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London, England — Sunday, December 21, 1135 — Act One ______________________________________________________________________________________ ____

A Tale of Two Kings: Lear’s Downfall into Madness and Death ______________________________________________________________________________________ ____

Lear looks for love, banishes Kent

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“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 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 eldest­born, speak first,” Lear said.

“Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye­sight, space, and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or

“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,” Lear said.

King Lear holds the crown in the air for France and Burgundy. ___________________________

“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, Pre­eminence, and all the

Edmond Sets Trap ___________________________

“Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound.

Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon­shines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take More composition and fierce quality Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops, Got 'tween asleep and wake?

Well, then, legitimate Edgar, I must have your land: Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate: fine word,­­legitimate!

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper: Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Sister’s treachery exposed

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“By day and night he wrongs me;

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,” Goneril said.

“Sir, I am made of the self­same 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,” Regan said.

“Then poor Cordelia! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's more richer than my tongue,” Cordelia said.

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,” Lear said.

“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 empty­hearted whose low sound reverbs no hollowness,” Kent said.

every hour he flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it: His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us on every trifle. When he returns from hunting, I will not speak with him; say I am sick: If you come slack of former services, you shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer,” Goneril said.

Kent turns tables ___________________________

“I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence,” Kent said.