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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    No sir, you must not kneele.
    Lear. Pray do not mocke me:
    I am a very foolish fond olde man,
    2815Fourescore and vpward, and to deale plainly,
    I feare I am not perfect in my minde.
    Me thinkes I should know you, and know this man,
    2820Yet I am doubtfull: for I am mainly ignorant
    What place this is, and all the skill I haue
    Remembers not these garments: nor I know not
    Where I did lodge last night. Do no laugh at me,
    For (as I am a man) I thinke this Lady
    2825To be my childe Cordelia.
    Cor. And so I am.
    Lear. Be your teares wet? Yes faith: I pray weepe not,
    If you haue poison for me I will drinke it:
    2830I know you do not loue me, for your sisters
    Haue (as I do remember) done me wrong.
    You haue some cause, they haue not.
    Cor. No cause, [u]o cause.
    Lear. Am I in France?
    2835Kent. In your owne kingdome sir.
    Lear. Do not abuse me.
    Doct. Be comforted good Madame, the great rage you see is
    cured in him, and yet it is danger to make him euen ore the time
    hee has lost; desire him to goe in, trouble him no more till fur-
    ther setling.
    2840Cor. Wilt please your Highnesse walke?
    Lear. You must beare with me:
    Pray now forget and forgiue,
    I am olde and foolish. Exeunt.

    2843.1Manet Kent and Gentleman.
    Gen. Holds it true sir that the Duke of Cornwall was so slaine?
    Kent. Most certaine sir.
    Gent. Who is conductor of his people?
    2843.5Kent. As tis said, the bastard sonne of Gloster.
    Gent. They say Edgar his banisht sonne, is with the Earle of
    Kent
    K2