Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Michael Best
Not Peer Reviewed

King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)

Enter Gloster and the Bastard with lights.
Glost. Alacke alacke Edmund I like not this,
Vnnaturall dealing when I desir'd their leaue
That I might pitty him, 1755they tooke me from me
The vse of mine owne house, charg'd me on paine
Of their displeasure, neither to speake of him,
Intreat for him, nor any way sustaine him.
Bast. Most sauage and vnnaturall.
Glost. Go toe say you nothing, ther's a diuisiõ be1760twixt (the Dukes,
And a worse matter then that, I haue receiued
A letter this night, tis dangerous to be spoken,
I haue lockt the letter in my closet, these iniuries
The King now beares, will be reuenged home
Ther's part of a power already landed,
We must incline to the King, I 1765will seeke him, and
Priuily releeue him, goe you and maintaine talke
With the Duke, that my charity be not of him
Perceiued, if hee aske for me, I am ill, and gon
To bed, though I die for't, as no lesse is threatned me,
The King my old master must be releeued, there is
Some strãge thing 1770toward, Edmund pray you be careful. Exit.
Bast. This curtesie forbid thee, shal the Duke instãly (know
And of that letter to, this seems a faire deseruing
And must draw me that which my father looses, no lesse
Then all, 1775then yonger rises when the old doe fall. Exit.