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  • Title: King Lear (Modern, Extended Folio)
  • Editor: Michael Best
  • Textual editors: James D. Mardock, Eric Rasmussen
  • Coordinating 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Modern, Extended Folio)

    [Scene 13 in Quarto]
    3.6
    Enter Kent [disguised] and Gloucester.
    Gloucester
    Here is better than the open air. Take it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with what addition I 2000can. I will not be long from you.
    Kent
    All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience. The gods reward your kindness.
    Exit [Gloucester].
    Enter Lear, Edgar [as Poor Tom], and Fool.
    Edgar
    Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an 2005angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.
    Fool
    Prithee nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman.
    Lear
    A king, a king.
    2010Fool
    No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son, for he's a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him.
    Lear
    To have a thousand with red burning spits
    Come hissing in upon 'em.
    2014.1Edgar
    The foul fiend bites my back.
    Fool
    He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath.
    Lear
    It shall be done. I will arraign them straight.
    2014.5[To Edgar] Come sit thou here most learned justice.
    [To the Fool] Thou, sapient sir, sit here. No, you she foxes--
    Edgar
    Look where he stands and glares. Want'st thou eyes at troll-madam?
    [Sings.]
    Come o'er the burn Bessy, to me.
    Fool
    [Sings.]
    Her boat hath a leak,
    And she must not speak,
    2014.10Why she dares not come over to thee.
    Edgar
    The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hoppedance cries in Tom's belly for two white herring. Croak not, black angel, I have no food for thee.
    Kent
    How do you sir? Stand you not so amazed. Will you 2014.15lie down and rest upon the cushions?
    Lear
    I'll see their trial first. Bring in their evidence. [To Edgar] Thou robed man of justice, take thy place; [To the Fool] and thou, his yokefellow of equity, bench by his side. [To Kent] You are o'th'commission, sit you too.
    Edgar
    Let us deal justly.
    [Sings]
    Sleepest or wakest, thou jolly shepherd,
    2014.20 Thy sheep be in the corn,
    And for one blast of thy minikin mouth
    Thy sheep shall take no harm.
    Purr, the cat is gray.
    Lear
    Arraign her first. 'Tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honorable assembly she kicked the poor king her father.
    Fool
    Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?
    2014.25Lear
    She cannot deny it.
    Fool
    Cry you mercy, I took you for a join-stool.
    Lear
    And here's another whose warped looks proclaim,
    What store her heart is made on. Stop her there!
    Arms, arms, sword, fire, corruption in the place!
    2014.30False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape?
    2015Edgar
    Bless thy five wits.
    Kent
    Oh, pity! Sir, where is the patience now
    That you so oft have boasted to retain?
    Edgar
    [Aside] My tears begin to take his part so much
    They mar my counterfeiting.
    2020Lear
    The little dogs and all,
    Trey, Blanch, and Sweetheart--see, they bark at me.
    Edgar
    Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt, you curs!
    Be thy mouth or black or white,
    Tooth that poisons if it bite,
    2025Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,
    Hound or spaniel, brach, or him,
    Or bobtail tyke or trundle-tail,
    Tom will make him weep and wail,
    For, with throwing thus my head
    2030Dogs leaped the hatch and all are fled.
    Do, de, de, de: sese. Come, march to wakes and fairs and market towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.
    Lear
    Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that 2035make these hard hearts? [To Edgar] You sir, I entertain for one of my hundred, only I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say they are Persian, but let them be changed.
    Enter Gloucester(?).
    2040Kent
    Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest awhile.
    Lear
    Make no noise, make no noise, draw the curtains, so, so. We'll go to supper i'th'morning.
    [He sleeps.]
    Fool
    And I'll go to bed at noon.
    Enter Gloucester(?).
    Gloucester
    Come hither, friend. 2045Where is the King, my master?
    Kent
    Here, sir, but trouble him not. His wits are gone.
    Gloucester
    Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms.
    I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him.
    There is a litter ready. Lay him in't,
    2050And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet
    Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master.
    If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,
    With thine and all that offer to defend him,
    Stand in assurèd loss. Take up, take up,
    2055And follow me, that will to some provision
    Give thee quick conduct.
    2056.1Kent
    Oppressèd nature sleeps.
    This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews,
    Which, if convenience will not allow,
    Stand in hard cure. [To the Fool] Come, help to bear thy master.
    Thou must not stay behind.
    2056.5Gloucester
    Come, come away.
    Exeunt [all but Edgar].
    Edgar
    When we our betters see bearing our woes
    We scarcely think our miseries our foes.
    Who alone suffers, suffers most i'th'mind,
    Leaving free things and happy shows behind,
    2056.10But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip,
    When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.
    How light and portable my pain seems now,
    When that which makes me bend, makes the king bow;
    He childed as I fathered. Tom, away.
    2056.15Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray,
    When false opinion, whose wrong thoughts defile thee,
    In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee.
    What will hap more tonight, safe 'scape the king.
    Lurk, lurk.
    [Exit.]
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