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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Gonorill and a Gentleman.
    Gon. Did my Farher strike my gentleman for chiding of his
    foole?
    Gent. Yes Madam.
    510Gon. By day and night he wrongs me,
    Euery houre he flashes into one grosse crime or other,
    That sets vs all at ods, Ile not endure it;
    His knights grow riotous, and himselfe vpbraids vs
    On euery trifle when he returnes from hunting,
    515I will not speake with him, say I am sicke,
    If you come slacke of former seruices,
    You shall do well, the fault of it Ile answer.
    Gent. Hee's comming Madam, I heare him.
    Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, you and your
    520fellow-seruants, Ide haue it come in question, if he dislike it, let
    him to our sister, whose minde & mine I know in that are one,
    522.1not to be ouer-rulde; idle olde man that still would manage
    those authorities that he hath giuen away, now by my life olde
    fooles are babes againe, and must be vsed with checkes as flat-
    teries, when they are seene abus'd, remember what I tell you.
    Gent. Very well, Madam.
    525Gon. And let his Knights haue colder lookes among you,
    what growes of it no matter, aduise your fellowes so, I would
    526.1breed from hence occasions, and I shall, that I may speake, Ile
    write straight to my sister to hold my very course; goe prepare
    for dinner. Exit.