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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Effects of curtesie, dues of gratitude,
    Thy halfe of the kingdome, hast thou not forgot
    1465Wherein I thee indow'd.
    Reg. Good sir too'th purpose.
    Lear. Who put my man i'th stockes?
    Duke. What trumpets that? Enter Steward.
    1470Reg. I know't my sisters, this approues her letters,
    That she would soone be here, is your Lady come?
    Lear. This is a slaue, whose easie borrowed pride
    Dwels in the fickle grace of her, a followes,
    Out varlet, from my sight.
    1475Duke. What meanes your Grace? Enter Gon.
    Gon. Who struck my seruant, Regan I haue good hope
    Thou didst not know ant.
    Lear. Who comes here? O heauens!
    1480If you doe loue old men, if you sweet sway allow
    Obedience, if your selues are old, make it your cause,
    Send downe and take my part,
    Art not asham'd to looke vpon this beard?
    O Regan wilt thou take her by the hand?
    1485Gon. Why not by the hand sir, how haue I offended?
    Als not offence that indiscretion finds
    And dotage tearmes so.
    Lear. O sides you are too tough,
    Will you yet hold? 1490how came my man it'h stockes?
    Duke. I set him there sir, but his owne disorders
    Deseru'd much lesse aduancement,
    Lear. You, did you?
    Reg. I pray you father being weake seeme so,
    1495If till the expiration of your moneth,
    You will returne and soiorne with my sister,
    Dismissing halfe your traine, come then to me,
    I am now from home, and out of that prouision,
    Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
    1500Lear. Returne to her, and fiftie men dismist,
    No rather I abiure all roofes, and chuse
    To wage against the enmitie of the Ayre,
    To be a Comrade with the Woolfe and owle,
    Necessities
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