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  • Title: King Lear (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Michael Best

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-463-9

    Copyright Michael Best. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Michael Best
    Not Peer Reviewed

    King Lear (Folio 1, 1623)

    [Scene 18 in Quarto]
    Scena Tertia.
    Enter with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Gentlemen,
    2350and Souldiours.
    Cor. Alacke, 'tis he: why he was met euen now
    As mad as the vext Sea, singing alowd,
    Crown'd with ranke Fenitar, and furrow weeds,
    With Hardokes, Hemlocke, Nettles, Cuckoo flowres,
    2355Darnell, and all the idle weedes that grow
    In our sustaining Corne. A Centery send forth;
    Search euery Acre in the high-growne field,
    And bring him to our eye. What can mans wisedome
    In the restoring his bereaued Sense; he that helpes him,
    2360Take all my outward worth.
    Gent. There is meanes Madam:
    Our foster Nurse of Nature, is repose,
    The which he lackes: that to prouoke in him
    Are many Simples operatiue, whose power
    2365Will close the eye of Anguish.
    Cord. All blest Secrets,
    All you vnpublish'd Vertues of the earth
    Spring with my teares; be aydant, and remediate
    In the Goodmans desires: seeke, seeke for him,
    2370Least his vngouern'd rage, dissolue the life
    That wants the meanes to leade it.
    Enter Messenger.
    Mes. Newes Madam,
    The Brittish Powres are marching hitherward.
    2375Cor. 'Tis knowne before. Our preparation stands
    In expectation of them. O deere Father,
    It is thy businesse that I go about: Therfore great France
    My mourning, and important teares hath pittied:
    No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite,
    2380But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite:
    Soone may I heare, and see him. Exeunt.
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