Internet Shakespeare Editions

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Not Peer Reviewed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,