[In King Lear's Palace.]
(DUKE OF) GLOUCESTER: Ah, the Duke of Kentt Hello, my friend. Have you met my son, Edmund?
(DUKE OF) KENT: I haven't.. He's a line young man. You must be proud of him
GLOUCESTER: I'm very proud of him.
EDMUND: I'm pleased to meet you, sk
GLOUCESTER: Edmund is my second child. I also have another son, Edgar, who is about a than Edmund. year older
EDMUND: Listen! The King is coming
[King Lear enters with Cornwall and Albany and his three daughters, Regan, Goneril and Cordelia (Gloucester and Edmund leave.)
KING LEAR: Listen, everyone, I want to fell you all about my plan. I've decided to give everything in my kingdom to my three daughters, Goneill, Regan and Cordelia. I will also give an answer to the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy. They have both asked to marry my youngest daughter, Cordella ficct, foot at this map of my kingdom. I have divided it into three. I want to give the largest part to the daughter who loves me the most. So tell me, my daughters, which of you loves me the most? Goneill you are the eldest. so you can speak fist.
GONERIL, Father, I love you more than anything. No child can love a father more than I love you. I slove you more than health, beauty and riches
CORDELIA: (To herself) I love my father, but I don't know what to sayt
KING LEAR: (Pointing to the map. Goneril, you can have all this land, with its green forests and beautiful countryside. Now, Regan, wife of Comwall. What does my second daughter want to say?
REGAN: Father Goneril has described her love for you very well. But I have more to say. Your love is the only thing that makes me happy. I love nobody as much as you.
CORDELIA: [To herself.] What can I say? I don't have the words to say how much I love my father.
KING LEAR: Thank you Regan. I will give a third of our beautiful kingdom to you and your children
[To Cordelia.] Now, Cordella, my youngest daughter, What can you say to make me give you more
than I gave to your sisters?
CORDELIA: I can say nothing, father.
KING LEAR: Nothing? Cordelia, if you say nothing. I will give you nothing. Speak again.
CORDELIA : I cannot put my feelings into words. I love you as a dougade more and not less
KING LEAR: But this is not kind, Cordelia. Change your speech a little, be your future wit change, the
*CORDELIA: You have always been a good father and it is my duty to love you too, but my shters s they only love you. How can this be true? Do they not love thek husbands, too? It marry I will love my husband as much as my father.
*KING LEAR: Cordelia. Do you really mean this? Can you be so young but also sa crust
CORDELIA: Fother, I am young but I am honest.
KING LEAR: Then you are not my daughter any more. You are now a stronger to me, I don't know you
KENT: But your majesty
KING LEAR: Be quiet, Kent! I loved Cordello, and I wanted her to look offer me when I was old. Now she must gol But first, call the King of France and the Duke of turgundy! While we wait for them. listen to what I say: Goneril and her husband Albany, and Regan with her husbond Comwall, will have hill of my kingdom each. They will have all the power and riches that come with being a king. All I want is to keep the title of King, but they vill have everything else.
KENT: Your majesty, what do you mean? I must speak honestly when my King is being foolish, Yουr youngest doughter does not shout about her love for you, but that doesn't mean she loves you the teast. You musin't give your country away like this.
KING LEAP Soy nothing more to me, Kenit
KENT: I am not afraid to make you angry if it will help to protect you.
KING LEAR: Then you must go away too!Leave!
KENI: Let me stay and give you good advice,
King Lear. You must learn to see better.
KING LEAR: Oh, you are a cruel man
[He puts his hand on his sword.)
(DUKE OF) CORNWALL: Your majesty, please stop!
KENT: I'll say it again, King Lear. You've done a tenible thing.
KING LEAR: Kent! You've got five days to leave my kingdom, or you'll be killed. Go!
KENT: Then I'll say goodbye to you, my dear King.
[To Cordelia.] I hope you stay safe, young lody, because you were honest. And now I say goodbye ta
all of you, I shall live my lile in a new country.
