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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    M. William Shak-speare

    HISHistorie, of King Lear.

    Enter Kent, Gloster, and Bastard.

    Kent.
    I Thought the King had more affected the 5Duke of Al-
    bany then Cornwell.
    Glost. It did allwaies seeme so to vs, but now in the
    diuision of the kingdomes, it appeares not which of
    the Dukes he values most, for equalities are so weighed, that cu-
    riositie in nei10ther, can make choise of eithers moytie.
    Kent. Is not this your sonne my Lord?
    Glost. His breeding sir hath beene at my charge, I haue so of-
    ten blusht to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to it.
    15Kent. I cannot conceiue you.
    Glost. Sir, this young fellowes mother Could, wherupon shee
    grew round wombed, and had indeed Sir a sonne for her cradle,
    ere she had a husband for her bed, doe you smell a fault?
    20Kent. I cannot wish the fault vndone, the issue of it being so
    proper.
    Glost. But I haue sir a sonne by order of Law, some yeare el-
    der then this, who yet is no deerer in my account, though this
    knaue came something sawcely into the 25world before hee was
    sent for, yet was his mother faire, there was good sport at his
    makeing, & the whoreson must be acknowledged, do, you know
    this noble gentleman Edmund?
    Bast.