The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



Text and Image

Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.

Page Image & Text
Digital Text
XML

Prev Next

Reference: rr2r - Tragedies, p. 295

Left Column


The Tragedie of King Lear. Deseru'd much lesse aduancement Lear.

You? Did you?

 Reg. I pray you Father being weake, seeme so. If till the expiration of your Moneth
[1445]
You will returne and soiourne with my Sister, Dismissing halfe your traine, come then to me, I am now from home, and out of that prouision Which shall be needfull for your entertainement. Lear. Returne to her? and fifty men dismiss'd?
[1450]
No, rather I abiure all roofes, and chuse To wage against the enmity oth' ayre, To be a Comrade with the Wolfe, and Owle, Necessities sharpe pinch. Returne with her? Why the hot‐bloodied France, that dowerlesse tooke
[1455]
Our yongest borne, I could as well be brought To knee his Throne, and Squire‐like pension beg, To keepe base life a foote; returne with her? Perswade me rather to be slaue and sumpter To this detested groome. Gon.
[1460]

At your choice Sir.

 Lear. I prythee Daughter do not make me mad, I will not trouble thee my Child: farewell: Wee'l no more meete, no more see one another. But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my Daughter,
[1465]
Or rather a disease that's in my flesh, Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a Byle, A plague sore, or imbossed Carbuncle In my corrupted blood. But Ile not chide thee, Let shame come when it will, I do not call it,
[1470]
I do not bid the Thunder‐bearer shoote, Nor tell tales of thee to high‐iudging Ioue, Mend when thou can'st, be better at thy leisure, I can be patient, I can stay with Regan, I and my hundred Knights. Reg.
[1475]
Not altogether so, I look'd not for you yet, nor am prouided For your fit welcome, giue eare Sir to my Sister, For those that mingle reason with your passion, Must be content to thinke you old, and so,
[1480]
But she knowes what she doe's. Lear.

Is this well spoken?

 Reg. I dare auouch it Sir, what fifty Followers? Is it not well? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many? Sith that both charge and danger,
[1485]
Speake 'gainst so great a number? How in one house Should many people, vnder two commands Hold amity? 'Tis hard, almost impossible. Gon. Why might not you my Lord, receiue attendance From those that she cals Seruants, or from mine? Reg.
[1490]
Why not my Lord? If then they chanc'd to slacke ye, We could comptroll them; if you will come to me, (For now I spie a danger) I entreate you To bring but fiue and twentie, to no more
[1495]
Will I giue place or notice. Lear.

I gaue you all.

 Reg.

And in good time you gaue it.

 Lear. Made you my Guardians, my Depositaries, But kept a reseruation to be followed
[1500]
With such a number? What, must I come to you With fiue and twenty? Regan, said you so? Reg.

And speak't againe my Lord, no more with me.

 Lea. Those wicked Creatures yet do look wel fauor'd When others are more wicked, not being the worst
[1505]
Stands in some ranke of praise, Ile go with thee, Thy fifty yet doth double fiue and twenty,

Image


[full image]

Right Column


And thou art twice her Loue. Gon. Heare me my Lord; What need you fiue and twenty? Ten? Or fiue?
[1510]
To follow in a house, where twice so many Haue a command to tend you? Reg.

What need one?

 Lear. O reason not the need: our basest Beggers Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
[1515]
Allow not Nature, more then Nature needs: Mans life is cheape as Beastes. Thou art a Lady; If onely to go warme were gorgeous, Why Nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, Which scarcely keepes thee warme, but for true need:
[1520]
You Heauens, giue me that patience, patience I need, You see me heere (you Gods) a poore old man, As full of griefe as age, wretched in both, If it be you that stirres these Daughters hearts Against their Father, foole me not so much,
[1525]
To beare it tamely: touch me with Noble anger, And let not womens weapons, water drops, Staine my mans cheekes. No you vnnaturall Hags, I will haue such reuenges on you both, That all the world shall ——— I will do such things,
[1530]
What they are yet, I know not, but they shalbe The terrors of the earth? you thinke Ile weepe, No, Ile not weepe, I haue full cause of weeping. Storme and Tempest. But this heart shal break into a hundred thousand flawes Or ere Ile weepe; O Foole, I shall go mad. Exeunt. Corn.
[1535]

Let vs withdraw, 'twill be a Storme.

 Reg. This house is little, the old man and's people, Cannot be well bestow'd. Gon. 'Tis his owne blame hath put himselfe from rest, And must needs taste his folly. Reg.
[1540]
For his particular, Ile receiue him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. So am I purpose'd, Where is my Lord of Gloster? Enter Gloster. Corn.

Followed the old man forth, he is return'd.

 Glo.
[1545]

The King is in high rage.

 Corn.

Whether is he going?

 Glo.

He cals to Horse, but will I know not whether.

 Corn.

'Tis best to giue him way, he leads himself.

 Gon.

My Lord, entreate him by no meanes to stay.

