Internet Shakespeare Editions

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Not Peer Reviewed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.