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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Kent. Let it fall rather,
    Though the forke inuade the region of my heart,
    155Be Kent vnmannerly, when Lear is mad,
    What wilt thou do old man, think'st thou that duty
    Shall haue dread to speake, when power to flattery bowes,
    To plainnesse honours bound, when Maiesty stoops to folly,
    Reuerse thy doome, and in thy best consideration
    Checke this hideous rashnesse, answer my life,
    My iudgement, thy yongest daughter does not lo[u]e thee least,
    Nor are those empty hearted, whose low sound
    Reuerbs no hollownesse.
    165Lear. Kent, on thy life no more.
    Kent. My life I neuer held but as a pawne
    To wage against thy enemies, nor feare to lose it,
    Thy safety being the motiue.
    Lear. Out of my sight.
    170Kent. See better Lear, and let me still remaine
    The true blanke of thine eie.
    Lear. Now by Appollo ---------
    Kent. Now by Appollo, King thou swear'st thy Gods in vaine.
    175Lear. Vassall, recreant.
    Kent. Do, kill thy Physition,
    And the fee bestow vpon the foule disease,
    Reuoke thy doome, or whilst I can vent clamour
    180From my throat, ile tell thee thou dost euill.
    Lear. Heare me, on thy alleigeance heare me;
    Since thou hast sought to make vs breake our vow,
    Which we durst neuer yet; and with straied pride,
    To come betweene our sentence and our power,
    185Which, nor our nature, nor our place can beare,
    Our potency make good, take thy reward,
    Foure dayes we do allot thee for prouision,
    To shield thee from diseases of the world,
    And on the fift to turne thy hated backe
    190Vpon our kingdome; if on the tenth day following,
    Thy banisht trunke be found in our Dominions,
    The moment is thy death, away,
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