M. William Shak-speare HIS True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King LEAR and his three Daughters With the vnfortunate life of Edgar sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster and his sullen and assumed humor of TOM of Bedlam As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes By his Maiesties seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Butter and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere S t. Austins Gate 1608. M. William Shak-speare HIS Historie of King Lear. Enter Kent Gloster and Bastard Kent I Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany then Cornwell Glost. It did allwaies seeme so to vs but now in the diuision of the kingdomes it appeares not which of the Dukes he values most for equalities are so weighed that curiositie in neither can make choise of eithers moytie Kent Is not this your sonne my Lord Glost. His breeding sir hath beene at my charge I haue so often blusht to acknowledge him that now I am braz'd to it Kent I cannot conceiue you Glost. Sir this young fellowes mother Could wherupon shee grew round wombed and had indeed Sir a sonne for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed doe you smell a fault Kent I cannot wish the fault vndone the issue of it being so proper Glost. But I haue sir a sonne by order of Law some yeare elder then this who yet is no deerer in my account though this knaue came something sawcely into the world before hee was sent for yet was his mother faire there was good sport at his makeing the whoreson must be acknowledged do you know this noble gentleman Edmund Bast. No my Lord. Glost. My Lord of Kent remember him hereafter as my honorable friend .. Bast. My seruices to your Lordship Kent I must loue you and sue to know you better Bast. Sir I shall study deseruing Glost. Hee hath beene out nine yeares and away hee shall againe the King is comming Sound a Sennet Enter one bearing a Coronet then Lear then the Dukes of Albany and Cornwell next Gonorill Regan Cordelia with followers Lear. Attend my Lords of France and Burgundy Gloster Glost. I shall my Leige Lear. Meane time we will expresse our darker purposes The map there know we haue diuided In three our kingdome and t is our first intent To shake all cares and busines of our state Confirming them on yonger yeares The two great Princes France and Burgundy Great ryuals in our youngest daughters loue Long in our Court haue made their amorous soiourne And here are to be answerd tell me my daughters Which of you shall we say doth loue vs most That we our largest bountie may extend Where merit doth most challenge it Gonorill our eldest borne speake first Gon. Sir I do loue you more then words can weild the matter Dearer then eye-sight space or libertie Beyond what can be valued rich or rare No lesse then life with grace health beautie honour As much a child ere loued or father friend A loue that makes breath poore and speech vnable Beyond all manner of so much I loue you Cor. What shall Cordelia doe loue and be filent Lear. Of al these bounds euen from this sine to this With shady forrests and wide skirted meades We make thee Lady to thine and Albaines issue Be this perpetuall what saies our second daughter Our deerest Regan wife to Cornwell speake Reg. Sir I am made of the selfe same mettall that my sister is And prize me at her worth in my true heart I find she names my very deed of loue onely she came short That I professe my selfe an enemie to all other ioyes Which the most precious square of sence possesses And find I am alone felicitate in your deere highnes loue Cord. Then poore Cord. yet not so since I am sure My loues more richer then my tongue Lear. To thee and thine hereditarie euer Remaine this ample third of our faire kingdome No lesse in space validity and pleasure Then that confirm'd on Gonorill but now our ioy Although the last not least in our deere loue What can you say to win a third more opulent Then your sisters Cord. Nothing my Lord. Lear. How nothing can come of nothing speake againe Cord. Vnhappie that I am I cannot heaue my heart into my mouth I loue your Maiestie according to my bond nor more nor lesse Lear. Goe to goe to mend your speech a little Least it may mar your fortunes Cord. Good my Lord You haue begot me bred me loued me I returne those duties backe as are right fit Obey you loue you and most honour you Why haue my sisters husbands if they say they loue you all Happely when I shall wed that Lord whose hand Must take my plight shall cary halfe my loue with him Halfe my care and duty sure I shall neuer Mary like my sisters to loue my father all Lear. But goes this with thy heart Cord. I good my Lord. Lear. So yong and so vntender Cord. So yong my Lord and true Lear. Well let it be so thy truth then be thy