PREFACE.

THE Editor of this Volume here prefents the
Public with a part of that valuable treafure of our
SHAKSPEARE, which, having been by accident
discovered in MS., has fince been depofited in his
hands. From the firft moment of this difcovery
to the prefent hour, Mr. Ireland has inceffantly
laboured, by all the means in his power, to inform
himfelf with refpect to the validity of thefe in-
terefting papers.

Throughout this period there has not been an
ingenuous character, or difinterested individual, in
the circle of Literature, to whose critical eye he has
not been earneſt, that the whole ſhould be ſubjected.
He has courted, he has even challenged, the critical
judgment of thofe, who are beſt ſkilled in the Poe-
try and Phraſeology of the times in which Shak-
ſpeare lived; as well as thofe, whose profeſſion or
courſe of ſtudy has made them converſant with
ancient deeds, writings, ſeals and autographs.
Wide and extenſive as this range may appear, and
it includes the Scholar, the Man of Taſte, the Anti-
quarian, and the Herald, his enquiries have not
reſted in the cloſet of the Speculatift; he has been

vi

PREFACE.

equally anxious that the whole should be submitted
to the practical experience of the Mechanic, and
be pronounced upon by the paper-maker, &c., as
well as the Author. He has ever been defirous of
placing them in any view, and under any light,
that could be thrown upon them; and he has, in
consequençe, the satisfaction of announcing to the
Public, that, as far as he has been able to collect
the Sentiments of the several classes of persons above
referred to, they have unanimously teftified in fa-
vour of their authenticity; and declared, that, where
there was fuch a maſs of evidence, internal and
external, it was impoffible, amidſt fuch various
sources of detection, for the art of imitation to
have hazarded ſo much without betraying itſelf;
and, consequently, that *theſe Papers can be no other
than the production of Shakspeare himself.*

It may be expected, that ſomething be faſd by
the Editor, of the manner in which theſe papers
came into his hands. He received them from his
fon, Samuel-William-Henry Ireland, a young man
then under nineteen years of age; by whom the
discovery was accidentally made at the houſe of a
gentleman of confiderable property.

Amongſt a maſs of family papers, the Contracts
between Shakspeare, Lowine, and Condelle, and

PREFACE.

vii

the Leafe granted by him and Hemynge to Michael
Frafer, which was firſt found, were diſcovered;
and ſoon afterwards the Deed of Gift to William
Henry Ireland, (defcribed as the friend of Shak-
fpeare, in conſequence of his having ſaved his life
on the river Thames, when in extreme danger of
being drowned) and alſo the Deed of Truſt to John
Hemynge, were diſcovered. In purſuing this
ſearch he was ſo fortunate as to meet with ſome
deeds very material to the intereſts of this gentle-
man, and ſuch as eſtablished, beyond all doubt, his
title to a confiderable property: deeds of which
this gentleman was as ignorant, as he was of his
having in his poſſession any of the MSS. of Shak-
f Shakespeare. In return for this ſervice, added to the
confideration that the young man bore the fame
name and arms with the perſon who ſaved the life
of Shakspeare, this gentleman promiſed him every
thing relative to the preſent ſubject, that had been
or ſhould be found either in town, or at his houſe
in the country. At this houſe the principal part
of the papers, together with a great variety of books,
containing his MS. notes, and three MS. plays,
with part of another, were diſcovered.

Fortified as he is with the opinion of the unpre-
judiced and intelligent, the Editor will not allow
that it can be prefumption in him to ſay, that he

## PREFACE.

viii

has no doubt of the truth and authenticity of that,
which he lays before the Public. Of this fact he
is as fully satisfied, as he is with the honour that
has been observed towards him throughout the
whole communication made to him upon this sub-
ject. So circumstanced, he should not feel justified
in importuning or any way requesting a gentleman,
to whom he is known only by obligation, and not
personally, to subject himself to the impertinence
and licentiouſneſs of literary curiosity and cavil,
unleſs he should himself voluntarily come forward.
But this is not all. It was not till after the
maſs of papers received became voluminous, that
Mr. Ireland had any idea of printing them: he
then applied to the original poſſeffor for his per-
mission to do; and this was not obtained but
under the strongest injunction, that his name
should not appear.—This injunction has, through-
out all the stages of this buſineſs, been uniformly
declared: and, as this gentleman has dealt moſt
liberally with the Editor, he can confidently ſay,
that in his turn he has with equal openneſs and
candour conducted himself towards the Public;
to whom, immediately upon every communication
made, every thing has been submitted without
referve.

