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About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Cordelia, Doctor, and others.
    Cor. Alacke tis he, why he was euen now,
    As mad as the vent sea, singing aloud,
    Crownd with ranke femiter and furrow weeds,
    With hor-docks, hemlocke, nettles, coockow-flowers,
    2355Darnell and all the idle weeds that grow
    In our sustaining, Corne, a century is sent foorth,
    Search euery acre in the high growne field,
    And bring him to our eye, what can mans wisedome do
    In the restoring his bereaued sence? he that can helpe him
    2360Take all my outward worth.
    Doct. There is meanes Madame,
    Our foster nurse of nature is repose,
    The which he lackes, that to prouoke in him
    Are many simples operatiue, whose power
    2365Will close the eye of anguish.
    Cord. All blest secrets, all you vnpublisht vertues of the earth,
    Spring with my teares, be aidant and remediat
    In the good mans distresse, seeke, seeke for him,
    2370Least his vngouernd rage dissolue the life,
    That wants the meanes to leade it.
    Enter a Messenger.
    Messen. Newes Madam, the British powers are marching he-
    therward.
    2375Cord. Tis knowne before, our preparation stands
    In expectation of them, ô deare Father,
    It is thy businesse that I go about, therefore great France,
    My mourning and important teares hath pittied,
    No blowne ambition doth our armes insite,
    2380But loue, deare loue, and our aged fathers right,
    Soone may I heare and see him. Exit.