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King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Michael Best
Not Peer Reviewed
The Historie of King Lear.
But O poore Gloster lost he his other eye.
Gent. Both, both my Lord, this letter Madam craues a speedy
Tis from your sister.
Gon. One way I like this well,
But being widow and my Gloster with her,
May all the building on my fancie plucke,
Vpon my hatefull life, another way the newes is not so tooke,
Ile reade and answer.
Exit.
2335Alb. Where was his sonne when they did take his eyes.
Gent. Come with my Lady hither. Alb. He is not here.
Gent. No my good Lord I met him backe againe.
2340Alb. Knowes he the wickednesse.
Gent. I my good Lord twas he informd against him,
And quit the house on purpose that there punishment
Might haue the freer course.
Alb. Gloster I liue 2345to thanke thee for the loue thou shewedst the
And to reuenge thy eyes, come hither friend,
Tell me what more thou knowest.
Exit.
2347.1
Enter Kent and a Gentleman.
Kent. Why the King of Fraunce is so suddenly gone backe,
know you no reason.
Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his
.5comming forth is thought of, which imports to the Kingdome,
So much feare and danger that his personall returne was most re-
quired and necessarie.
Kent. Who hath he left behind him, General.
Gent. The Marshall of France Monsier la Far.
.10Kent. Did your letters pierce the queene to any demonstratiõ
Gent. I say she tooke them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample teare trild downe
Her delicate cheeke, it seemed she was a queene ouer her passion,
Who most rebell-like, sought to be King ore her.
.15Kent. O then it moued her.
Gent. Not to a rage, patience and sorow streme,
Who should expresse her goodliest you haue seene,
Sun shine and raine at once, her smiles and teares,
Were like a better way those happie smilets,
.20That playd on her ripe lip seeme not to know,
What guests were in her eyes which parted thence,
As