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King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionCharactersActScene1Act1,1,SceneNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 21Act 1, Scene 1Original TextModern TextEnter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUNDKENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND enter.KENTKENTI thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albanythan Cornwall.I thought the king preferred the Duke of Albany tothe Duke of Cornwall.GLOUCESTERIt did always seem so to us. But now in the division ofthe kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he valuesmost, for equalities are so weighed that curiosity inneither can make choice of either’s moiety.GLOUCESTERWe used to think so too. But the way he’s dividedthe kingdom recently, nobody can tell which of thedukes he favors more. He’s split the kingdom soevenly that it’s impossible to see any indication offavoritism.KENT(indicating EDMUND) Is not this your son, my lord?KENT(pointing to EDMUND) Isn’t this your son, my lord?GLOUCESTERHis breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have sooften blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazedto it.GLOUCESTERYes, I’ve been responsible for his upbringing. I’vehad to acknowledge that he’s my son so manytimes that now I can do it without embarrassment.KENTI cannot conceive you.KENTI can’t conceive of what you mean.GLOUCESTERSir, this young fellow’s mother could, whereupon shegrew round-wombed, and had indeed, sir, a son for hercradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smella fault?GLOUCESTERYou can’t conceive? Well, this guy’s mother couldconceive him all to well. She grew a big belly andhad a baby for her crib before she had a husbandfor her bed. Do you smell something naughty?KENTI cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being soproper.KENTWell, I wouldn’t want to undo the naughtiness,since the boy turned out so well.GLOUCESTERBut I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year olderthan this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Thoughthis knave came something saucily to the world beforehe was sent for, yet was his mother fair, there was goodsport at his making, and the whoreson must beacknowledged.—Do you know this noble gentleman,Edmund?GLOUCESTERBut I have a legitimate son a few years older thanthis one, and I don’t love him any more than I lovemy bastard. Edmund may have snuck into the worlda little before his time, but his mother was pretty,we had a fun time making him, and now I have toacknowledge the guy as my son.—Do you knowthis gentleman, Edmund? Previous SectionCharactersLikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,2 Page 2ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 22530Original TextModern TextEDMUNDEDMUNDNo, my lord.No, I don’t, my lord.GLOUCESTER(to EDMUND) My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafteras my honorable friend.GLOUCESTER(to EDMUND) This is Lord Kent. Remember him asmy friend and an honorable man.EDMUNDMy services to your lordship.EDMUNDVery pleased to meet you, my lord.KENTI must love you and sue to know you better.KENTI look forward to getting to know you better.EDMUNDSir, I shall study deserving.EDMUNDI’ll try to make myself worth your knowledge.GLOUCESTERHe hath been out nine years, and away he shall again.GLOUCESTERHe’s been gone for nine years and he’s leavingagain soon.Sennet.The king is coming.The king is coming.Enter one bearing a coronet, then King LEAR, then theDukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY, next GONERIL,REGAN, CORDELIA, and attendants3540Trumpets announce the arrival of King LEAR.A man bearing a crown enters, followed by KINGLEAR, the Dukes of CORNWALL and ALBANY,then GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, andattendants.LEARAttend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.LEARGo escort the lords of France and Burgundy,Gloucester.GLOUCESTERI shall, my lord.GLOUCESTERYes, my lord.Exit GLOUCESTERLEARGLOUCESTER exits.LEARMeantime we shall express our darker purpose.—Give me the map there.—Know that we have dividedIn three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intentTo shake all cares and business from our age,Conferring them on younger strengths while weUnburdened crawl toward death.—Our son of Cornwall,And you, our no less loving son of Albany,We have this hour a constant will to publishLEARIn the meantime I’ll get down to my real business.—Hand me that map over there.—I herebyannounce that I’ve divided my kingdom into threeparts, which I’m handing over to the youngergeneration so I can enjoy a little rest and peace ofmind in my old age.