TEXT:
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
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 eldest-born, speak first.
NOTES:
Sennet
A sennet is a trumpet fanfare signaling ceremonial entrances or exits in Shakespearean tragedy, often marking royal or significant dramatic moments. There has been some discussion as to whether Shakespeare started using this particular kind of fanfare to coincide with increasing numbers of musicians who were playing for theatre performances in London. What’s very interesting in King Lear is that it is only used here - Lear will exit this scene with a flourish, and then later entrances will be accompanied only by horns and hunting dogs. We will literally hear his status diminish in the music of the play.
Burgundy
The Kingdom of Burgundy emerged in the early Middle Ages as a Frankish realm in southeastern Gaul. Divided into Upper and Lower Burgundy in the 9th century, it later united under the Kingdom of Arles (933). By the 14th–15th centuries, the Duchy of Burgundy, ruled by the Valois dynasty, became a major European power before falling to France and the Habsburgs. Known for its wealth, art, and political influence, Burgundy played a key role in medieval European politics.
Albany
Albany is a historic region in Great Britain, traditionally referring to Scotland’s Gaelic-speaking territories, particularly the Highlands. The name derives from Alba, the Gaelic word for Scotland. In medieval times, Albany was a duchy held by Scottish royalty, notably the Duke of Albany, a title revived for British royalty. Today, it symbolizes Scotland’s ancient Celtic heritage.
Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate established in 1337 by Edward III for his son, the Black Prince, to fund the heir apparent. Today, it spans 130,000 acres across England, including land, property, and investments. The reigning Duke of Cornwall is always the eldest son of the monarch, currently Prince William, who receives its income but does not own it outright. The Duchy supports charitable and sustainable initiatives while maintaining historic traditions.
France
For Shakespeare, France symbolized refinement, chivalry, and political rivalry. It served as a contrasting realm to England—cultured yet often adversarial (Henry V) or a land of romantic ideals (Love’s Labour’s Lost). France’s duality reflected England’s complex fascination with its perennial foe and ally.
King James I / VI
King James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603, uniting the crowns after Elizabeth I’s death. His accession marked the Stuart dynasty’s rise in England, though Scotland and England remained separate kingdoms. (James united the crowns of Scotland and England in 1603 (the "Union of the Crowns") upon Elizabeth I’s death, becoming the first monarch to rule both kingdoms. However, England and Scotland remained separate political entities until the Acts of Union (1707) formally created the Kingdom of Great Britain.) A learned but controversial ruler, James promoted the divine right of kings, sponsored the King James Bible, and navigated religious tensions, shaping early 17th-century Britain.