King Lear, with line numbers E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 142

Beschreibung

The classic tragedy. According to Wikipedia: "King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606, and is considered one of his greatest works. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman king. It has been widely adapted for stage and screen, with the part of Lear being played by many of the world's most accomplished actors. There are two distinct versions of the play: The True Chronicle of the History of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters, which appeared in quarto in 1608, and The Tragedy of King Lear, which appeared in the First Folio in 1623, a more theatrical version. The two texts are commonly printed in a conflated version, although many modern editors have argued that each version has its individual integrity. After the Restoration the play was often modified by theatre practitioners who disliked its dark and depressing tone. But since the 19th century, it has been regarded as one of Shakespeare's supreme achievements. The tragedy is particularly noted for its probing observations on the nature of human suffering and kinship.

Leseprobe

King Lear By William Shakespeare

published by Samizdat Express, Orange, CT, USA

established in 1974, offering over 14,000 books

Other tragedies by William Shakespeare:

Antony and Cleopatra

Coriolanus

Hamlet

Julius Caesar

Macbeth

Othello

Romeo and Juliet

Timon of Athens

Titus Andronicus

Troilus and Cressida

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Dramatis Personae

King Lear

Act I

Scene I King Lear's Palace.

Scene II The Earl Of Gloucester's Castle.

Scene III The Duke Of Albany's Palace.

Scene IV A Hall In The Same.

Scene V Court Before The Same.

Act II

Scene I Gloucester's Castle.

Scene II Before Gloucester's Castle.

Scene III A Wood.

Act III

Scene I A Heath.

Scene II Another Part Of The Heath. Storm Still.

Scene III Gloucester's Castle.

Scene IV The Heath. Before A Hovel.

Scene V Gloucester's Castle.

Scene VI A Chamber In A Farmhouse Adjoining The Castle.

Scene VII Gloucester's Castle.

Act IV

Scene I The Heath.

Scene II Before Albany's Palace.

Scene III The French Camp Near Dover.

Scene IV The Same. A Tent.

Scene V Gloucester's Castle.

Scene VI Fields Near Dover.

Scene VII A Tent In The French Camp.

Act V

Scene I The British Camp, Near Dover.

Scene II A Field Between The Two Camps.

Scene III The British Camp Near Dover.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lear King of Britain (King Lear:)

King of France:

Duke of Burgundy (Burgundy:)

Duke of Cornwall (Cornwall:)

Duke of Albany (Albany:)

Earl of Kent (Kent:)

Earl of Gloucester (Gloucester:)

Edgar, Son to Gloucester.

Edmund, Bastard Son to Gloucester.

Curan, A Courtier.

Old Man, Tenant to Gloucester.

Doctor:

Fool:

Oswald, Steward to Goneril.

A Captain employed by Edmund. (Captain:)

Gentleman attendant on Cordelia. (Gentleman:)

A Herald.

Servants to Cornwall.

 (First Servant:)

 (Second Servant:)

 (Third Servant:)

Daughters to Lear

Goneril

Regan

Cordelia

Knights of Lear's train, Captains, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants

 (Knight:)

 (Captain:)

 (Messenger:)

SCENE Britain.

KING LEAR

ACT I

SCENE I King Lear's palace.

 [Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND]

(1) KENT I thought the king had more affected the Duke of

 Albany than Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER 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 equalities are so

 weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice

 of either's moiety.

KENT Is not this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have

(10) so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am

 brazed to it.

KENT I cannot conceive you.

GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon

 she grew round-wombed, and had, 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.

GLOUCESTER But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year

(20) elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:

 though this knave came something saucily into the

 world before he was sent for, yet was his mother

 fair; there was good sport at his making, and the

 whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this

 noble gentleman, Edmund?

EDMUND No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my

 honourable friend.

EDMUND My services to your lordship.

(30) KENT I must love you, and sue to know you better.

EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.

GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he shall

 again. The king is coming.

 [Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants]

KING LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege.

 [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]

KING LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

 Give me the map there. Know that we have divided

 In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent

(40) 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,--

(50) 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.

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;

(60) 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.

CORDELIA [Aside]  What shall Cordelia do?

 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,

(70) Our dearest Regan, wife to 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.

CORDELIA [Aside] Then poor Cordelia!

