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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    1190Duke. What's the offence you gaue him?
    Stew. I neuer gaue him any, it pleasd the King his master
    Very late to strike at me vpon his missconstruction,
    When he coniunct and flattering his displeasure
    1195Tript me behinde, being downe, insulted, raild,
    And put vpon his such a deale of man, that
    That worthied him, got praises of the King,
    For him attempting who was selfe subdued,
    And in the flechuent of this dread exploit,
    1200Drew on me heere againe.
    Kent. None of these roges & cowards but A'Iax is their foole.
    Duke. Bring foorth the stockes ho?
    You stubborne miscreant knaue, you vnreuerent bragart,
    1205Wee'l teach you.
    Kent. I am too olde to learne, call not your stockes for me,
    I serue the King, on whose imploiments I was sent to you,
    You should do small respect, shew too bold malice
    1210Against the grace and person of my master,
    Stopping his Messenger.
    Duke. Fetch foorth the stockes; as I haue life and honour,
    There shall he sit till noone.
    Reg. Till noone, till night my Lord, and all night too.
    1215Kent. Why Madam, if I were your fathers dog you could not
    vse me so.
    Reg. Sir, being his knaue, I will.
    Duke. This is a fellow of the same nature,
    Our sister speakes off, come, bring away the stockes.
    1220Glost. Let me beseech your Grace not to do so,
    His fault is much, and the good King his Master
    1221.1Will checke him for't; your purposd low correction
    Is such, as basest and temnest wretches for pilfrings
    And most common trespasses are punisht with,
    The King must take it ill, that hee's so slightly valued
    In his Messenger, should haue him thus restrained.
    Duke. Ile answer that.
    1225Reg. My sister may receiue it much more worse,
    To haue her gentleman abused, assaulted
    For
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