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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2480Now fellow fare thee well. He falles
    Edg. Gon sir, farewell, and yet I know not how conceite may
    rob the treasury of life, when life it selfe yeelds to the theft: had
    he bene where he thought, by this thought had been past: Aliue
    2485or dead? Ho you sir, heare you sir, speake, thus might hee passe
    indeed, yet he reuiues, what are you sir?
    Glo. Away, and let me dye.
    2490Edg. Hadst thou bene ought but gosmore feathers ayre,
    So many fadome downe precipitating,
    Thou hadst shiuerd like an Egge, but thou dost breath,
    Hast heauy substance, bleedst not, speakst, art sound:
    2495Ten Masts at each make not the altitude,
    That thou hast perpendicularly fell,
    Thy lifes a mircale, speake yet againe.
    Glo. But haue I fallen or no?
    Edg. From the dread summons of this chalkie borne.
    2500Looke vp a hight; the shrill gorg'd Larke so farre
    Cannot be seene or heard, do but looke vp.
    Glo. Alacke, I haue no eyes:
    Is wretchednesse depriu'd that benefite
    To end it selfe by death? Twas yet some comfort.
    2505When misery could beguile the Tyrants rage,
    And frustrate his proud will.
    Edg. Giue me your arme:
    Vp, so, how feele you your legges? you stand.
    Glo. Too well, too well.
    2510Edg. This is aboue all strangenesse:
    Vpon the crowne of the cliffe, what thing was that
    Which parted from you?
    Glo. A poore vnfortunate begger.
    Edg. As I stood heere below, methought his eyes
    2515Were two full Moones; a had a thousand noses,
    Hornes, welkt and waued like the enridged sea.
    It was some fiend, therefore thou happy Father
    Thinke that the cleerest Gods, who made their honors
    Of mens impossibilities, haue preserued thee.
    2520Glo. I do remember now, henceforth Ile beare
    Af.
    I2
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