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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2155Shee takes a sword and runs at him behind.
    Seruant. Oh I am slaine my Lord, yet haue you one eye left to
    see some mischiefe on him, oh!
    Corn, Least it see more preuent it, out vild Ielly.
    Where is thy luster now?
    2160Glost. All darke and comfortles, wher's my sonne Edmund?
    Edmund vnbridle all the sparks of nature, to quit this horred act.
    Reg. Out villaine, 2165thou calst on him that hates thee, it was he
    that made the ouerture of thy treasons to vs, who is too good to
    pittie thee.
    Glost. O my follies, then Edgar was abus'd,
    Kind Gods forgiue me that, and prosper him.
    2170Reg. Goe thrust him out at gates, and let him smell his way to
    Douer, how ist my Lord? how looke you?
    Corn. I haue receiu'd a hurt, follow me Ladie,
    Turne out that eyles villaine, throw this slaue 2175vpon
    The dungell Regan, I bleed apace, vntimely
    Comes this hurt, giue me your arme.
    Exit.
    2176.1Seruant. Ile neuer care what wickednes I doe,
    If this man come to good.
    2 Seruant. If she liue long, & in the end meet the old course
    of death, women will all turne monsters.
    2177.51 Ser. Lets follow the old Earle, and get the bedlom
    To lead him where he would, his madnes
    Allows it selfe to any thing.
    2 Ser. Goe thou, ile fetch some flaxe and whites of egges to
    apply to his bleeding face, now heauen helpe him. Exit.
    Enter Edgar.
    Edg. Yet better thus, and knowne to be contemnd,
    2180Then still contemn'd and flattered to be worst,
    The lowest and most deiected thing of Fortune
    Stands still in experience, liues not in feare,
    The lamentable change is from the best,
    The worst returnes to laughter,
    Who's here, my father parti, eyd, 2190world, world, O world!
    But that thy strange mutations make vs hate thee,
    Life would not yeeld to age. Enter Glost. led by an old man.
    Old man O my good Lord, I haue beene your tenant, & your
    fathers
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