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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Take vp to keepe, and follow me that will to some prouisio[n]
    Giue thee quicke conduct.
    2056.1Kent. Oppressed nature sleepes,
    This rest might yet haue balmed thy broken sinewes,
    Which if conuenience will not allow, stand in hard cure,
    Come helpe to beare thy Master, thou must not stay behinde.
    2056.5Glost. Come, come, away. Exit.
    Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes,
    We scarsely thinke our miseries our foes.
    Who alone suffers, most i'th minde,
    Leauing free things and happy showes behinde,
    2056.10But then the minde much sufferance doth ore-skip,
    When griefe hath mates, and bearing fellowship:
    How light and portable my paine seemes now,
    When that which makes me bend, makes the King bow;
    He childed as I fatherd, Tom away,
    2056.15Marke the high noises, and thy selfe bewray,
    When false opinion, whose wrong thoughts defile thee,
    In thy iust proofe repeals and reconciles thee,
    What will hap more to night, safe scape the King,
    Lurke, lurke.

    Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gonorill, and Bastard.

    2060Corn. Poste speedily to my Lord your husband, shew him this
    Letter,
    The army of France is landed, seeke out the villaine Glocester.
    Reg. Hang him instantly.
    Gon. Plucke out his eyes.
    2065Corn. Leaue him to my displeasure, Edmund keepe you our si-
    ster company. The reuenge we are bound to take vpon your trai-
    terous father, are not fit for your beholding, aduise the Duke
    where you are going to a most festuant preparation, wee are
    bound to the like.
    Our poste shall be swift and intelligence betwixt vs;
    2070Farwell deare sister, farwell my Lord of Glocester.
    How now, wheres the King?
    Enter
    G3