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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Dwels in the fickle grace of her he followes,
    Out varlet, from my sight.
    1475Duke. What meanes your Grace?

    Enter Gonorill.
    Gon. Who strucke my seruant? Regan, I haue good hope
    Thou didst not know ant.
    Lear. Who comes here? O heauens!
    1480If you do loue olde men, if you sweet sway alow
    Obedience, if your selues are old, make it your cause,
    Send downe and take my part;
    Art not asham'd to looke vpon this beard?
    O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?
    1485Gon. Why not by the hand sir, how haue I offended?
    All's not offence that indiscretion findes,
    And dotage tearmes so.
    Lear. O sides, you are too tough,
    Will you yet hold? how came my man i'th stockes?
    Duke. I set him there, but his owne disorders
    Deseru'd much lesse aduancement.
    Lear. You; did you?
    Reg. I pray you father being weake, seeme so,
    1495If till the expiration of your moneth,
    You will returne and soiourne with my sister,
    Dismissing halfe your traine, come then to me,
    I am now from home, and out of that prouision
    Which shall be needfull for your entertainment.
    1500Lear. Returne to her, and fifty men dismist?
    No, rather I abiure all roofes, and chuse
    To wage against the enmity of the ayre,
    To be a Comrade with the Wolfe and Owle,
    Necessities sharpe pinch, returne with her:
    1505Why the hot blood in France, that dowerles
    Tooke our yongest borne, I could as well be brought
    To knee his Throne, and Squire-like pension beg,
    To keepe base life afoote; returne with her?
    Perswade me rather to be slaue and sumpter
    To