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  • Title: The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)
  • Editor: Andrew Griffin

    • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Andrew Griffin
    Peer Reviewed

    The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)

    and his three daughters.
    Andsayle to Cornwall for to visit him:
    And there you shall be firmely reconcilde
    In perfit loue, as earst you were before.
    1290Cor. Where toung cannot sufficient thanks afford,
    The King of heauen remunerate my Lord.
    King. Only be blithe, and frolick (sweet) with me:
    This and much more ile do to comfort thee.
    Enter Messenger solus.
    1295 Mes. It is a world to see now I am flush,
    How many friends I purchase euery where!
    How many seekes to creepe into my fauour,
    And kisse their hands, and bend their knees to me!
    No more, here comes the Queene, now shall I know her mind,
    1300And hope for to deriue more crownes from her. Enter Ragā.
    Rag. My friend, I see thou mind'st thy promise well,
    And art before me here, me thinks, to day.
    Mes. I am a poore man, and it like your Grace;
    But yet I alwayes loue to keepe my word.
    1305Ra. Wel, keepe thy word with me, & thou shalt see,
    That of a poore man I will make thee rich.
    Mes. I long to heare it, it might haue bin dispatcht,
    If you had told me of it yesternight.
    Ra. It is a thing of right strange consequence,
    1310And well I cannot vtter it in words.
    Mes. It is more strange, that I am not by this
    Beside my selfe, with longing for to heare it.
    Were it to meet the Deuill in his denne,
    And try a bout with him for a scratcht face,
    1315Ide vndertake it, if you would but bid me.
    Ra. Ah, good my friend, that I should haue thee do,
    Is such a thing, as I do shame to speake;
    Yet it must needs be done.
    Mes. Ile speak it for thee, Queene: shall I kill thy father?
    1320I know tis that, and if it be so, say. Rag. I.
    Mes. Why, thats ynough.
    Rag. And yet that is not all.
    Mes. What else?
    Rag. Thou must kill that old man that came with him.
    E3 Mes. Here
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