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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    1226.1For following her affaires, put in his legs,
    Come my Lord, away. Exit.
    Glost. I am sorry for thee friend, tis the Dukes pleasure,
    Whose disposition all the world well knowes
    1230Will not be rubd nor stopt, Ile intreate for thee.
    Kent. Pray you do not sir I haue watcht and trauaild hard,
    Some time I shall sleepe out, the rest Ile whistle,
    A good mans fortune may grow out at heeles,
    Giue you good morrow.
    1235Glost. The Duke's too blame in this, twill be ill tooke.
    Exit.
    Kent. Good King, that must approue the common saw,
    Thou out of heauens benediction comest
    To the warme Sunne.
    1240Approach thou beacon to this vnder-globe,
    That by thy comfortable beames I may
    Peruse this letter, nothing almost sees my wracke
    But misery, I know tis from Cordelia,
    Who hath most fortunately bene informed
    1245Of my obscured course, and shall finde time
    From this enormious state, seeking to giue
    Losses their remedies, all weary and ouer-watcht,
    Take vantage heauy eies not to behold
    This shamefull lodging; Fortune goodnight,
    1250Smile, once more turne thy wheele. He sleepes.

    Enter Edgar.
    Edgar, I heare my selfe proclaim'd,
    And by the happy hollow of a Tree,
    Escapt the hunt, no Port is free, no place
    1255That guard, and most vnusall vigilence
    Dost not attend my taking while I may scape,
    I will preserue my selfe, and am bethought
    To take the basest and most poorest shape,
    That euer penury in contempt of man,
    1260Brought neere to beast; my face ile grime with filth,
    Blanket my loines, else all my haire with knots,
    And
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