The Bodleian First Folio

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



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Reference: rr5v - Tragedies, p. 302

Left Column


The Tragedie of King Lear.
[2260]
Darnell, and all the idle weedes that grow In our sustaining Corne. A Centery send forth; Search euery Acre in the high‐growne field, And bring him to our eye. What can mans wisedome In the restoring his bereaued Sense; he that helpes him,
[2265]
Take all my outward worth. Gent. There is meanes Madam: Our foster Nurse of Nature, is repose, The which he lackes: that to prouoke in him Are many Simples operatiue, whose power
[2270]
Will close the eye of Anguish. Cord. All blest Secrets, All you vnpublish'd Vertues of the earth Spring with my teares; be aydant, and remediate In the Goodmans desires: seeke, seeke for him,
[2275]
Least his vngouern'd rage, dissolue the life That wants the meanes to leade it. Enter Messenger. Mes. Newes Madam, The Brittish Powres are marching hitherward. Cor. 'Tis knowne before. Our preparation stands
[2280]
In expectation of them. O deere Father, It is thy businesse that I go about: Therfore great France My mourning, and importune'd teares hath pittied: No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite, But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite:
[2285]
Soone may I heare, and see him. Exeunt.
Scena Quarta. [Act 4, Scene 4] Enter Regan, and Steward. Reg.

But are my Brothers Powres set forth?

 Stew.

I Madam.

 Reg.

Himselfe in person there?

 Stew. Madam with much ado:
[2290]
Your Sister is the better Souldier. Reg.

Lord Edmund spake not with your Lord at home?

Stew.

No Madam.

 Reg.

What might import my Sisters Letter to him?

 Stew.

I know not, Lady.

 Reg.
[2295]
Faith he is poasted hence on serious matter: It was great ignorance, Glousters eyes being out To let him liue. Where he arriues, he moues All hearts against vs: Edmund, I thinke is gone In pitty of his misery, to dispatch
[2300]
His nighted life: Moreouer to descry The strength o'th' Enemy. Stew.

I must needs after him, Madam, with my Letter.

 Reg. Our troopes set forth to morrow, stay with vs: The wayes are dangerous. Stew.
[2305]
I may not Madam: My Lady charg'd my dutie in this busines. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you transport her purposes by word? Belike, Some things, I know not what. Ile loue thee much
[2310]
Let me vnseale the Letter. Stew.

Madam, I had rather ———

 Reg. I know your Lady do's not loue her Husband, I am sure of that: and at her late being heere, She gaue strange Eliads, and most speaking lookes
[2315]
To Noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosome. Stew.

I, Madam?

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Right Column


Reg. I speake in vnderstanding: Y'are: I know't, Therefore I do aduise you take this note: My Lord is dead: Edmond, and I haue talk'd,
[2320]
And more conuenient is he for my hand Then for your Ladies: You may gather more: If you do finde him, pray you giue him this; And when your Mistris heares thus much from you, I pray desire her call her wisedome to her.
[2325]
So fare you well: If you do chance to heare of that blinde Traitor, Preferment fals on him, that cuts him off. Stew. Would I could meet Madam, I should shew What party I do follow. Reg.
[2330]

Fare thee well.

 Exeunt.
Scena Quinta. [Act 4, Scene 5] Enter Gloucester, and Edgar. Glou.

When shall I come to th'top of that same hill?

 Edg.

You do climbe vp it now. Look how we labor.

 Glou.

Me thinkes the ground is eeuen.

 Edg. Horrible steepe.
[2335]
Hearke, do you heare the Sea? Glou.

No truly.

 Edg. Why then your other Senses grow imperfect By your eyes anguish. Glou. So may it be indeed.
[2340]
Me thinkes thy voyce is alter'd, and thou speak'st In better phrase, and matter then thou did'st. Edg. Y'are much deceiu'd: In nothing am I chang'd But in my Garments. Glou.

Me thinkes y'are better spoken.

 Edg.
[2345]
Come on Sir, Heere's the place: stand still: how fearefull And dizie 'tis, to cast ones eyes so low, The Crowes and Choughes, that wing the midway ayre Shew scarse so grosse as Beetles. Halfe way downe
[2350]
Hangs one that gathers Sampire: dreadfull Trade: Me thinkes he seemes no bigger then his head. The Fishermen, that walk'd vpon the beach Appeare like Mice: and yond tall Anchoring Barke, Diminish'd to her Cocke: her Cocke, a Buoy
[2355]
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring Surge, That on th'vnnumbred idle Pebble chafes Cannot be heard so high. Ile looke no more, Least my braine turne, and the deficient sight Topple downe headlong. Glou.
[2360]

Set me where you stand.

