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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2981.1Cap. I cannot draw a Cart, nor eate dryed oates,
    It it be mans worke, Ile doo't.

    Enter the Duke, the two Ladies, and others.
    Alb. Sir you haue shewne to day your valiant straine,
    And Fortune led you well: you haue the Captiues
    2985That were the opposites of this dayes strife:
    We do require then of you so to vse them,
    As we shall finde their merits, and our safety
    May equally determine.
    Bast. Sir I thought it fit,
    2990To send the olde and miserable King
    To some retention, and appointed guard,
    Whose age has charmes in it, whose Title more,
    To plucke the common blossomes of his side,
    And turne our imprest Launces in our eyes
    Which do commend them. With him I sent the Queene:
    2995My reason all the same, and they are ready to morrow,
    Or at a further space, to appeare where you shall hold
    Your Session at this time: we sweate and bleed,
    2997.1The friend hath lost his friend, and the best quarrels
    In the heate are curst by those that feele their sharpenesse.
    The question of Cordelia and her father
    Requires a fitter place,
    Alb. Sir by your patience,
    I hold you but a subiect of this warre, not as a brother.
    Reg. That's as we list to grace him.
    Methinkes our pleasure should haue beene demanded
    Ere you had spoke so farre. He led our powers,
    Bore the Commission of my place and person,
    3005The which immediate may well stand vp,
    And call it selfe your brother.
    Gon. Not so hot: in his owne grace he doth exalt himselfe,
    More then in your aduancement.
    3010Reg. In my right by me inuested, he compeers the best.
    Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.
    Reg. Iesters do oft proue Prophets.
    Gonor.
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