Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE lies in Britain. Of this Play the Editions are, 1. Quarto, 1608, by Nathaniel Butler. II. In the folio of 1623. III. Quarto, by Jane Bell, 1655. This edition is of no value, for, neglecting the better copy in the folio, it follows the first quarto, even in the errours of the prefs. This edition, like all the other, except Bell's, is given from the folio. The variations are sometimes noted. KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I. The KING'S PALACE. Enter Kent, Glo'ster, and Edmund the Bastard. I KENT. Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of Glo. It did always feem so to us, but now, * in the Division of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the dukes he values most; for qualities are so weigh'd, 3 that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your fon, my Lord? Glo. His Breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I in the divifion of the kingdom] There is something of obscurity or inaccuracy in this preparatory scene. The King has already divided his kingdom, and yet when he enters he examines his daughters, to discover in what proportions he should divide it. Perhaps Kent and Gloucester only were privy to his design, which he still kept in his own hands, to be changed or : performed as fubfequent reasons fo 3 that curiofity in neither] Curiofity, for exactest scrutiny. The fense of the whole sentence is, The qualities and properties of the several divifions are weighed and balanced againft one another, that the exactest scrutiny could not determine in preferring one share to the other. B2 WARBURTON. have i have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could, whereupon she grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon 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. Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, 4 some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came somewhat faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my Lord. Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better. again. -The King is coming. 4 Some year ar elder than this,] The Oxford Editor, not understanding the common phrafe, alters year to years. He did not confider the Bastard fays, [Trumpet sounds within. |