 Edg. Giue me your hand: You are now within a foote of th'extreme Verge: For all beneath the Moone would I not leape vpright. Glou. Let go my hand:
[2365]
Heere Friend's another purse: in it, a Iewell Well worth a poore mans taking. Fayries, and Gods Prosper it with thee. Go thou further off, Bid me farewell, and let me heare thee going. Edg.

Now fare ye well, good Sir.

 Glou.
[2370]

With all my heart.

 Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his dispaire, Is done to cure it. Glou. O you mighty Gods! This world I do renounce, and in your sights Shake

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Scena Quarta. [Act 4, Scene 4] Enter Regan, and Steward. Reg.

But are my Brothers Powres set forth?

 Stew.

I Madam.

 Reg.

Himselfe in person there?

 Stew. Madam with much ado:
[2290]
Your Sister is the better Souldier. Reg.

Lord Edmund spake not with your Lord at home?

Stew.

No Madam.

 Reg.

What might import my Sisters Letter to him?

 Stew.

I know not, Lady.

 Reg.
[2295]
Faith he is poasted hence on serious matter: It was great ignorance, Glousters eyes being out To let him liue. Where he arriues, he moues All hearts against vs: Edmund, I thinke is gone In pitty of his misery, to dispatch
[2300]
His nighted life: Moreouer to descry The strength o'th' Enemy. Stew.

I must needs after him, Madam, with my Letter.

 Reg. Our troopes set forth to morrow, stay with vs: The wayes are dangerous. Stew.
[2305]
I may not Madam: My Lady charg'd my dutie in this busines. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you transport her purposes by word? Belike, Some things, I know not what. Ile loue thee much
[2310]
Let me vnseale the Letter. Stew.

Madam, I had rather ———

 Reg. I know your Lady do's not loue her Husband, I am sure of that: and at her late being heere, She gaue strange Eliads, and most speaking lookes
[2315]
To Noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosome. Stew.

I, Madam?

 Reg. I speake in vnderstanding: Y'are: I know't, Therefore I do aduise you take this note: My Lord is dead: Edmond, and I haue talk'd,
[2320]
And more conuenient is he for my hand Then for your Ladies: You may gather more: If you do finde him, pray you giue him this; And when your Mistris heares thus much from you, I pray desire her call her wisedome to her.
[2325]
So fare you well: If you do chance to heare of that blinde Traitor, Preferment fals on him, that cuts him off. Stew. Would I could meet Madam, I should shew What party I do follow. Reg.
[2330]

Fare thee well.

 Exeunt.
 

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   <head rend="italic center">Scena Quarta.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 4]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Regan, and Steward.</stage>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Reg.</speaker>
      <p n="2286">But are my Brothers Powres set forth?</p>
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      <l n="2295">Faith he is poasted hence on serious matter:</l>
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      <l n="2303">Our troopes set forth to morrow, stay with vs:</l>
      <l n="2304">The wayes are dangerous.</l>
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   <sp who="#F-lr-ste">
      <speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
      <l n="2305">I may not Madam:</l>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Reg.</speaker>
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      <l n="2310">Let me vnseale the Letter.</l>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
      <p n="2311">Madam, I had rather ———</p>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Reg.</speaker>
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      <l n="2314">She gaue strange Eliads, and most speaking lookes</l>
      <l n="2315">To Noble<hi rend="italic">Edmund</hi>. I know you are of her bosome.</l>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
      <p n="2316">I, Madam?</p>
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   <cb n="2"/>
   <sp who="#F-lr-reg">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reg.</speaker>
      <l n="2317">I speake in vnderstanding: Y'are: I know't,</l>
      <l n="2318">Therefore I do aduise you take this note:</l>
      <l n="2319">My Lord is dead:<hi rend="italic">Edmond</hi>, and I haue talk'd,</l>
      <l n="2320">And more conuenient is he for my hand</l>
      <l n="2321">Then for your Ladies: You may gather more:</l>
      <l n="2322">If you do finde him, pray you giue him this;</l>
      <l n="2323">And when your Mistris heares thus much from you,</l>
      <l n="2324">I pray desire her call her wisedome to her.</l>
      <l n="2325">So fare you well:</l>
      <l n="2326">If you do chance to heare of that blinde Traitor,</l>
      <l n="2327">Preferment fals on him, that cuts him off.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-lr-ste">
      <speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
      <l n="2328">Would I could meet Madam, I should shew</l>
      <l n="2329">What party I do follow.</l>
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   <sp who="#F-lr-reg">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reg.</speaker>
      <p n="2330">Fare thee well.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

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