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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    To let these hands obey my bloud,
    They are apt enough to dislecate and teare
    2311.5Thy flesh and bones, how ere thou art a fiend,
    A womans shape doth shield thee.
    Gon. Marry your man-hood now -------

    Enter a Gentleman.
    Alb. What newes?
    Gent. O my good Lord, the Duke of Cornwalls dead, slaine by
    his seruant, going to put out the other eie of Gloster.
    Alb. Glosters eyes?
    Gen. A seruant that he bred, thrald with remorse,
    Oppos'd against the acte, bending his sword
    To his great master, who thereat enraged,
    2320Flew on him, and amongst them feld him dead,
    But not without that harmfull stroke,
    Which since hath pluckt him after.
    Alb. This shewes you are aboue your Iustices,
    That these our neather crimes so speedily can venge.
    2325But oh poore Glocester, lost he his other eye?
    Gent. Both, both my Lord, this letter Madam, craues a speedy
    Answer, tis from your sister.
    2330Gon. One way I like this well,
    But being widow, and my Glocester with her,
    May all the building on my fancy plucke,
    Vpon my hatefull life, another way the newes is not so tooke,
    Ile reade and answer. Exit.
    2335Alb. Where was his sonne when they did take his eies?
    Gent. Come with my Lady hither.
    Alb. He is not here.
    Gent. No my good Lord, I met him backe againe.
    2340Alb. Knowes he the wickednesse?
    Gent. I my good Lord, twas he inform'd against him,
    And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
    Might haue the freer course.
    Alb. Glocester, I liue to thanke thee for the loue
    2345Thou shewedst the King, and to reuenge thy eyes;
    Come
    H3