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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    pursue the offender, how dost my Lord?
    Glost. Madam my old heart is crackt, is crackt.
    1030Reg. What, did my fathers godson seeke your life? he whom
    my father named your Edgar?
    Glost. I Ladie, Ladie, shame would haue it hid.
    Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous knights, that
    tends vpon my father?
    1035Glost. I know not Madam, tis too bad, too bad.
    Bast. Yes Madam, he was.
    Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill affected,
    Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,
    To haue the wast and spoyle of his reuenues:
    1040I haue this present euening from my sister,
    Beene well inform'd of them, and with such cautions,
    That if they come to soiourne at my house, ile not be there.
    Duke. Nor I, assure thee Regan; Edmund, 1045I heard that you
    haue shewen your father a child-like office.
    Bast. Twas my dutie Sir.
    Glost. He did betray his practise, and receiued
    This hurt you see, striuing to apprehend him.
    1050Duke. Is he pursued? Glost. I my good Lord.
    Duke. If he be taken, he shall neuer more be feard of doing
    harme, make your own purpose how in my strength you please,
    for you Edmund, 1055whose vertue and obedience, doth this instant
    so much commend it selfe, you shall bee ours, natures of such
    deepe trust, wee shall much need you, we first seaze on.
    Bast. I shall serue you truly, how euer else.
    1060Glost. For him I thanke your grace.
    Duke. You know not why we came to visit you?
    Regan. Thus out of season, threatning darke ey'd night,
    Ocasions noble Gloster of some prise,
    Wherein we must haue vse of your aduise,
    1065Our Father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
    Of diferences, which I lest thought it fit,
    To answer from our home, the seuerall messengers
    From hence attend dispatch, our good old friend,
    Lay comforts to your bosome, & bestow 1070your needfull councell
    To our busines, which craues the instant vse. (Exeunt.
    Glost.
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