 Glo.
[1550]
Alacke the night comes on, and the high windes Do sorely.ruffle, for many Miles about There's scarce a Bush. Reg. O Sir, to wilfull men, The iniuries that they themselues procure,
[1555]
Must be their Schoole‐Masters: shut vp your doores, He is attended with a desperate traine, And what they may incense him too, being apt, To haue his eare abus'd, wisedome bids feare. Cor. Shut vp your doores my Lord, 'tis a wil'd night,
[1560]
My Regan counsels well: come out oth'storme. Exeunt.
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. [Act 3, Scene 1] Storme still. Enter Kent, and a Gentleman, seuerally. Kent.

Who's there besides foule weather?

 Gen.

One minded like the weather, most vnquietly.

 rr2 Kent.

Download the digital text and images of the play


Prev Next


 
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. [Act 3, Scene 1] Storme still. Enter Kent, and a Gentleman, seuerally. Kent.

Who's there besides foule weather?

 Gen.

One minded like the weather, most vnquietly.

 Kent.

I know you: Where's the King?

 Gent. Contending with the fretfull Elements;
[1565]
Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea, Or swell the curled Waters 'boue the Maine, That things might change, or cease. Kent.

But who is with him?

 Gent. None but the Foole, who labours to out‐iest
[1570]
His heart‐strooke iniuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you, And dare vpon the warrant of my note Commend a deere thing to you. There is diuision (Although as yet the face of it is couer'd
[1575]
With mutuall cunning) 'twixt Albany, and Cornwall: Who haue, as who haue not, that their great Starres Thron'd and set high; Seruants, who seeme no lesse, Which are to France the Spies and Speculations Intelligent of our State. What hath bin seene,
[1580]
Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes, Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne Against the old kinde King; or something deeper, Whereof (perchance) these are but furnishings. Gent.

I will talke further with you.

 Kent.
[1585]
No, do not: For confirmation that I am much more Then my out‐wall; open this Purse, and take What it containes. If you shall see Cordelia, (As feare not but you shall) shew her this Ring, And she will tell you who that Fellow is
[1590]
That yet you do not know. Fye on this Storme, I will go seeke the King. Gent. Giue me your hand, Haue you no more to say? Kent. Few words, but to effect more then all yet;
[1595]
That when we haue found the King, in which your pain That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him, Holla the other. Exeunt.
 

Download the digital text of the play

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
   <head rend="italic center">Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 3, Scene 1]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="business">Storme still.</stage>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Kent, and a Gentleman, seuerally.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <p n="1561">Who's there besides foule weather?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-gen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gen.</speaker>
      <p n="1562">One minded like the weather, most vnquietly.</p>
   </sp>
   <pb facs="FFimg:axc0806-0.jpg" n="296"/>
   <cb n="1"/>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <p n="1563">I know you: Where's the King?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-gen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
      <l n="1564">Contending with the fretfull Elements;</l>
      <l n="1565">Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea,</l>
      <l n="1566">Or swell the curled Waters 'boue the Maine,</l>
      <l n="1567">That things might change, or cease.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <p n="1568">But who is with him?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-gen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
      <l n="1569">None but the Foole, who labours to out‐iest</l>
      <l n="1570">His heart‐strooke iniuries.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <l n="1571">Sir, I do know you,</l>
      <l n="1572">And dare vpon the warrant of my note</l>
      <l n="1573">Commend a deere thing to you. There is diuision</l>
      <l n="1574">(Although as yet the face of it is couer'd</l>
      <l n="1575">With mutuall cunning) 'twixt Albany, and Cornwall:</l>
      <l n="1576">Who haue, as who haue not, that their great Starres</l>
      <l n="1577">Thron'd and set high; Seruants, who seeme no lesse,</l>
      <l n="1578">Which are to France the Spies and Speculations</l>
      <l n="1579">Intelligent of our State. What hath bin seene,</l>
      <l n="1580">Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes,</l>
      <l n="1581">Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne</l>
      <l n="1582">Against the old kinde King; or something deeper,</l>
      <l n="1583">Whereof (perchance) these are but furnishings.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-gen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
      <p n="1584">I will talke further with you.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <l n="1585">No, do not:</l>
      <l n="1586">For confirmation that I am much more</l>
      <l n="1587">Then my out‐wall; open this Purse, and take</l>
      <l n="1588">What it containes. If you shall see<hi rend="italic">Cordelia</hi>,
      <lb/>(As feare not but you shall) shew her this Ring,</l>
      <l n="1589">And she will tell you who that Fellow is</l>
      <l n="1590">That yet you do not know. Fye on this Storme,</l>
      <l n="1591">I will go seeke the King.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-gen">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
      <l n="1592">Giue me your hand,</l>
      <l n="1593">Haue you no more to say?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ken">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
      <l n="1594">Few words, but to effect more then all yet;</l>
      <l n="1595">That when we haue found the King, in which your pain</l>
      <l n="1596">That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him,</l>
      <l n="1597">Holla the other.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

Download the XML