Give me the map there. Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,--
Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state,--
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.
In the meantime I shall reveal my secret plan.
Give me that map. Be aware that I have divided
my kingdom into three: I am determined
to throw off all work and duty in my old age;
I will hand them over to younger men, while I
crawl towards death unencumbered. Our son Cornwall,
and you, just as loving son Albany,
I have determined that today I will announce
the different dowries of my daughters, so that
we can nip any future disputes in the bud. The Princes of France and Burgundy,
great rivals for the love of my youngest daughter,
have been staying in my court, out of love, for a long time,
and will be given my decision today. Tell me, my daughters–
since I am now throwing off my kingship,
ownership of land and the cares of state–
which of you shall we say loves me the most?
The biggest share will go to the one where merit most enhances nature. Goneril,
my firstborn, you speak first.
GONERIL
Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
As much as child e'er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
Sir, I love you more than words can express;
more than my eyesight, my freedom and my liberty;
more than anything of value, expensive or rare;
as much as life, grace, health, beauty, honor;
I am the most loving child ever, no father could find better;
my love makes me breathless and speechless;
I love you beyond all expression.
CORDELIA
[Aside] What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.
What shall Cordelia do?
You must love, and be silent.
LEAR
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
All of this territory, from this line to this,
full of shady forests and open plains,
with many rivers and extensive meadows,
we make you the lady of: this shall be handed down to your children
in perpetuity. What does my second daughter say,
dearest Regan, the wife of Cornwall? Speak.
REGAN
Sir, I am made
Of the self-same metal that my sister is,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense possesses;
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness' love.
Sir, I am
identical in this way to my sister,
and of equal merit. She has
spoken everything that is in my heart,
only she falls short: I have to say
that no other happiness means anything to me,
nothing which the highest sense could feel;
the only thing that makes me happy
is your dear highness' love.
CORDELIA
[Aside] Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.
This is bad for you Cordelia!
And yet it isn't, since I'm sure that my love
is more than I can say.
KING LEAR
To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
You and your descendants for ever
shall have this large third of my beautiful country;
it's no less spacious, profitable or lovely
than Goneril's share. Now, the light of my eye,
last but not least; the one whose young love
the Dukes of France and Burgundy
are fighting to win; what can you say to get
a richer third than your sisters? Speak.
CORDELIA
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing, my lord.
KING LEAR
Nothing!
Nothing!
CORDELIA
Nothing.
Nothing.
KING LEAR
Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.
You won't get anything for nothing: try again.
CORDELIA
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more nor less.
I'm sorry, but I cannot force myself
to express my feelings: I love your Majesty
just as I should; no more nor less.
KING LEAR
How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,
Lest it may mar your fortunes.
What's this, Cordelia! You should speak differently,
or you'll talk yourself out of your fortune.
CORDELIA
Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.
My good lord,
you've fathered me, brought me up and loved me: I
repay you in the proper way,
by obeying you, loving you and honoring you.
Why do my sisters have husbands, if they say
that all their love is for you? When and if I marry,
the lord who takes my hand will also get
half my love, of my attention and care:
I certainly will not marry like my sisters,<
br />
only having love for my father.
KING LEAR
But goes thy heart with this?
Are you speaking from the heart?
CORDELIA
Ay, good my lord.
Yes, my good lord.
KING LEAR
So young, and so untender?
You're so young and so hardhearted?
CORDELIA
So young, my lord, and true.
So young, my lord, and honest.
KING LEAR
Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,
As thou my sometime daughter.
So be it; let your honesty be your dowry then:
by the holy light of the sun,
these secrets of the underworld and the night;
by the movement of the stars
which mark our births and deaths;
I hereby disown all my fatherly duties,
family relations and blood ties,
and declare that you are now a stranger to my heart and me
forever, from this moment on. The barbarian Scythian,
or the ones who make their parents into stews
to assuage their appetites, shall be as close
to my heart, just as helped and pitied
as you, who was once my daughter.
KENT
Good my liege,--
My good Lord–
KING LEAR
Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?
Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
The name, and all the additions to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part betwixt you.
Giving the crown
Quiet, Kent!
Do not come between the Dragon and his victim.
I loved her the most, and thought that she
would look after me in my retirement. Get out, don't let me see you again!
There will be no peace this side of the grave, and I take
her father's heart away from her! Call France; who's going to do it?
Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,
take this extra third along with my two daughters' dowries:
let her marry her pride, which she calls honesty;
I give you both my power to share,
my superiority and all the other privileges
of kingship. I shall stay with you month and month about
with a retinue of a hundred knights, which you shall pay for.
I shall keep the title of King, and the honours due to it;
the power, income and administration of the rest
is yours, beloved sons: to confirm this
you can split this crown between you.
KENT
Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--
Royal Lear,
whom I have always honoured as my King,
loved as my father, and followed as my master,
remembered you in my prayers as my great patron–
KING LEAR
The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.
Enough preamble, make your point.
KENT
Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?
Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,
When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;
And, in thy best consideration, cheque
This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.
I will make it, although the point might go
through my heart: Kent will be discourteous,
when Lear is mad. What are you doing, old man?
Do you think that duty should be silent,
when power gives in to flattery? Honor demands honesty,
when royalty acts stupidly. Take back your pronouncement;
think more carefully and stop
this ghastly foolishness: I will stake my life on the fact
that your youngest daughter does not love you the least;
just because somebody is not shallow
it does not mean they are empty hearted.
KING LEAR
Kent, on thy life, no more.
Kent, if you value your life, be quiet.
KENT
My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,
Thy safety being the motive.
I never thought of my life as anything but a pawn
in the fight against your enemies: and I do not fear losing it
if your safety is at stake.
KING LEAR
Out of my sight!
Get out of my sight!
KENT
See better, Lear; and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye.
See more clearly, Lear; let me stay
before you and advise you.
KING LEAR
Now, by Apollo,--
Now, by Apollo–
KENT
Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
Now, by Apollo, King,
you're taking your god's name in vain.
KING LEAR
O, vassal! miscreant!
Laying his hand on his sword
Oh, you slave! Scoundrel!
ALBANY CORNWALL
Dear sir, forbear.
Dear Sir, hold back.
KENT
Do:
Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy doom;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.
Do:
kill your doctor, and give the fee
to your foul disease. Take back your pronouncement;
or, as long as I can still speak,
I'll tell you you're doing wrong.
KING LEAR
Hear me, recreant!
On thine allegiance, hear me!
Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,
Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride
To come between our sentence and our power,
Which nor
our nature nor our place can bear,
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee, for provision
To shield thee from diseases of the world;
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,
This shall not be revoked.
Listen to me, you traitor!
Stick to your duty, listen to me!
Since you have tried to make me break my vow,
which I have never done, and with unnatural pride
have tried to come between my decision and its execution,
which neither my nature nor my position can tolerate,
I will show my power, here is your reward.
I give you five days to prepare yourself
against what the world may bring;
on the sixth you shall turn your hated back
upon my kingdom: if, on the tenth day after that,
your exiled body is found in my kingdom,
you shall be executed. Get out! by Jupiter,
I shall stick to this.
KENT
Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
Farewell, King: since you will behave like this,
freedom lives elsewhere, and exile is here.
To CORDELIA
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!
Maiden, may the gods take you under their sweet protection,
your thoughts are correct and you were right to speak out!
To REGAN and GONERIL
And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
That good effects may spring from words of love.
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 551