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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Kent. Strike you slaue, stand rogue, stand you neate slaue,
    1115strike.
    Stew. Helpe, ho, murther, helpe.

    Enter Edmund with his Rapier drawne, Glocester, the
    Duke and Dutchesse.

    Bast. How now, what's the matter?
    Ken. With you goodman boy, and you please come, ile sleash
    1120you, come on yong master.
    Glost. Weapons, armes, what's the matter here?
    Duke. Keepe peace vpon your liues, he dies that strikes againe,
    what's the matter?
    Reg. The messengers from our sister, and the King.
    1125Duke. What's your difference, speake?
    Stew. I am scarse in breath my Lord.
    Kent. No maruaile you haue so bestir'd your valour, you co-
    wardly rascall, nature disclaimes in thee, a Taylor made thee.
    1130Duke. Thou art a strange fellow, a Taylour make a man.
    Kent. I, a taylour sir, a Stone-cutter, or a Painter could not
    haue made him so ill, though he had bene but two houres at the
    trade.
    Glost. Speake yet, how grew your quarrell?
    1135Stew. This ancient ruffian sir, whose life I haue spar'd at sute
    of his gray-beard.
    Kent. Thou whoreson Zed, thou vnnecessary letter, my Lord
    if you will giue me leaue, I will tread this vnboulted villaine in-
    to morter, and daube the wals of a Iaques with him; spare my
    1140gray-beard you wagtaile?
    Duke. Peace sir, you beastly knaue you haue no reuerence.
    Kent. Yes sir, but anger has a priuiledge.
    Duke. Why are thou angry?
    1145Kent. That such a slaue as this should weare a sword,
    That weares no honesty, such smiling rogues as these,
    Like Rats oft bite those cordes in twaine,
    Which are to intrench, to inloose smooth euery passion
    That in the natures of their Lords rebell,
    Bring
    D3
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