King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

Introduction
2. Textual Introduction
Texts of this edition
1. King Lear (Folio, 1623)
3. Modern
5. Extended modern
7. Old-spelling transcription
8. King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)
10. Modern
12. Extended modern
14. Old-spelling transcription
15. King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)
17. Old-spelling transcription
Contextual materials
1. Sources for the Lear story
3. Holinshed on King Lear
5. The History of King Leir
7. Albion's England (Selection)
9. Hardyng's Chronicle (Selection)
11. Kings of Britain
13. Chronicles of England
15. Faerie Queene
17. The Mirror for Magistrates
18. Sources for the Gloucester plot
20. The Arcadia
22. A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures
23. Literary, political, and social contexts
25. Aristotle on tragedy
27. The Book of Job (Selections)
29. The Monk's Tale (Selections)
31. The Defense of Poetry
33. The First Blast of the Trumpet
35. Basilicon Doron
37. On Bastards
39. On Aging
40. King Lear's afterlife
42. King Lear (Adapted by Nahum Tate)
Facsimiles

The History of King Lear.
 23632218The which he lackes, that to prouoke in him
 23642219Are many simples operatiue, whose power
 23652220Will close the eye of anguish.
 23662221Cord. All blest secrets, all you vnpublisht vertues of the earth,
 23682222Spring with my teares, be aidant and remediat
 23692223In the good mans distresse, seeke, seeke for him,
 23702224Least his vngouernd rage dissolue the life,
 23712225That wants the meanes to leade it.
 
 23722226Enter a Messenger.
 23732227Messen. Newes Madam, the British powers are marching he-
 23742228 therward.
 23752229Cord. Tis knowne before, our preparation stands
 23762230In expectation of them, ô deare Father,
 23772231It is thy businesse that I go about, therefore great France,
 23782232My mourning and important teares hath pittied,
 23792233No blowne ambition doth our armes insite,
 23802234But loue, deare loue, and our aged fathers right,
 23812235Soone may I heare and see him. Exit.
 
 23832236Enter Regan and Steward.
 23842237Reg. But are my brothers powers set foorth?
 23852238Stew. I Madam.
 23862239Reg. Himselfe in person?
 23872240Stew. Madam with much ado, your sister's the better Soldier.
 23892241Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your Lady at home?
 23902242Stew. No Madam.
 23912243Reg. What might import my sisters letter to him?
 23922244Stew. I know not Lady.
 23932245Reg. Faith he is posted hence on a serious matter,
 23942246It was great ignorance, Glocesters eies being out,
 23952247To let him liue, where he arriues he moues
 23962248All hearts against vs, and now I thinke is gone,
 23972249In pitty of his misery to dispatch his nighted life,
 23982250Moreouer to descrie the strength of the Army.
 24002251Stew. I must needs after him with my Letters.
 24012252Reg. Our troope sets foorth to morrow, stay with vs,
The

Internet Shakespeare Editions

Reading Room

Toolbox

About this text

King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)