—Cornwall and Albany, myloving sons-in-law, I now want to announcepublicly what each of my daughters will inherit, toavoid hostilities after I die. The two Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1Like417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 2Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,3 Page 3ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 3455055606570Original TextModern TextOur daughters' several dowers, that future strifegreat princes of France and Burgundy, vying for theMay be prevented now.hand of my youngest Cordelia, have been at myThe two great 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 answered.—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 mostThat we our largest bounty may extendWhere nature doth with merit challenge?—Goneril,Our eldest born, speak first.court a long time and will soon have their answers.—My daughters, since I’m about to give up mythrone and the worries that go along with it, tell mewhich one of you loves me most, so that I can givemy largest gift to the one who deserves it most.—Goneril, my oldest daughter, you speak first.GONERILSir, I do love you more than words can wield the matter,Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor,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.GONERILSir, I love you more than words can say. I love youmore than eyesight, space, and freedom, beyondwealth or anything of value. I love you as much aslife itself, and as much as status, health, beauty, orhonor. I love you as much as any child has everloved her father, with a love too deep to be spokenof. I love you more than any answer to the question“How much?”CORDELIA(aside) What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.CORDELIA(to herself) What will I say? I can only love and besilent.LEAROf all these bounds, even from this line to this,With shadowy forests and with champains riched,With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issueBe this perpetual.—What says our second daughter,Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.LEARI give you all this land, from this line to that one—dense forests, fertile fields, rivers rich with fish,wide meadows. This land will belong to your andAlbany’s children forever.—And now what does mysecond daughter Regan, the wife of Cornwall, haveto say? Tell me.REGANSir, I am made of that self mettle as my sister,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 professREGANSir, I’m made of the same stuff as my sister andconsider myself just as good as she is. She’sdescribed my feelings of love for you precisely, buther description falls a little short of the truth. I rejectcompletely any Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 2LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 3Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 5Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,4 Page 4ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 47580859095Original TextModern TextMyself an enemy to all other joys,joy except my love for you, and I find that only yourWhich the most precious square of sense possesses.majesty’s love makes me happy.And find I am alone felicitateIn your dear highness' love.CORDELIA(aside) Then poor Cordelia!And yet not so, since I am sure my love’sMore ponderous than my tongue.CORDELIA(to herself) Poor me, what am I going to say now?But I’m not poor in love—my love is bigger than mywords are.LEARTo thee and thine hereditary everRemain this ample third of our fair kingdom,No less in space, validity, and pleasureThan that conferred on Goneril.—But now, our joy,Although our last and least, to whose young loveThe vines of France and milk of BurgundyStrive to be interessed. What can you say to drawA third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.LEARYou and your heirs hereby receive this large thirdof our lovely kingdom, no smaller in area or valuethan what I gave Goneril.—Now, you, my youngestdaughter, my joy, courted by the rich rulers ofFrance and Burgundy, what can you tell me thatwill make me give you a bigger part of my kingdomthan I gave your sisters? Speak.CORDELIANothing, my lord.CORDELIANothing, my LIANothing.LEARHow? Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.LEARCome on, “nothing” will get you nothing. Try again.CORDELIAUnhappy that I am, I cannot heaveMy heart into my mouth. I love your majestyAccording to my bond, no more nor less.CORDELIAI’m unlucky. I don’t have a talent for putting myheart’s feelings into words. I love you as a childshould love her father, neither more nor less.LEARHow, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,Lest you may mar your fortunes.LEARWhat are you saying, Cordelia? Revise yourstatement, or you may damage your inheritance.CORDELIAGood my lord,You have begot me, bred me, loved me. IReturn those duties back as are right fit—CORDELIAMy lord, you brought me up and loved me, and I’mgiving back just as I should: I obey you, love you,and Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 3LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 5417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on Twitter