dower For by the sacred radience of the Sunne The mistresse of Heccat and the might By all the operation of the orbs From whome we doe exsist and cease to be Hecre I disclaime all my paternall care Propinquitie and property of blood And as a stranger to my heart and me Hould thee from this for euer the barbarous Scythyan Or he that makes his generation Messes to gorge his appetite Shall bee as well neighbour'd pittyed and relieued As thou my sometime daughter Kent Good my Liege Lear. Peace Kent come not between the Dragon his wrath I lou'd her most and thought to set my rest On her kind nurcery hence and auoide my sight So be my graue my peace as here I giue Her fathers heart from her call France who stirres Call Burgundy Cornwell and Albany With my two daughters dower digest this third Let pride which she cals plainnes marrie her I doe inuest you iointly in my powre Preheminence and all the large effects That troope with Maiestie our selfe by monthly course With reseruation of an hundred knights By you to be sustayn'd shall our abode Make with you by due turnes onely we still retaine The name and all the additions to a King The sway reuenue execution of the rest Beloued sonnes be yours which to confirme This Coronet part betwixt you Kent Royall Lear Whom I haue euer honor'd as my King Loued as my Father as my maister followed As my great patron thought on in my prayers Lear. The bow is bēt drawen make from the shaft Kent Let it fall rather Though the forke inuade the region of my heart Be Kent vnmannerly when Lear is man What wilt thou doe ould man think'st thou that dutie Shall haue dread to speake when
ease This tempest will not giue me leaue to ponder On things would hurt me more but I le goe in Poore naked wretches where so ere you are That bide the pelting of this pittiles night How shall your house-lesse heads and vnfed sides Your loopt and windowed raggednes defend you From seasons such as these O I haue tane Too little care of this take physicke pompe Expose thy selfe to feele what wretches feele That thou mayst shake the superflux to them And shew the heauens more iust Foole. Come not in here Nunckle her 's a spirit helpe me helpe mee Kent Giue me thy hand whose there Foole. A spirit he sayes his nam 's poore Tom. Kent What art thou that dost grumble there in the straw come forth Edg. Away the fowle fiend followes me thorough the sharpe hathorne blowes the cold wind goe to thy cold bed and warme thee Lear. Hast thou giuen all to thy two daughters and art thou come to this Edg. Who giues any thing to poore Tom whome the foule Fiende hath led through fire and through foord and whirli-poole ore bog and quagmire that has layd kniues vnder his pillow and halters in his pue set ratsbane â—y his pottage made him proud of heart to ride on a bay trotting horse ouer foure incht bridges to course his owne shadow for a traytor blesse thy fiue wits Toms a cold blesse thee from whirle-winds starre-blusting and taking doe poore Tom some charitie whom the soule fiend vexes there could I haue him now and there and and there againe Lear. What his daughters brought him to this passe Couldst thou saue nothing didst thou giue them all Foole. Nay he reseru'd a blanket else we had beene all sham'd Lear. Now all the plagues that in the pendulous ayre Hang fated ore mens faults fall on thy daughters Kent He hath no daughters sir. Lear. Death traytor nothing could haue subdued nature To such a lownes but his vnkind daughters Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Should haue thus little mercy on their flesh Iudicious punishment t was this flesh Begot those Pelicane daughters Edg. Pilicock sate on pelicocks hill a lo lo lo. Foole. This cold night will turne vs all to fooles madmen Edg. Take heede at 'h foule fiend obay thy parents keep thy words iustly sweare not commit not with mans sworne spouse set not thy sweet heart on proud array Toms a cold Lear. What hast thou beene Edg. A Seruingman proud in heart and mind that curld my haire wore gloues in my cap serued the lust of my mistris heart and did the act of darkenes with her swore as many oaths as I spake words and broke them in the sweet face of heauen one that slept in the contriuing of lust and wakt to doe it wine loued I deeply dice deerely and in woman out paromord the Turke false of heart light of eare bloudie of hand Hog in sloth Fox in stealth VVoolfe in greedines Dog in madnes Lyon in pray let not the creeking of shooes nor the ruslngs of silkes betray thy poore heart to women keepe thy foote out of brothell thy hand out of placket thy pen from lenders booke and defie the soule fiend still through the hathorne blowes the cold wind hay no on ny Dolphin my boy my boy caese let him trot by Lear. Why thou wert better in thy graue then to answere with thy