Section (Part 1)

Executive Director's Notes:

In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they are presented herein:

Barnardo. Who's there?

Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold

your selfe

Bar. Long liue the King

* * * * *

As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words or letters they had often packed into a"cliche"...this is the original meaning of the term cliche...and thus, being unwilling to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions that look very odd...such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, above...and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner....

The answer is that they MAY have packed"liue"into a cliche at a time when they were out of"v"'s...possibly having used"vv"in place of some"w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend more on a wider selection of characters than they had to.

You will find a lot of these kinds of"errors"in this text, as I have mentioned in other times and places, many"scholars"have an extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a very high place in the"canon"of Shakespeare. My father read an Assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available...in great detail...and determined from the various changes, that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous for signing his name with several different spellings.

So, please take this into account when reading the comments below made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors that are"not"errors....

So...with this caveat...we have NOT changed the canon errors, here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play.

Michael S. Hart

Project Gutenberg

Executive Director

* * * * *

Scanner's Notes:

What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of

Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in

ASCII to the printed text.

The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer Shakespeare.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 different First Folio editions'best pages.

David Reed

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The Tragedie of King Lear

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmond.

Kent. I thought the King had more affected the

Duke of Albany, then Cornwall

Glou. It did alwayes seeme so to vs: But now in the diuision of the Kingdome, it appeares not which of the Dukes hee valewes most, for qualities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither, can make choise of eithers moity

Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord?

Glou. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I haue

so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am

braz'd too't

Kent. I cannot conceiue you

Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could; wherevpon she grew round womb'd, and had indeede (Sir) a Sonne for her Cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault vndone, the issue of it, being so proper

Glou. But I haue a Sonne, Sir, by order of Law, some yeere elder then this; who, yet is no deerer in my account, though this Knaue came somthing sawcily to the world before he was sent for: yet was his Mother fayre, there was good sport at his making, and the horson must be acknowledged. Doe you know this Noble Gentleman, Edmond? Edm. No, my Lord

Glou. My Lord of Kent:

Remember him heereafter, as my Honourable Friend

Edm. My seruices to your Lordship

Kent. I must loue you, and sue to know you better

Edm. Sir, I shall study deseruing

Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares, and away he shall againe. The King is comming.

Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, andattendants.

Lear. Attend the Lords of France & Burgundy, Gloster

Glou. I shall, my Lord.

Enter.

Lear. Meane time we shal expresse our darker purpose.

Giue me the Map there. Know, that we haue diuided

In three our Kingdome: and'tis our fast intent,

To shake all Cares and Businesse from our Age,

Conferring them on yonger strengths, while we

Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Our son of Cornwal,

And you our no lesse louing Sonne of Albany,

We haue this houre a constant will to publish

Our daughters seuerall Dowers, that future strife

May be preuented now. The Princes, France & Burgundy,

Great Riuals in our yongest daughters loue,

Long in our Court, haue made their amorous soiourne,

And heere are to be answer'd. Tell me my daughters

(Since now we will diuest vs both of Rule,

Interest of Territory, Cares of State)

Which of you shall we say doth loue vs most,

That we, our largest bountie may extend

Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,

Our eldest borne, speake first

Gon. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild y matter,

Deerer then eye-sight, space, and libertie,

Beyond what can be valewed, rich or rare,

No lesse then life, with grace, health, beauty, honor:

As much as Childe ere lou'd, or Father found.

A loue that makes breath poore, and speech vnable,

Beyond all manner of so much I loue you

Cor. What shall Cordelia speake? Loue, and be silent

Lear. Of all these bounds euen from this Line, to this,

With shadowie Forrests, and with Champains rich'd

With plenteous Riuers, and wide-skirted Meades

We make thee Lady. To thine and Albanies issues

Be this perpetuall. What sayes our second Daughter?

Our deerest Regan, wife of Cornwall?

Reg. I am made of that selfe-mettle as my Sister,

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,

I finde she names my very deede of loue:

Onely she comes too short, that I professe

My selfe an enemy to all other ioyes,

Which the most precious square of sense professes,

And finde I am alone felicitate

In your deere Highnesse loue

Cor. Then poore Cordelia,

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

More ponderous then my tongue

Lear. To thee, and thine hereditarie euer,

Remaine this ample third of our faire Kingdome,

No lesse in space, validitie, and pleasure

Then that conferr'd on Gonerill. Now our Ioy,

Although our last and least; to whose yong loue,

The Vines of France, and Milke of Burgundie,

Striue to be interest. What can you say, to draw

A third, more opilent then your Sisters? speake

Cor. Nothing my Lord

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing

Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, speake againe

Cor. Vnhappie that I am, I cannot heaue

My heart into my mouth: I loue your Maiesty

According to my bond, no more nor lesse

Lear. How, how Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,

Least you may marre your Fortunes

Cor. Good my Lord,

You haue begot me, bred me, lou'd me.

I returne those duties backe as are right fit,

Obey you, Loue you, and most Honour you.

Why haue my Sisters Husbands, if they say

They loue you all? Happily when I shall wed,

That Lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry

Halfe my loue with him, halfe my Care, and Dutie,

Sure I shall neuer marry like my Sisters

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cor. I my good Lord

Lear. So young, and so vntender?

