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  • Title: King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1608)

    The Historie of King Lear.
    Enter Bast. and Curan meeting.
    Bast. Saue thee Curan.
    Curan. And you Sir, I haue beene 930with your father, and giuen
    him notice, that the Duke of Cornwall and his Dutches will bee
    here with him to night.
    Bast. How comes that?
    Curan. Nay, I know not, you haue heard of the newes 935abroad,
    I meane the whisperd ones, for there are yet but eare-bussing ar-
    guments.
    Bast. Not, I pray you what are they?
    Curan. Haue you heard of no likely warres towards, twixt
    the two Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
    940Bast. Not a word.
    Curan. You may then in time, fare you well sir.
    Bast. The Duke be here to night! the better best, this weaues
    Enter Edgar
    it selfe perforce into my busines, 945my father hath set gard to take
    my brother, and I haue one thing of a quesie question, which
    must aske breefnes and fortune helpe; brother, a word, discend
    brother I say, 950my father watches, O flie this place, intelligence
    is giuen where you are hid, you haue now the good aduantage
    of the night, haue you not spoken gainst the Duke of Cornwall
    ought, hee's coming hether now in the night, it'h hast, 955and Re-
    gan with him, haue you nothing said vpon his partie against the
    Duke of Albany, aduise your---
    Edg. I am sure on't not a word.
    Bast. I heare my father coming, pardon me 960in crauing, I must
    draw my sword vpon you, seeme to defend your selfe, now quit
    you well, yeeld, come before my father, light here, here, flie
    brother flie, torches, torches, so farwell; some bloud drawne
    on mee would beget opinion of my more fierce indeuour, I
    haue seene drunckards doe more then this in sport, father, father,
    stop, stop, no, helpe? Enter Glost.
    Glost. Now Edmund where is the villaine?
    Bast. Here stood he in the darke, his sharpe sword out, warb-
    ling of wicked charms, coniuring the Moone to stand's auspici-
    ous Mistris. Glost. 975But where is he?
    Bast. Looke sir, I bleed.
    Glost. Where is the villaine Edmund?
    Bast.
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