. Act I. sc. 1. Act I. sc. 1. Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 5; sc. 7. Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 2. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. EDMUND, bastard son to Gloster Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3; sc. 4. Act II. sc. 4. Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. CORDELIA, daughter to Lear. . Act I. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 4; sc. 7. Act V. sc. 2; sc. 3. Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE,-BRITAIN. KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I.-KING LEAR's Palace. Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND. Kent. I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Glo. 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 qualities are so weighed,2 that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to't. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could, and had, Had more affected.] Had been more partial to. We may presume that Kent and Gloucester have just heard the king express his purpose of dividing the kingdom among his three daughters. 2 Qualities are so weighed, &c.] 'The qualities and properties of the several divisions are so weighed and balanced against one another, that the exactest scrutiny could not determine in preferring one share to the other.'-Warburton. The word moiety, which strictly means half, often denoted share or portion. 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.1 Glo. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? 1 Edm. No, my lord. Glo. 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. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. [Trumpets sound without. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CorDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend 2 the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker3 purpose. Give me the map there.-Know, that we have divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast 4 intent To shake all cares and business from our age, Proper.] Goodly. 2 Attend.] Escort hither. Darker.] More secret. Lear had already made known to his lords his purpose of dividing the kingdom, but not his design of the trial by professions. 4 A Fast.] Steadfast, settled. |