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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Enter Steward.
    Stew. My Lord of Glocester hath conueyed him hence,
    2075Some fiue or sixe and thirty of his Knights hot questrits after
    him, met him at gate, who with some other of the Lords depen-
    dants are gone with him towards Douer, where they boast to
    haue well armed friends.
    2080Corn. Get horses for your misttris.
    Gon. Farwell sweet Lord and sister.
    Exit Gon. and Bast.
    Corn. Edmund farwell: go seeke the traitor Glocester,
    Pinion him like a theefe, bring him before vs,
    Though we may not passe vpon his life
    2085Without the forme of iustice, yet our power
    Shall do a curtesie to our wrath, which men may blame
    But not controle; who's there, the traitor?

    Enter Glocester, brought in by two or three.
    2090Reg. Ingratefull Fox tis he.
    Corn. Binde fast his corky armes.
    Glost. What meanes your Graces, good my friends consider,
    You are my guests, do me no foule play friends.
    2095Corn. Binde him I say.
    Reg. Hard, hard, O filthy traitor!
    Glost. Vnmercifull Lady as you are, I am true.
    Corn. To this chaire binde him, villaine thou shalt find -----
    2100Glost. By the kinde Gods tis mosst ignobly done, to plucke me
    by the beard.
    Reg. So white, and such a Traitor.
    Glost. Naughty Lady, these haires which thou dost rauish frõ (my chin,
    2105Will quicken and accuse thee, I am your host:
    With robbers hands, my hospitable fauours
    You should not ruffell thus, what will you do?
    Corn. Come sir, what letters had you late from France?
    2110Reg. Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.
    Corn. And what confederacy haue you with the traitors lately
    footed in the kingdome?
    Reg. To whose hands haue you sent the lunaticke king, speak?
    Glost.
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