Cor. So young my Lord, and true

Lear. Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dowre:

For by the sacred radience of the Sunne,

The misteries of Heccat and the night:

By all the operation of the Orbes,

From whom we do exist, and cease to be,

Heere I disclaime all my Paternall care,

Propinquity and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me,

Hold thee from this for euer. The barbarous Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation messes

To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosome

Be as well neighbour'd, pittied, and releeu'd,

As thou my sometime Daughter

Kent. Good my Liege

Lear. Peace Kent,

Come not betweene the Dragon and his wrath,

I lou'd her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery. Hence and avoid my sight:

So be my graue my peace, as here I giue

Her Fathers heart from her; call France, who stirres?

Call Burgundy, Cornwall, and Albanie,

With my two Daughters Dowres, digest the third,

Let pride, which she cals plainnesse, marry her:

I doe inuest you ioyntly with my power,

Preheminence, and all the large effects

That troope with Maiesty. Our selfe by Monthly course,

With reseruation of an hundred Knights,

By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

Make with you by due turne, onely we shall retaine

The name, and all th'addition to a King: the Sway,

Reuennew, Execution of the rest,

Beloued Sonnes be yours, which to confirme,

This Coronet part betweene you

Kent. Royall Lear,

Whom I haue euer honor'd as my King,

Lou'd as my Father, as my Master follow'd,

As my great Patron thought on in my praiers

Le. The bow is bent & drawne, make from the shaft

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the forke inuade

The region of my heart, be Kent vnmannerly,

When Lear is mad, what wouldest thou do old man?

Think'st thou that dutie shall haue dread to speake,

When power to flattery bowes?

To plainnesse honour's bound,

When Maiesty falls to folly, reserue thy state,

And in thy best consideration checke

This hideous rashnesse, answere my life, my iudgement:

Thy yongest Daughter do's not loue thee least,

Nor are those empty hearted, whose low sounds

Reuerbe no hollownesse

Lear. Kent, on thy life no more

Kent. My life I neuer held but as pawne

To wage against thine enemies, nere feare to loose it,

Thy safety being motiue

Lear. Out of my sight

Kent. See better Lear, and let me still remaine

The true blanke of thine eie

Lear. Now by Apollo,

Kent. Now by Apollo, King

Thou swear'st thy Gods in vaine

Lear. O Vassall! Miscreant

Alb. Cor. Deare Sir forbeare

Kent. Kill thy Physition, and thy fee bestow

Vpon the foule disease, reuoke thy guift,

Or whil'st I can vent clamour from my throate,

Ile tell thee thou dost euill

Lea. Heare me recreant, on thine allegeance heare me;

That thou hast sought to make vs breake our vowes,

Which we durst neuer yet; and with strain'd pride,

To come betwixt our sentences, and our power,

Which, nor our nature, nor our place can beare;

Our potencie made good, take thy reward.

Fiue dayes we do allot thee for prouision,

To shield thee from disasters of the world,

And on the sixt to turne thy hated backe

Vpon our kingdome: if on the tenth day following,

Thy banisht trunke be found in our Dominions,

The moment is thy death, away. By Iupiter,

This shall not be reuok'd,

Kent. Fare thee well King, sith thus thou wilt appeare,

Freedome liues hence, and banishment is here;

The Gods to their deere shelter take thee Maid,

That iustly think'st, and hast most rightly said:

And your large speeches, may your deeds approue,

That good effects may spring from words of loue:

Thus Kent, O Princes, bids you all adew,

Hee'l shape his old course, in a Country new.

Enter.

Flourish. Enter Gloster with France, and Burgundy, Attendants.

Cor. Heere's France and Burgundy, my Noble Lord

Lear. My Lord of Burgundie,

We first addresse toward you, who with this King

Hath riuald for our Daughter; what in the least

Will you require in present Dower with her,

Or cease your quest of Loue?

Bur. Most Royall Maiesty,

I craue no more then hath your Highnesse offer'd,

Nor will you tender lesse?

Lear. Right Noble Burgundy,

When she was deare to vs, we did hold her so,

But now her price is fallen: Sir, there she stands,

If ought within that little seeming substance,

Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,

And nothing more may fitly like your Grace,

Shee's there, and she is yours

Bur. I know no answer

Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes,

Vnfriended, new adopted to our hate,

Dow'rd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,

Take her or, leaue her

Bur. Pardon me Royall Sir,

Election makes not vp in such conditions

Le. Then leaue her sir, for by the powre that made me,

I tell you all her wealth. For you great King,

I would not from your loue make such a stray,

To match you where I hate, therefore beseech you

T'auert your liking a more worthier way,

Then on a wretch whom Nature is asham'd

Almost t'acknowledge hers

Fra. This is most strange,

That she whom euen but now, was your obiect,

The argument of your praise, balme of your age,

The best, the deerest, should in this trice of time

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle

So many folds of fauour: sure her offence

Must be of such vnnaturall degree,

That monsters it: Or your fore-voucht affection

Fall into taint, which to beleeue of her

Must be a faith that reason without miracle

Should neuer plant in me

Cor. I yet beseech your Maiesty.

If for I want that glib and oylie Art,

To speake and purpose not, since what I will intend,