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  • Title: King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)
  • Editor: Pervez Rizvi
  • 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: Pervez Rizvi
    Not Peer Reviewed

    King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

    The History of King Lear.
    him to our sister, whose minde & mine I know in that are one,
    522.1not to be ouer-rulde; idle olde man that still would manage
    those authorities that he hath giuen away, now by my life olde
    fooles are babes againe, and must be vsed with checkes as flat-
    teries, when they are seene abus'd, remember what I tell you.
    Gent. Very well, Madam.
    525Gon. And let his Knights haue colder lookes among you,
    what growes of it no matter, aduise your fellowes so, I would
    526.1breed from hence occasions, and I shall, that I may speake, Ile
    write straight to my sister to hold my very course; goe prepare
    for dinner. Exit.
    530Enter Kent.
    Ken. If but as well I other accents borrow, that can my speech
    defuse, my good intent may carry through it selfe to that ful is-
    sue for which I raizd my likenesse; now banisht Kent, if thou
    535canst serue where thou dost stand condemn'd, thy master whom
    thou louest, shall finde the full of labour.
    Enter Lear.
    Lear. Let me not stay a iot for dinner, goe get it ready: how
    540now, what art thou?
    Kent. A man sir.
    Lear. What dost thou professe? what wouldst thou with vs?
    Kent. I doe professe to bee no lesse then I seeme to serue him
    545truely that wil put me in trust, to loue him that is honest, to con-
    uerse with him that is wise and saies little, to feare iudgement,
    to fight when I cannot chuse, and to eate no fish.
    Lear. What art thou?
    550Kent. A very honest hearted fellow, and as poore as the King.
    Lear. If thou be as poore for a subiect, as he is for a king, thou
    art poore enough, what wouldst thou?
    Kent. Seruice.Lear. Who wouldst thou serue?
    Kent. You.Lear. Dost thou know me fellow?
    Kent. No sir, but you haue that in your countenance, which
    I would faine call Master.
    560Lear. What's that? Kent. Authority.
    Lear. What seruices canst thou do?
    Kent. I can keepe honest counsaile, ride, run, marre a curious
    tale
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