Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND
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KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND enter.
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KENT I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albanythan Cornwall.
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KENT I thought the king liked the Duke of Albany more than the Duke of Cornwall.
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GLOUCESTER It did always seem so to us. But now in the division ofthe kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most, for equalities are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either’s moiety.
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GLOUCESTER It always seemed like that to me, too. But now that he has divided the kingdom, no one can tell which duke he prefers the most. He's divided the kingdom so evenly that not even the closest scrutiny reveals any favoritism to either one.
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KENT [indicating EDMUND ] Is not this your son, my lord?
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KENT [Pointing to EDMUND] Isn't this your son, my lord?
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GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed toit.
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GLOUCESTER Well, his education has certainly been at my expense. I used to be embarrassed to acknowledge him as my son, but I've done it so many times now that I can do it without blushing.
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KENT I cannot conceive you.
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KENT I can't conceive of what you mean by that.
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GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow’s mother could, whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell afault?
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GLOUCESTER Well, sir, this young fellow's mother certainly could conceive—she conceived him. She got pregnant and had a son for her crib before she had a husband in her bed. Do you perceive a sin in this?
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KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.
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KENT Well, I can't wish to undo the sin, since its result—your son—turned out so well.
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GLOUCESTER But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year olderthan this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came something saucily to the world before hewas sent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.— Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?
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GLOUCESTER I also have a legitimate son, sir, a few years older than this one, though he's not more valuable to me than Edmund. This rascal Edmund may have come into this world somewhat rudely, and before he was meant to, but his mother was beautiful, we had a good time making him, and I must now acknowledge the bastard as my son.[To EDMUND]Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?
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EDMUND No, my lord.
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EDMUND No, my lord.
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GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter as my honorable friend.
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GLOUCESTER This is Lord Kent. Remember him from now on, as he is my honorable friend.
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