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 4Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 6Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,5 Page 5ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 5100105110115120125Original TextModern TextObey you, love you, and most honor you.honor you. How can my sisters speak the truthWhy have my sisters husbands if they saywhen they say they love only you? Don’t they loveThey love you all? Haply when I shall wedThat lord whose hand must take my plight shall carryHalf my love with him, half my care and duty.Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,To love my father all.their husbands too? Hopefully when I get married,I’ll give my husband half my love and half mysense of duty. I’m sure I’ll never get married in theway my sisters say they’re married, loving theirfather only.LEARBut goes thy heart with this?LEARBut do you mean what you’re saying?CORDELIAAy, good my lord.CORDELIAYes, my lord.LEARSo young and so untender?LEARSo young and so cruel?CORDELIASo young, my lord, and true.CORDELIASo young, my lord, and honest.LEARLet 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 orbsFrom 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 meHold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian,Or he that makes his generation messesTo gorge his appetite, shall to my bosomBe as well neighbored, pitied, and relievedAs thou my sometime daughter.LEARThen that’s the way it’ll be. The truth will be all theinheritance you get. I swear by the sacred sun, bythe mysterious moon, and by all the planets thatrule our lives, that I disown you now as mydaughter. As of now, there are no family tiesbetween us, and I consider you a stranger to me.Foreign savages who eat their own children fordinner will be as close to my heart as you, exdaughter of mine.KENTGood my liege—KENTBut sir—LEARPeace, Kent.Come not between the dragon and his wrath.I loved her most and thought to set my restOn her kind nursery.—LEARBe quiet, Kent. Don’t get in my way when I’mangry. I loved Cordelia most of all and planned tospend my old age with her taking care of me. (toCORDELIA) Go Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 4LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 6417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 5Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 7Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,6 Page 6ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 6Original TextModern Text(to CORDELIA)away! Get out of my sight!—I guess if she doesn’tHence, and avoid my sight!—love her father, then I’ll only have peace when I’mSo be my grave my peace as here I giveHer father’s heart from her.—Call France. Who stirs?Call Burgundy.—dead.—Call the King of France. Why is nobodydoing anything? Call the Duke of Burgundy.Exeunt several attendants130135140145150Several attendants exit.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,Preeminence, and all the large effectsThat troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,With reservation of an hundred knightsBy you to be sustained, shall our abodeMake with you by due turns. Only shall we retainThe name, and all th' additions to a king.The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,Belovèd sons, be yours; which to confirm,This coronet part between you.(gives CORNWALL and ALBANY the coronet)Cornwall and Albany, you and your wives candivide this last third of my kingdom between you. Ifshe wants to be proud, or “honest,” as she calls it,she can just marry her own pride. I hereby grant toyou two my crown and all the privileges thatkingship brings. I’ll live one month with one of you,the next month with the other one. All I ask is thatyou provide me with a hundred knights for my ownentourage. I’ll keep only the title of king, but you’llhave everything else: all the authority and incomethat come with kingship. To confirm all this, takethis crown to share between yourselves. (he givesCORNWALL and ALBANY the crown)KENTRoyal Lear,Whom I have ever honored as my king,Loved as my father, as my master followed,As my great patron thought on in my prayers—KENTKing Lear, I’ve always honored you as king, lovedyou as my father, obeyed you as my master, andthanked you in my prayers—LEARThe bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft.LEARI’m furious and ready to snap. Stay away or elseI’ll take my anger out on you.KENTLet it fall rather, though the fork invadeThe region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerlyWhen Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speakWhen power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’sboundWhen majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state,KENTLet your anger fall on me then, even if itssharpness pierces my heart. Kent can speak rudelywhen Lear goes mad. What are you doing, oldman? When powerful kings cave in to flatterers, doyou think loyal men will be afraid to speak outagainst it? When a majestic king starts acting silly,then it’s my duty to be blunt. Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 5LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 7417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 6Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 8Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,7 Page 7ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 7155160165170Original TextModern TextAnd in thy best consideration checkHold on to your crown and use your betterThis hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment,judgment to rethink this rash decision. On my life IThy youngest daughter does not love thee least,Nor are those empty-hearted whose low soundReverbs no hollowness.swear to you that your youngest daughter doesn’tlove you least. A loud mouth often points to anempty heart, and just because she’s quiet doesn’tmean she’s unloving.LEARKent, on thy life, no more.LEARKent, if you want to stay alive, stop talking.KENTMy life I never held but as a pawnTo wage against thy enemies, nor fear to lose it,Thy safety being motive.KENTI never considered my life as anything more than achess pawn for you to play off against yourenemies. I’m not afraid to lose it if it helps protectyou.LEAROut of my sight!LEARGet out of my sight!KENTSee better, Lear, and let me still remainThe true blank of thine eye.KENTLearn to see better, Lear, and let me stay herewhere you can look to me for good advice.LEARNow, by Apollo—LEARNow, I swear by Apollo KENTNow, by Apollo, King,Thou swear’st thy gods in vain.KENTBy Apollo, King, you’re taking the names of thegods in vain.LEARO vassal! Miscreant!LEAROh, you lowlife! Scum!ALBANY, CORNWALLDear sir, forbear!ALBANY, CORNWALLPlease stop, sir.KENTDo, kill thy physician, and the fee bestowUpon thy foul disease. Revoke thy gift,Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat,I’ll tell thee thou dost evil.KENTSure, kill the doctor who’s trying to cure you andpay your disease. Take back your gift to Albanyand Cornwall. If you don’t, then as long as I’m ableto speak I’ll keep telling you you’ve done a bad,bad thing.LEARHear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me.That thou hast sought to make us break our vows,Which we durst never yet, and with strained prideTo come betwixt our sentence and our power,Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,LEARListen to me, you traitor. You’ll pay the price fortrying to make me go back on the vow I madewhen I bequeathed my kingdom to them. I’venever broken a vow yet. You tried to make merevise my judgment on my youngest daughter,disrespecting my power as Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 6Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 8
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 7Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 9Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,8 Page 8ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 8175180185190195Original TextModern TextOur potency made good, take thy reward:king—which I can’t put up with either as a ruler orFive days we do allot thee for provisionas a person. This is your punishment: I’ll give youTo shield thee from diseases of the world.And on the sixth to turn thy hated backUpon our kingdom. If on the next day followingThy banished trunk be found in our dominions,The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,This shall not be revoked.five days to gather together what you need tosurvive, then on the sixth day you’ll leave thiskingdom that hates you. If the day after that you’refound in my kingdom, you die. Now get out of here!I swear by Jupiter I’ll never revoke thispunishment.KENTWhy, fare thee well, King. Sith thus thou wilt appear,Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.(to CORDELIA)The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,That justly think’st and hast most rightly said!(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.He’ll shape his old course in a country new.KENTFarewell, King. If this is how you act, it’s clear thatfreedom has been banished from this kingdom.(toCORDELIA) I hope the gods will protect you, mydear girl, for thinking fairly and speaking correctly.(to REGAN and GONERIL) And you two, I hopeyour actions carry out your grand promises of love,so that big words can bring big results. Farewell toall of you. I’ll carry on my old life in a new land.Exit KENTKENT exits.Flourish. Enter GLOUCESTER with the King ofFRANCE, the Duke of BURGUNDY, and attendantsTrumpets play. GLOUCESTER enters with theKing of FRANCE, the Duke of BURGUNDY, andattendants.GLOUCESTERHere’s France and Burgundy, my noble lord.GLOUCESTERHere are the rulers of France and Burgundy, mylord.LEARMy lord of Burgundy.We first address towards you, who with this kingHath rivaled for our daughter. What in the leastWill you require in present dower with herOr cease your quest of love?LEARMy lord the ruler of Burgundy, I’ll speak to you first.You’ve been competing with this king for mydaughter. What’s the least that you will settle for asa dowry? Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 7LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 9417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 8Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 10Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,9 Page 9ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 9Original TextModern TextBURGUNDYBURGUNDYMost royal majesty,Your highness, I want nothing more than whatI crave no more than hath your highness offered.Nor will you tender less.you’ve already offered. I know you’ll offer nothingless than that.LEARRight noble Burgundy,When she was dear to us we did hold her so,But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands.If aught within that little seeming substance,Or all of it, with our displeasure piecedAnd nothing more, may fitly like your grace,She’s there, and she is yours.LEARBurgundy, I valued her highly when I cared abouther. But now her price has fallen. There she is,over there. If there’s anything you like about thatworthless little thing, then go for it. She’s all yours.But what you see is what you get—her only dowryis my disapproval. There she is.BURGUNDYI know no answer.BURGUNDYI don’t know what to say.LEARSir, will you, with those infirmities she owes—Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,Dowered with our curse and strangered with our oath—Take her or leave her?LEARShe’s got big flaws. She has no friends orprotectors. I no longer love her. Her only dowry ismy curse and banishment. So do you take her orleave her?BURGUNDYPardon me, royal sir.Election makes not up in such conditions.BURGUNDYI’m sorry, sir, but nobody can make a choice likethis in such circumstances.215LEARThen leave her, sir, for by the power that made me,I tell you all her wealth.(to FRANCE) For you, great King,I would not from your love make such a strayTo match you where I hate. Therefore beseech youT' avert your liking a more worthier wayThan on a wretch whom Nature is ashamedAlmost t' acknowledge hers.LEARThen leave her, sir. I swear to God she’s not worthanything more than what I told you. (to FRANCE)And as for you, great King of France, I’d neverinsult our friendship by encouraging you to marry agirl I hate. So I beg you to look around for a bettermatch than this wretched creature that you canbarely call human.220FRANCEThis is most strange,That she that even but now was your best object—The argument of your praise, balm of your age,Most best, most dearest—should in this trice of timeFRANCEThis is very odd. Until very recently she was yourfavorite, the object of all your praise and the delightof your old age. It’s strange that someone so dearto you could do anything so horrible as to warrantthis sudden200205210 Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 8LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 10417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 9Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 11Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,10Page 10ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 10225230235240245250Original TextModern TextCommit a thing so monstrous to dismantlehatred. Her crime must be extreme andSo many folds of favor. Sure, her offensemonstrous, or else your earlier love for her wasn’tMust be of such unnatural degreeThat monsters it (or your fore-vouched affectionFall into taint), which to believe of herMust be a faith that reason without miracleCould never plant in me.as true as it seemed. But it’d take a miracle tomake me believe she could do anything thathorrible.CORDELIA(to LEAR) I yet beseech your majesty,If for I want that glib and oily artTo speak and purpose not—since what I well intend,I’ll do ’t before I speak—that you make knownIt is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,No unchaste action or dishonored stepThat hath deprived me of your grace and favor,But even for want of that for which I am richer:A still-soliciting eye and such a tongueAs I am glad I have not, though not to have itHath lost me in your liking.CORDELIA(to LEAR) Please, your majesty, I don’t have a glibway with words and I only say what I mean. If Idecide to do something, then I do it instead oftalking about it. So I beg your majesty to let peopleknow that it wasn’t because I did somethingatrociousthat I fell from your favor. I didn’t murder or commitany immoral or lustful act. I’m out of favor simplybecause I’m not a fortune-hunter and I don’t havea smooth way with words—and I’m a better personbecause of it, even though it has cost me yourlove.LEARGo to, go to. Better thouHadst not been born than not t' have pleased me better.LEAREnough. It would’ve been better for you not to havebeen born at all than to displease me as you did.FRANCEIs it no more but this—a tardiness in natureWhich often leaves the history unspokeThat it intends to do?