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King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Pervez Rizvi
Not Peer Reviewed
The History of King Lear.
Gon. Come sir, no more ; you, more knaue then foole, after your
master.
835Foole. Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear, tarry and take the foole with
a fox when one has caught her, and such a daughter, should sure
to the slaughter, if my cap would buy a halter, so the foole fol-
lowes after.
Gon. What Oswald, ho.
848.1Oswald. Heere Madam.
Gon. What, haue you writ this letter to my sister?
Osw. Yes Madam.
860Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse, informe her
full of my particular feares, and thereto adde such reasons of your
owne, as may compact it more, get you gone, and after your re-
turne -------- now my Lord, this mildie gentlenesse and course of
865yours though I dislike not, yet vnder pardon y'are much more a-
lapt want of wisedome, then praise for harmfull mildnesse.
Duke. How farre your eies may pierce I cannot tell,
870Striuing to better ought, we marre what's well.
Gon. Nay then -------
Duke. Well, well, the euent.
Exit.

Enter Lear, Kent, and Foole.
875Lear. Go you before to Glocester with these Letters, acquaint
my daughter no further with any thing you know, then comes
from her demand out of the Letter, if your diligence be not spee-
die, I shall be there before you.
880Kent. I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered your let-
9603+36ter.
Exit.
Foole. If a mans braines were in his heeles, wert not in danger
of kybes?
Lear. I boy.
885Foole. Then I prethee be merry, thy wit shall nere go slipshod.
Lear. Ha, ha, ha.
Foole. Shalt see thy other daughter will vse thee kindly, for
though she is as like this, as a crabbe is like an apple, yet I con,
890what I can tell.
Lear. Why what canst thou tell my boy?
Foole. Shee'l taste as like this, as a crab doth to a crab; thou
canst