King Lear (Modern, Quarto) :: Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text
Title: King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
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.
King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
[Act 4, scene 6 in Folio]
 21.0.12743[Scene 21]
 21.0.227442476Enter Cordelia, Kent [disguised], a doctor, and a gentleman. [Soft music]
 21.127452477Cordelia
 O thou good Kent, 2746how shall I live and work
 21.22747To match thy goodness? 27482478My life will be too short,
 21.32749And every measure fail me.
 21.427502479Kent
 To be acknowledged, madam, is o'er-paid.
 21.527512480All my reports go with the modest truth,
 21.627522481Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
 27532482Cordelia
 Nor more, nor clipped, but so.  Be better suited.
 21.72754These weeds are memories of those 2483Worser hours. 
 21.82755I prithee put them off.
 21.927562484Kent
 Pardon me, dear madam;
 21.1027572485Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
 21.1127582486My boon I make it that you know me not
 21.1227592487Till time and I think meet.
 21.1327602488Cordelia
 Then be't so, my good lord. [To the doctor] 2761How does the King?
 21.1427622489Doctor
 Madam, sleeps still.
 21.1527632490Cordelia
 O you kind gods,
 21.162764Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature;
 21.1727652491The untuned and hurrying senses, O wind up,
 21.1827662492Of this child-changed father.
 27672493Doctor
 Of this child-changed father.  So please your majesty
 21.192768That we may wake the King. 2494He hath slept long.
 21.2027692495Cordelia
 Be governed by your knowledge and proceed
 21.2127702496I'th'sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
 21.2227722497Doctor
 Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
 21.2327732498We put fresh garments on him.
 21.2427742499Gentleman
 Good madam, be by when we do awake him.
 21.2527752500I doubt not of his temperance.
 2775.12501Cordelia
 I doubt not of his temperance.  Very well.
 21.262775.22502Doctor
 Please you draw near. Louder the music there.
 21.30.1[Lear is discovered, or carried in, asleep.]
 21.2727762503Cordelia
 O my dear father, restoration hang
 21.282777Thy medicine on my lips, 2504and let this kiss
 21.292778Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
 21.3027792505Have in thy reverence made.
 27802506Kent
 Have in thy reverence made.  Kind and dear princess.
 21.3127812507Cordelia
 Had you not been their father, these white flakes
 21.3227822508Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face
 21.3327832509To be exposed against the warring winds50,
 21.342783.12510To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
 21.352783.22511In the most terrible and nimble stroke
 21.362783.32512Of quick cross lightning to watch--poor perdu--
 21.372783.42513With this thin helm? 2784Mine injurious dog,
 21.382514Though he had bit me, 2785should have stood that night
 21.392515Against my fire; 2786and wast thou fain, poor father,
 21.4027872516To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn,
 21.4127882517In short and musty straw? Alack, alack,
 21.4227892518'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
 21.4327902519Had not concluded all. He wakes. [To the doctor] Speak to him.
 21.4427912520Doctor
 Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.
 21.4527922521Cordelia
 How does my royal lord? 2793How fares your majesty?
 21.4627942522Lear
 You do me wrong to take me out o'th'grave.
 21.4727952523Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
 21.4827962524Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
 21.4927972525Do scald like molten lead.
 21.5027982526Cordelia
 Sir, know me.
 21.5127992527Lear
 Y'are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
 21.5228002528Cordelia
 Still, still, far wide.
 21.5328012529Doctor
 He's scarce awake. 2802Let him alone a while.
 21.5428032530Lear
 Where have I been? 2804Where am I? Fair daylight?
 21.5528052531I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with pity
 21.5628062532To see another thus. I know not what to say.
 21.5728072533I will not swear these are my hands. Let's see--
 21.5828082534I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
 21.592809Of my condition.
 28102535Cordelia
 Of my condition.  [Kneeling] O look upon me, sir,
 21.602811And hold your hands in 2536benediction o'er me.
 21.60.1[Lear attempts to kneel.]
 21.61No, sir, 2812you must not kneel.
 28132537Lear
 No, sir, you must not kneel.  Pray do not mock.
 21.6228142538I am a very foolish, fond old man,
 21.6328152539Fourscore and upward, 2817and to deal plainly,
 21.6428182540I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
 21.6528192541Methinks I should know you, and know this man,
 21.6628202542Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
 21.6728212543What place this is; and all the skill I have
 21.6828222544Remembers not these garments, nor I know not
 21.6928232545Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
 21.7028242546For, as I am a man, I think this lady
 21.7128252547To be my child, Cordelia.
 2826Cordelia
 To be my child, Cordelia.  And so I am.
 21.7228272548Lear
 Be your tears wet? 2828Yes, faith. I pray weep not.
 21.7328292549If you have poison for me I will drink it.
 21.7428302550I know you do not love me, for your sisters
 21.7528312551Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
 21.7628322552You have some cause; they have not.
 28332553Cordelia
 You have some cause; they have not.  No cause, no cause.
 21.772834Lear
 Am I in France?
 28352554Kent
 Am I in France?  In your own kingdom, sir.
 21.7828362555Lear
 Do not abuse me.
 21.798228372556Doctor
 Be comforted, good madam. The great rage
 21.802838You see is 2557cured in him; 2838.152and yet it is danger52.1
 21.8153To make him even o'er the time 25582838.2he has lost.53.1
 21.82Desire him to go in. 2839Trouble him no more
 21.83Till 2559further settling.
 284082.1Cordelia
 Till further settling.  Will't please your highness walk?
 21.8428412560Lear
 You must bear with me. 2842Pray now, forget and forgive.
 21.8528432561I am old and foolish.
 21.85.156Exeunt. Kent and [the] gentleman [remain].
 21.862843.12562Gentleman
 Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
 21.872843.22563Kent
 Most certain, sir.
 21.882843.32564Gentleman
 Who is conductor of his people?
 21.892843.42565Kent
 As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
 21.902843.52566Gentleman
 They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of 2843.62567Kent in Germany.
 21.912843.72568Kent
 Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about.
 21.922843.82569The powers of the kingdom approach apace.
 21.932843.92570Gentleman
 The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
 21.93.1[Exit.]
 21.942843.102571Kent
 My point and period will be throughly wrought,
 21.952843.112572Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought.
 21.95.15457Exit.54.1
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King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