—My lord of Burgundy,What say you to the lady? Love’s not loveWhen it is mingled with regards that standsAloof from th' entire point. Will you have her?She is herself a dowry.FRANCEYou mean this is the whole problem, that she isshy and hasn’t said everything she means to sayand do?—My lord of Burgundy, what do you haveto say to this lady? Love’s not love when it getsmixed up with irrelevant outside matters. Will youmarry her? She herself is as valuable as anydowry could ever be.BURGUNDY(to LEAR) Royal King,Give but that portion which yourself proposed,And here I take Cordelia by the hand,Duchess of Burgundy.BURGUNDY(to LEAR) King, just give me the dowry youpromised me, and I’ll make Cordelia the Duchessof Burgundy right away. Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 9LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 11417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on TwitterHelp Feedback
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 10Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 12Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,11Page 11ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 11255260265270275Original TextModern TextLEARLEARNothing. I have sworn. I am firm.No, I’ll give nothing. I won’t budge on that.BURGUNDY(to CORDELIA) I am sorry then. You have so lost afatherThat you must lose a husband.BURGUNDY(to CORDELIA) In that case, I’m sorry you have tolose me as a husband because you lost the kingas a father.CORDELIAPeace be with Burgundy.Since that respects and fortunes are his love,I shall not be his wife.CORDELIAPeace to you, my lord of Burgundy. Since you lovemoney and power so much, I won’t be your wife.FRANCEFairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised!Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,Be it lawful I take up what’s cast away.Gods, gods! 'Tis strange that from their cold’st neglectMy love should kindle to inflamed respect.—Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance,Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.Not all the dukes of waterish BurgundyCan buy this unprized precious maid of me.—Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind.Thou losest here, a better where to find.FRANCEBeautiful Cordelia, you’re all the richer now thatyou’re poor. You’re more valuable now that you’rerejected and more loved now that you’re hated.I’ll take you and your wonderful virtues here andnow, if it’s okay that I’m picking up what othershave thrown away. It’s so strange that inneglecting you so cruelly, the gods have made melove you so dearly.—King, the daughter you’verejected is now mine, as Queen of France. NoDuke of spineless Burgundy can take this treasureof a girl from me now.—Say goodbye to them,Cordelia, even though they’ve been unkind to you.You’ll find a much better place in France than whatyou’re giving up here.LEARThou hast her, France. Let her be thine, for weHave no such daughter, nor shall ever seeThat face of hers again. (to CORDELIA) Therefore begoneWithout our grace, our love, our benison.—Come, noble Burgundy.LEARShe’s yours, King of France. Take her. She’s nolonger my daughter, and I’ll never see her faceagain. (to CORDELIA) So get out of here. Leavewithout any blessing or love from me.—Come withme, Burgundy.FlourishTrumpets play.Exeunt all but FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN, andCORDELIAEveryone exits except FRANCE, GONERIL,REGAN, and CORDELIA.FRANCEBid farewell to your sisters.FRANCESay goodbye to your sisters. Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 10LikeNext Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 12417 people like this. Be the first of your friends.Become a fan on FacebookFollow us on Twitter
King LearWilliam ShakespeareGet this No Fear to go! Previous SectionAct 1, Scene 1, Page 11Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 13Act 1, 1,Scene1, Page1,12Page 12ActSceneAct 1, Scene 1, Page 12280285290Original TextModern TextCORDELIACORDELIAThe jewels of our father, with washed eyesSisters, you whom our father loves so dearly, ICordelia leaves you. I know you what you are,And like a sister am most loath to callYour faults as they are named. Love well our father.To your professèd bosoms I commit him.But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,I would prefer him to a better place.So farewell to you both.leave you now with tears in my eyes. I know youfor what you really are, but as your sister I’mreluctant to criticize you. Take good care of ourfather and show
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4 Become a fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter King Lear William Shakespeare Get this No Fear to go! Previous Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3 Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4 Next Section Act 1, Scene 1, Page 5 Original Text Modern Text 75 Myself an enemy to all other
