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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Affliction till it do cry out it selfe
    Enough, enough, and dye: that thing you speake of,
    I tooke it for a man: often would he say
    The fiend, the fiend, he led me to that place.
    2525Edg. Bare, free, and patient thoughts : but who comes heere,
    The safer sense will nere accommodate his maister thus.

    Enter Lear mad.
    2530Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coyning, I am the King
    himselfe.
    Edg. O thou side piercing sight.
    Lear. Nature is aboue Art in that respect, ther's your presse-
    money. That fellow handles his bow like a Crow-keeper, draw
    2535me a clothiers yard. Looke, looke, a Mouse; peace, peace, this
    tosted cheese will do it. Ther's my gantlet, Ile proue it on a Gy-
    ant, bring vp the browne bils. O well flowne birde in the ayre.
    Hagh, giue the word.
    2540Edg. Sweet Margerum.
    Lear. Passe,
    Glo. I know that voice.
    Lear. Ha Gonorill, ha Regan, they flatter'd me like a dogge, and
    told me I had white haires in my beard, ere the black ones were
    2545there; to say I and no to all I saide : I and no too was no good
    Diuinity. When the raine came to wet me once, and the wind to
    make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bid-
    ding, there I found them, there I smelt them out : goe too, they
    2550are not men of their words, they told mee I was euery thing, tis
    a lye, I am not argue-proofe.
    Glost. The tricke of that voyce I doe, well remember, ist not
    the King?
    Lear. I, euery inch a King: when I do stare see how the subiect
    2555quakes: I pardon that mans life, what was thy cause, Adulterie?
    thou shalt not dye for adultery: no, the wren goes toot, and the
    small guilded flye do letcher in my sight; let copulation thriue.
    2560For Glosters bastard son was kinder to his father then my daugh-
    ters got tweene the lawfull sheets, toot Luxury, pell mell, for I
    want souldiers. Behold yon simpring dame, whose face between
    her
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