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King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Michael Best
Not Peer Reviewed
The Historie of King Lear.
If euer I returne to you againe ile bring you comfort.
Exit.
2925Glost. Grace goe with you sir.
Alarum and retreat.
Edg. Away old man, giue me thy hand, away,
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter taine,
2930Giue me thy hand, come on.
Glost. No farther sir, a man may rot euen here.
Edg. What in ill thoughts againe men must indure,
Their going hence, euen as their coming hither,
2935Ripenes is all come on.
Enter Edmund, with Lear and Cordelia prisoners.
2940Bast, Some officers take them away, good guard
Vntill their greater pleasures best be knowne
That are to censure them.
Cor. We are not the first who with best meaning haue
The worst, 2945for thee oppressed King am I cast downe,
My selfe could else outfrowne false Fortunes frowne,
Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters?
Lear. No, no, come lets away to prison
We two alone will sing like birds it'h cage,
2950When thou dost aske me blessing, ile kneele downe
And aske of thee forgiuenes, so weele liue
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales and laugh
At guilded butterflies, and heare poore rogues
Talke of Court newes, and weele talke with them to,
2955Who looses, and who wins, whose in, whose out,
And take vpon's the mistery of things
As if we were Gods spies, and weele weare out
In a wal'd prison, packs and sects of great ones
That ebbe and flow bith' Moone.
2960Bast. Take them away.
Lear. Vpon such sacrifices my Cordelia,
The Gods thẽselues throw incense, haue I caught thee?
He that parts vs shall bring a brand from heauen,
2965And fire vs hence like Foxes, wipe thine eyes,
The good shall deuoure em, fleach and fell
Ere they shall make vs weepe? wele see vm starue first,
Bast. Come hither Captaine, harke.
2970Take thou this note, goe follow them to prison,
And