vncouered bodie this extremitie of the skies is man no more but this coÌ„sider him well thou owest the worme no silke the beast no hide the sheepe no wooll the cat no perfume her 's three on s are so phisticated thou art the thing it selfe vnaccomodated man is no more but such a poore bare forked Animall as thou art off off you lendings come on Foole. Prithe Nunckle be content this is a naughty night to swim in now a little fire in a wild field were like an old leachers heart a small sparke all the rest in bodie cold looke here comes a walking fire Enter Gloster Edg. This is the foule fiend fliber degibek hee begins at curphew and walks till the first cocke he giues the web the pin squemes the eye and makes the hare lip mildewes the white wheate and hurts the poore creature of earth swithald footed thrice the old he met the night mare and her nine fold bid her O light and her troth plight and arint thee witch arint thee Kent How fares your Grace Lear. What 's hee Kent Whose there what i' st you seeke Glost. What are you there your names Edg. Poore Tom that eats the swimming frog the tode the tod pole the wall-newt and the water that in the furie of his heart when the foule fiend rages eats cow-dung for sallets swallowes the old ratt and the ditch dogge drinkes the greene mantle of the standing poole who is whipt from tithing to tithing and stock-punisht and imprisoned who hath had three sutes to his backe sixe shirts to his bodie horse to ride and weapon to weare But mise and rats and such small Deere Hath beene Toms foode for seuen long yeare Beware my follower peace snulbug peace thou fiend Glost. What hath your Grace no better company Edg. The Prince of darkenes is a Gentleman modo he 's caled and ma hu Glost. Our flesh and bloud is growne so vild my Lord that it doth hate what gets it Edg. Poore Toms a cold Glost. Go in with me my dutie caÌ„not suffer to obay in all your daughters hard commaunds though their iniunction be to barre my doores and let this tyranous night take hold vpon you yet haue I venter'd to come seeke you out and bring you where both food and fire is readie Lear. First let me talke with this Philosopher What is the cause of thunder Kent My good Lord take his offer goe into the house Lear. I le talke a word with this most learned Theban what is your studie Edg. How to preuent the fiend and to kill vermine Lear. Let me aske you one word in priuate Kent Importune him to goe my Lord his wits begin to vnsettle Glost. Canst thou blame him His daughters seeke his death O that good Kent He said it would be thus poore banisht man Thou sayest the King growes mad I le tell thee friend I am almost mad my selfe I had a sonne Now out-lawed from my bloud a sought my life But lately very late I lou'd him friend No father his sonne deerer true to tell thee The greefe hath craz'd my wits What a nights this I doe be seech your Grace Lear. O crie you mercie noble Philosopher your com-pany Edg. Toms a cold Glost. In fellow there in 't houell keepe thee warme Lear. Come le ts in all Kent This way my Lord. Lear. With him I wil keep stil with my Philosopher Ken. Good my Lord sooth him let him take the fellow Glost. Take him you on Kent Sirah come on goe along with vs Lear. Come good Athenian Glost. No words no words hush Edg. Child Rowland
curse which twaine hath brought her to Edg. Haile gentle sir. Gent. Sir speed you what 's your will Edg. Do you heare ought of a battell toward Gent. Most sure and vulgar euery one here 's that That can distinguish sence Edg. But by your fauour how neers the other army Gent. Neere and on speed for t the maine descryes Standst on the howerly thoughts Edg. I thanke you sir that 's all Gent. Though that the Queene on speciall cause is here Hir army is moued on Edg. I thanke you sir. Exit Glost. You euer gentle gods take my breath from me Let not my worser spirit tempt me againe To dye before you please Edg. Well pray you father Glost. Now good sir what are you Edg. A most poore man made lame by Fortunes blowes Who by the Art of knowne and feeling sorrowes Am pregnant to good pitty giue me your hand I le leade you to some biding Glost. Hartie thankes the bornet and beniz of heauen to saue thee Enter Steward Stew. A proclamed prize most happy that eyles head of thine was framed flesh to rayse my fortunes thou most vnhappy traytor briefly thy selfe remember the sword is out that must destroy thee Glost. Now let thy friendly hand put strength enough to 't Stew. VVherefore bould pesant durst thou support a publisht traytor hence least the infection of his fortune take like hold on thee let goe his arme Edg. I hill not let goe fir without cagion Stew. Let goe slaue or thou diest Edg. Good Gentleman goe your gate let poore voke passe and I hud haue beene swaggar'd out of my life it would