II. In the folio of 1623.

III. Quarto. by Jane Bell, 1655. This edition is of no value, for, neglecting the better copy in the folio, it follows the firft quarto, even in the errours of the prefs.

This edition, like all the other, except Bell's, is given from the folio. The variations are fometimes noted.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The KING's PALACE.

Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Baftard.

I

KENT.

Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always feem fo to us, but now, in the Divifion of the Kingdom, (1) it appears not, which of the dukes he values moft; for qualities (2). are fo weigh'd, that curiofity in neither (3) can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your fon, my Lord?

Glo. His Breeding, Sir, has been at my charge. I

(1) in the divifion of the kingdom,] There is fomething of obfcurity or inaccuracy in this preparatory fcene. The King has already divided his kingdom, and yet when he enters he examines his daughters, to discover in what proportions he should divide it. Perhaps Kent and Gloucefter only were privy to his defign, which he ftill kept in his own hands, to be changed or performed as fubfequent reafons fhould determine him.

(2) Equalities. 4to.

(3) that curiofity in neither- -] Curiofity, for exact fcrutiny. The fense of the whole fentence is, The qualities and properties of the feveral divifions are fo weighed and balanced against one another, that the exactest scrutiny could not determine in preferring one fhare to the other. WARBURTON. have

have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could, whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot with the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper.

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, fome year elder than this, (4) who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came fomewhat faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund ?

Edm. No, my Lord.

Glo. My Lord of Kent.

Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
Edm. My fervices to your Lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better.
Edm. Sir, I fhall ftudy your deferving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he

fhall again.

The King is coming.

[Trumpet founds within.

The Oxford Editor, not un

(4) fome year elder than this,] derstanding the common phrafe, alters year to years. He did

not confider, the Baftard fays,

fome twelve or fourteen moon-fbines

For that I am
Lag of a Brother

WARBURTON.

SCENE

Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy,

Glofter.

Glo. I fhall, my Liege.

[Exit. Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker purpofe. (5)

Give me the map here. Know, we have divided,
In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent, (6)
To shake all cares and bufinefs from our age,
Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Corn-
wall,

And you, our no lefs loving fon of Albany,
We have this hour a conftant will (7) to publish
Our daughters fev'ral dow'rs, that future ftrife
May be prevented now.

Burgundy,

(5) express our darker purpose.] not for indirect, oblique.

The princes France and

Darker, for more fecret;

WARBURTON. This word may admit a further explication. We ball exprefs our darker purpose: that is we have already made known in fome measure our defign of parting the kingdom; we will now discover what has not been told before, the reasons by which we fhall regulate the partition.

This interpretation will justify or palliate the exordial dialogue.

(6) and 'tis our FAST intent,] This is an interpolation of Mr. Lewis Theobald, for want of knowing the meaning of the old reading in the quarto of 1608, and first folio of 1623; where we find it.

-and 'tis our FIRST intent,] which is as Shakespeare wrote it who makes Lear declare his purpofe with a dignity becoming his character: That the first reafon of his abdication was the love of his people, that they might be protected by fuch as were better able to discharge the truft; and his natural affection for his daughters, only the fecond. WARBURTON.

Faft is the reading of the firft folio, and I think the true reading.

(7) Conftant will feems a confirmation of fast intent.
VOL. VII.
M

Great

Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their am'rous fojourn,
And here are to be anfwer'd. Tell me, daughters,
Since now we will diveft us both of rule,
Int'reft of territory, cares of ftate,

Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft,
That we our largest bounty may extend,

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon. Sir,

I love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, ho

nour;

As much as child ere lov'd, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable,
Beyond all manner (8) of so much I love you.

Cor. What fhall Cordelia do? (9) love and be filent.
[Afide.
Lear. Of all these Bounds, ev'n from this line to

this,

With fhadowy forefts and with champions rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's iffue
Be this perpetual.-What fays our fecond daughter?
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall, fpeak.
Reg. I'm made of that self-metal as my fifter,
And prize me at her worth, in my true heart.
I find, the names my very deed of love,
Only the comes too short; that I profess (1)
Myfelf an enemy to all other joys,

(8) Beyond all manner, &c.] i. e. beyond all expreffion. WARBURTON:

Beyond all manner of so much—] Beyond all affignable quantity. I love you beyond limits, and cannot fay it is fo much, for how much foever I fhould name it would yet be more. (9) So the quarto: the folio has peak.

(1)-that I profefs] That feems to ftand without relation, but is referred to find, the firft conjunction being inaccu rately suppressed. I find that she names any deed, that I profefs, &c.