Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    1970Enter Cornewell and Bastard.
    Corn. I will haue my reuenge ere I depart the house.
    Bast. How my Lord I may be censured, that nature thus giues
    way to loyaltie, some thing feares me to 1975thinke of.
    Corn. I now perceiue it was not altogether your brothers e-
    uill disposition made him seeke his death, but a prouoking merit,
    set a worke by a reproueable badnes in himselfe.
    Bast. How malicious is my fortune, that I must re1980pent to bee
    iust? this is the letter he spoke of, which approues him an intelli-
    gent partie to the aduantages of France, O heauens that his trea-
    son were, or not I the detecter.
    Corn. Goe with me to the Dutches.
    1985Bast. If the matter of this paper be certaine, you haue mighty
    busines in hand.
    Corn. True or false, it hath made thee Earle of Gloster, seeke
    out where thy father is, that hee may bee readie for our appre-
    hension.
    1990Bast. If I find him comforting the King, it will stuffe his sus-
    pition more fully, I will perseuere in my course of loyaltie,
    though the conflict be sore betweene that and my bloud.
    Corn. I will lay trust vpon thee, and thou shalt find 1995a dearer
    father in my loue. Exit.