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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    thunders bend, spoke with how many fould and strong a bond
    the child was bound to the father; sir, in a fine, seeing how loth-
    985ly opposite I stood to his vnnaturall purpose, with fell motion
    with his prepared sword, he charges home my vnprouided bo-
    dy, launcht mine arme; but when he saw my best alarumd spirits
    990bold in the quarrels right, rouzd to the encounter, or whether
    gasted by the noise I made, but sodainly he fled.
    Glost. Let him flie farre, not in this Land shall he remaine vn-
    caught and found; dispatch, the Noble Duke my master, my
    worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, by his authority I will
    proclaime it, that he which findes him shall deserue our thankes,
    bringing the murderous caytiffe to the stake, he that conceales
    1000him, death.
    Bast. When I disswaded him from his intent, and found him
    pight to do it, with curst speech I threatned to discouer him; he
    replied, Thou vnpossessing bastard, dost thou thinke, if I would
    1005stand against thee, could the reposure of any trust, vertue, or
    worth in thee make thy words faith'd? no: what I should deny,
    as this I would, I, thogh thou didst produce my very character,
    ide turne it all to thy suggestion, plot, and damned pretence, and
    thou must make a dullard of the world, if they not thought the
    profits of my death were very pregnant and potentiall spurres to
    make thee seeke it.
    1015Glost. Strong and fastened villaine, would he deny his letter?
    I neuer got him: harke, the Dukes trumpets, I know not why he
    comes; all Ports ile barre, the villaine shall not scape, the Duke
    must grant me that: besides, his picture I wil send far and neere,
    1020that all the kingdome may haue note of him, and of my land,
    (loyall and naturall boy) ile worke the meanes to make thee ca-
    pable.
    Enter the Duke of Cornwall.
    1025Corn. How now my noble friend, since I came hether, which
    I can call but now, I haue heard strange newes.
    Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short which can
    pursue the offender; how dost my Lord?
    Glost. Madam, my old heart is crakt, is crakt.
    1030Reg. What, did my fathers godson seeke your life? he whom
    my
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