 And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's

(80) More richer than my tongue.

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.

CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.

(90) KING LEAR Nothing!

CORDELIA Nothing.

KING LEAR Nothing will come of nothing: speak 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.

KING LEAR How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,

 Lest it may mar your fortunes.

CORDELIA Good my lord,

 You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I

 Return those duties back as are right fit,

(100) 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.

KING LEAR But goes thy heart with this?

CORDELIA Ay, good my lord.

KING LEAR So young, and so untender?

CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.

(110) 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

(120) To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

 Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,

 As thou my sometime daughter.

KENT Good my liege,--

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,

(130) 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,

(140) Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

 This coronet part betwixt you.

 [Giving the crown]

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,--

KING LEAR The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.

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,

(150) 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.

KING LEAR Kent, on thy life, no more.

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.

KING LEAR Out of my sight!

(160) KENT See better, Lear; and let me still remain

 The true blank of thine eye.

KING LEAR Now, by Apollo,--

KENT                   Now, by Apollo, king,

 Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

KING LEAR O, vassal! miscreant!

 [Laying his hand on his sword]

ALBANY and CORNWALL Dear sir, forbear.

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.

KING LEAR Hear me, recreant!

(170) 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,

(180) Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,

 The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,

 This shall not be revoked.

KENT 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;

(190) He'll shape his old course in a country new.

 [Exit]

 [Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants]

GLOUCESTER Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

KING LEAR My lord of Burgundy.

 We first address towards you, who with this king

 Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,

 Will you require in present dower with her,

 Or cease your quest of love?

BURGUNDY Most royal majesty,

 I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,

 Nor will you tender less.

KING LEAR Right noble Burgundy,

 When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;

(200) But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands:

 If aught within that little seeming substance,

 Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,

 And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,

 She's there, and she is yours.

BURGUNDY I know no answer.

KING LEAR Will you, with those infirmities she owes,

 Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

 Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,

 Take her, or leave her?

BURGUNDY Pardon me, royal sir;

 Election makes not up on such conditions.

(210) KING LEAR Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,

 I tell you all her wealth.

 [To KING OF FRANCE]

       For you, great king,

 I would not from your love make such a stray,

 To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you

 To avert your liking a more worthier way

 Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed

 Almost to acknowledge hers.

KING OF FRANCE This 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 time

(220) Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle

 So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence

 Must be of such unnatural degree,

 That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection

 Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,

 Must be a faith that reason without miracle

 Could never plant in me.

CORDELIA I yet beseech your majesty,--

 If for I want that glib and oily art,

 To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,

 I'll do't before I speak,--that you make known

(230) It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,

 No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,

 That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;

 But even for want of that for which I am richer,

 A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue

 As I am glad I have not, though not to have it

 Hath lost me in your liking.

KING LEAR Better thou

 Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.

KING OF FRANCE Is it but this,--a tardiness in nature

 Which often leaves the history unspoke

(240) That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,

 What say you to the lady? Love's not love

 When it is mingled with regards that stand

 Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?

 She is herself a dowry.

BURGUNDY Royal Lear,

 Give but that portion which yourself proposed,

 And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

 Duchess of Burgundy.

KING LEAR Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.

BURGUNDY I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father

 That you must lose a husband.

(250) CORDELIA Peace be with Burgundy!

 Since that respects of fortune are his love,

 I shall not be his wife.

KING OF FRANCE Fairest 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 neglect

 My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

 Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

(260) Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

 Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy

 Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.

 Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:

 Thou losest here, a better where to find.

KING LEAR Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we

 Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see

 That face of hers again. Therefore be gone

 Without our grace, our love, our benison.

 Come, noble Burgundy.

 [Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN, and CORDELIA]

(270) KING OF FRANCE Bid farewell to your sisters.

CORDELIA The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes

 Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;

 And like a sister am most loath to call

 Your faults as they are named. Use well our father:

 To your professed 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.

REGAN Prescribe not us our duties.

GONERIL Let your study

(280) Be to content your lord, who hath received you

 At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,

 And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

CORDELIA Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:

 Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.

 Well may you prosper!

KING OF FRANCE Come, my fair Cordelia.

 [Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA]

GONERIL Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what

 most nearly appertains to us both. I think our

 father will hence to-night.

(290) REGAN That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

GONERIL You see how full of changes his age is; the