Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    it raineth euery day.
    Lear. True my good boy, come bring vs to this houell.

    Enter Glocester, and the Bastard with lights.
    Glost. Alacke, alacke, Edmund I like not this
    Vnnaturall dealing, when I desired their leaue
    That I might pitty him, they tooke from me
    1755The vse of mine owne house, chargd me on paine
    Of their displeasure, neither to speake of him,
    Entreate for him, nor any way sustaine him.
    Bast. Most sauage and vnnaturall.
    Glost. Go too, say you nothing, there's a diuision betwixt the (Dukes,
    1760And a worse matter then that, I haue receiued
    A letter this night, tis dangerous to be spoken,
    I haue lockt the letter in my Closet, these iniuries
    The King now beares, will be reuenged home;
    There's part of a power already landed,
    We must incline to the King, I will seeke him,
    1765And priuily releeue him; go you and maintaine talke
    With the Duke, that my charity be not of him
    Perceiued; if he aske for me, I am ill, and gone
    To bed, though I die for it, as no lesse is threatned me,
    The King my old Master must be releeued, there is
    Some strange thing toward, Edmund, pray you be carefull.
    1770Exit.
    Bast. This courtesie forbid thee, shall the Duke instantly know,
    And of that letter to, this seemes a faire deseruing,
    And must draw to me that which my father loses, no lesse
    Then all, then yonger rises when the old do fall.
    1775Exit.
    Enter Lear, Kent, and Foole.
    Kent. Here is the place my Lord, good my Lord enter, the tir-
    rany of the open night's too ruffe for nature to endure.
    Lear. Let me alone.
    Kent. Good my Lord enter.
    Lear. Wilt breake my heart?
    Kent. I had rather breake mine owne, good my Lord enter.
    Lear.
    F3