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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2480Now fellow fare thee well. He fals.
    Edg. Gon sir, farewell, and yet I know not how conceit my
    robbe the treasurie of life, when life it selfe yealds to the theft,
    had he beene where he thought 2485by this had thought beene past,
    aliue or dead, ho you sir, heare you sir, speak, thus might he passe
    indeed, yet he reuiues, what are you sir?
    Glost. Away and let me die.
    2490Edg. Hadst thou beene ought but gosmore feathers ayre,
    So many fadome downe precipitating
    Thou hadst shiuerd like an egge, but thou dost breath
    Hast heauy substance, bleedst not, speakest, art sound,
    2495Ten masts at each, make not the altitude,
    Which thou hast perpendicularly fell,
    Thy lifes a miracle, speake yet againe.
    Glost. But haue I fallen or no l
    Edg. From the dread sommons of this chalkie borne,
    2500Looke vp a hight, the shrill gorg'd larke so farre
    Cannot bee seene or heard, doe but looke vp?
    Glost. Alack I haue no eyes
    Is wretchednes depriu'd, that benefit
    To end it selfe by death twas yet some comfort
    2505When misery could beguile the tyrants rage
    And frustrate his proud will.
    Edg. Giue me your arme?
    Vp, so, how feele you your legges, you stand.
    Glost. Too well, too well.
    2510Edg. This is aboue all strangenes
    Vpon the crowne of the cliffe what thing was that
    Which parted from you.
    Glost. A poore vnfortunate bagger.
    Edg. As I stood here below me thoughts his eyes
    2515Were two full Moones, a had a thousand noses
    Hornes, welk't and waued like the enridged sea,
    It was some fiend, therefore thou happy father
    Thinke that the cleerest Gods, who made their honours
    Of mens impossibilities, haue preserued thee.
    2520Glost. I doe remember now, henceforth ile beare
    Affliction till it doe crie out it selfe
    Inough,
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