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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2775.1Cor. Very well.
    Doct. Please you draw neere: louder the musicke there.
    Cor. O my deere father,
    Restoration hang thy medicine on my lippes,
    And let this kisse repaire those violent harmes
    That my two sisters haue in thy reuerence made.
    2780Kent. Kinde and deere Princesse.
    Cor. Had you not bin their father, these white flakes
    Had challeng'd pitty of them. Was this a face
    To be exposd against the warring windes,
    2783.1To stand against the deepe dread bolted thunder,
    In the most terrible and nimble stroke
    Of quicke crosse lightning, to watch poore Per du,
    With this thin helme? Mine iniurious dogge,
    2785Though he had bit me, should haue stood that night
    Against my fire, and wast thou faine (poore father)
    To houill thee with swine and rogues forlorne,
    In short and musty straw? Alack, alacke,
    Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once,
    2790Had not concluded all. He wakes, speake to him.
    Doct, Madam do you, tis fittest.
    C. How does my royal lord? how fares your maiesty
    Lear. You do me wrong to take me out a'th graue,
    2795Thou art a soule in blisse, but I am bound
    Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares
    Do scald like molten Lead.
    Cor. Sir, know ye me?
    Lear. Y'are a spirit I know, when did you dye?
    2800Cor. Still, still, farre wide.
    Doct. He's scarse awake, let hlm alone awhile.
    Lea. Where haue I bin? where am I? faire day light!
    2805I am mightily abusd; I should ene dye with pity
    To see another thus. I know not what to say:
    I will not sweare these are my hands, let's see,
    I feele this pin pricke, would I were assur'd of my con-(dition.
    2810Cor. O looke vpon me sir,
    And hold your hands in benediction ore me,
    No
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