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- Edition: King Leir
The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)
- Introduction
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1879 Enter Cambria and Ragan, with Nobles.
1881Hath thus depriu'd vs of our fathers presence?
1882Can no man tell vs what's become of him,
1885To scoure about through all our Regiment.
1887To see if any newes be of him there;
1889And all about our Cities neere at hand,
1890Till certayne newes of his abode be brought.
1894To weepe the lesse, which teares cannot redeeme.
O,
and his three daughters.
1898What hath remou'd my father thus from hence?
1899O, I do feare some charme or inuocation
1901Stird by Cordella, moues this innouation,
1902And brings my father timelesse to his end.
1903But might I know, that the detested Witch
1904Were certayne cause of this vncertayne ill,
1907For since I am depriued of my father,
1908I loath my life, and wish my death the rather.
1910And will (no doubt) reueale such haynous crimes:
1911Censure not any, till you know the right:
1912Let him be Iudge, that bringeth truth to light.
1914Exceeds the bounds of common patience:
1915Nor can I moderate my toung so much,
1919Enter the Gallian Ambassador.
1923With letters to your honourable father,
1925I was directed hither to repayre.
1928Which my Commission is for to deliuer.
1932Ra. There is good packing twixt your King and you:
G3 You
The History of King Leir
1933You need not hither come to aske for him,
1934You know where he is better then our selues.
1937No meanes to colour her detested deeds,
1939(Because he gaue her nothing to her dowre)
1940But by the colour of a fayn'd Ambassage,
1941To send him letters hither to our Court?
1942Go carry them to them that sent them hither,
1946And were it not, it is 'gainst law of Armes,
1949As should inforce thee to reueale the truth.
1950Am. Madam, your threats no whit apall my mind,
1952My King and Queene, I dare be sworne, are free
1953From any thought of such impiety:
1954And therefore, Madam, you haue done them wrong,
1956Who in meere duty tender him as much,
1958The King your husband will not say as much.
1960Till more apparance giue vs further light:
1961Yet to be playne, your comming doth inforce
1963And that you do resemble, to be briefe,
1969God and my King, I trust, ere it be long,
Rag. How
and his three daughters.
1976Were to my euerlasting obloquy:
1977But I will take reuenge vpon his master,
1978Which sent him hither, to delude vs thus.
1980Now that my father thus is made away,
1981Sheele come & clayme a third part of your Crowne,
1982As due vnto her by inheritance.
1983Cam. But I will proue her title to be nought
1984But shame, and the reward of Parricide,
1985And make her an example to the world,
1986For after-ages to admire her penance.
1987This will I do, as I am Cambriaes King,