not haue beene so long by a fortnight nay come not neare the old man keepe out cheuore ye or I le trie whether your coster or my battero be the harder I le be plaine with you Stew. Out dunghill they fight Edg. I hill pick your teeth sir come no matter for your foyns Stew. Slaue thou hast slaine me villaine take my pursse If euer thou wilt thriue burie my bodie And giue the letters which thou find'st about me To Edmund Earle of Gloster seeke him out vpon The British partie ô vntimely death death He dies Edg. I know thee well a seruiceable villaine As dutious to the vices of thy mistres as badnes would desire Glost. What is he dead Edg. Sit you down father rest you le ts see his pockets These letters that he speakes of may be my friends Hee 's dead I am only sorrow he had no other deathsmā Let vs see leaue gentle waxe and manners blame vs not To know our enemies minds wee 'd rip their hearts Their papers is more lawfull Let your reciprocall vowes bee remembred you haue many opportunities to cut him off if your will want not time and place will be fruitfully offered there is nothing done If he returne the conquerour then am I the prisoner and his bed my gayle from the lothed warmth whereof deliuer me and supply the place for your labour your wife so I would say your affectionate seruant and for you her owne for Venter Gonorill Edg. O Indistinguisht space of womans wit A plot vpon her vertuous husbands life And the exchange my brother heere in the sands Thee I le rake vp the post vnsanctified Of murtherous leachers and in the mature time With this vngratious paper strike the sight Of the death practis'd Duke for him t is well That of thy death and businesse I can tell Glost. The King is mad how stiffe is my vild sence That I stand vp and haue ingenious feeling Of my huge sorowes better I were distract So should my thoughts be fenced from my griefes And woes by wrong imaginations loose The knowledge of themselues A drum a farre off Edg. Giue me your hand far off me thinks I heare the beaten drum Come father I le bestow you with a friend Exit Enter Cordelia Kent and Doctor Cord. O thou good Kent how shall I liue and worke to match thy goodnes My life will be too short and euery measure faile me Kent To be acknowlegd madame is ore payd All my reports go with the modest truth Nor more nor clipt but so Cor. Be better suited these weeds are memories of those Worser howers I prithe put them off Kent Pardon me deere madame Yet to be knowne shortens my made intent My boone I make it that you know me not Till time and I thinke meete Cord. Then beet so my good Lord how does the king Doct. Madame sleepes still Cord. O you kind Gods cure this great breach in his abused nature The vntund and hurrying sences O wind vp Of this child changed father Doct. So please your Maiestie that we may wake the king He hath slept long Cord. Be gouernd by your knowledge and proceed i th sway of your owne will is he arayd Doct. I madam in the heauinesse of his sleepe We put fresh garments on him Gent. Good madam be by when we do awake him I doubt not of his temperance Cord. Very well Doct. Please you draw neere louder the musicke there Cor. O my deer father restoratiō hang thy medicin on my lips And let this kis repaire those violent harmes that my two sisters Haue in thy reuerence made Kent Klnd and deere Princesse Cord. Had you not bene their father these white flakes Had challengd pitie of them was this a face To be exposd against the warring winds To stand against the deepe dread bolted thunder In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick crosse lightning to watch poore Perdu With this thin helme mine iniurious dogge Though 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 mustie straw alack alack T is wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all he wakes speake to him Doct. Madam do you t is fittest Cord. How does my royall Lord how fares your maiestie Lear. You do me wrong to take me out at h graue Thou art a soule in blisse but I am bound Vpon a wheele of fire that mine owne teares Do scald like molten lead Cord. Sir know me Lear. Y ar a spirit I know where did you dye Cord. Still still farre wide Doct. Hee s scarce awake let him alone a while Lear. Where haue I bene where am I faire day light I am mightily abusd I should ene dye with pitie To see another thus I know not what to say I will not sweare these are my hands le ts see I feele this pin pricke would I were assur'd of my condition Cord. O looke vpon me sir and hold your hands in benediction or'e me no sir you must not kneele Lear. Pray doe not mocke I am a very foolish fond old man Fourescore and vpward and to deale plainly I feare I am not in my perfect mind Mee thinks I should know you and know this man Yet I am doubtfull for I am mainly ignorant