But, it is faid, that the difcloſure of the name

## PREFACE.

ix

of the gentleman, from whom these papers came
would remove all doubts, and settle all men's minds
upon the subject. He believes, and is confident,
that with some it would. But who is it that fays
this? It cannot be the real Critic, or Antiquarian.
He will not ſay, that his art or ſcience amounts to
nothing, and that his lucubrations are idle and uſe-
leſs. But if the point cannot finally or satisfac-
torily be decided either by the thing written, its
paper or parchment vehicle, or ſeals appendant, or
the other circumſtances under which it was intro-
duced, and muſt depend wholly upon the place and
person from whom they came, what becomes of
the acumen of the Critic, or the ſkill and labour
of the Antiquarian? By this rule it is a queſtion
for another juridiction; and the occupation of the
Critic and Antiquarian is gone.

Many authors, poſſeffed of rare and extraordi-
nary talents, have been occasionally imitated; but,
ſo ſuperior and tranſcendant is the Genius of
Shakspeare, that ſcarce any attempts to rival or imi-
tate him, and thofe too contemptible to notice,
have ever been made. With a wit ſo pregnant, an
imagination ſo unbounded, ſuch an intuitive know-
ledge of the workings of the human heart, ſo ſim-
ple and ſo ſublime, it ſeemed, that the ſeal of

x

PREFACE.

heaven had been stamped on the production of his
mind, and that

“ Nature herself was proud of his defigns,

“ And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines.”

To the man of taste, and lover of simplicity, to
the found Critic, it is conceived, upon collating
them, it will appear, that the alterations made in
the printed copies of Lear are manifestly introduced
by the players, and are deviations from that spontaneous
flow of soul and simple diction, which so
eminently distinguishes this great Author, this Child
of Nature; and that the additions and alterations
interfered, which, in the eyes of the players,
were, no doubt, splendid improvements, have not
unfrequently been introduced at the expence of the
natural course of the narrative, the regular detail of
the fact, and uniformity of the author's style;
which, whether it is employed on great things or
small, in expressing humble or lofty images, is invariably
without labour or effort, and without any
thing like hardnefs or inversion. These too are
amongst the reasons that have perfuaded the Editor,
that these papers are genuine; for, it is presumed,
the MS. here prefented to the Public must have
been the original, and, probably, the only one by
the author.

PREFACE.

xi

Next to the crime of attempting to impose on
others, and inviting them to countenance the im-
position, is the cruel and unmanly charge of taxing
another with so unworthy a defign. To the Editor
that charge has been imputed: and to this he can
with truth reply, that no consideration should,
under such circumstances, have induced him to
practise such a fraud, had the quality of the thing
pretended been ever so excellent; and that, had even
the possibility of forging these papers been in his
estimation within the reach of art, they never should
have met the public eye. The contrary opinion
having been established by the best and foundest
judgments, he has been emboldened with the fullest
confidence thus to gratify his private wishes, as
well as a duty, which he feels he owes to the
Public, in submitting them to their inspection.

It was the great object of the Editor to obtain
the fair and free suffrages of the literary world,
that they should see with their own eyes, and
judge with their own understandings; and with
this view he dedicated his time to them. Should
it, therefore, be possible that either artifice or in-
fluence has been used to prevent any one from grat-
tifying that curiosity, so natural to the mind of
man upon a subject so interesting, no one can be
so weak as to be at a loss to align the motive.

b2

xii

PREFACE.

And if any one, whose dispositions and studies
have throughout life engaged and riveted him in
these fascinating purSUITS, shall be found to have
been diverted by such means, be assured that some-
thing more than Truth and candid Criticism must,
in such instance, have been the object of him who
could condescend to occupy himself in offices, at
any rate, so unbecoming and ungenerous. Above
all, if any one, who has used such mischievous
activity, has himself never seen the papers which
he pronounces spurious, and yet labours to prevent
conviction reaching the eyes and understandings of
his friends, the Editor might have been well ex-
cused, could he have foreseen so illiberal an oppo-
sition to this great and national discovery, had he
declined to devote near twelve months of his time
to the Public, and to have embarked so large a sum
in this undertaking, as yet to subject him to a
confiderable loss.

In the original MS. of Lear no punctuation is
any where to be found; nor are there strokes to the
t's or dots to the i's. These last, which may affix
the reader, and cannot possibly disturb or affect the
sense, the Editor has supplied; but in every other
respect he has left the text precisely as he found
it. In the MS. there are many notes visible on the
backs of the sheets, signed W. S. or Wm. Shak-

PREFACE.

xiii

f Shakespeare: great pains have been used to decipher
them, but the pen has been crooked over with so
much care, that it has been found impracticable.

The small fragment of Hamlet, as far as it goes,
will produce reflections in the mind of the reader
similar to those which must have suggested them-
felves upon the perusal of the Lear; and conftrain
us the more sincerely to regret the losse of the reft
of these simple, yet impressive, effusions of his
natural and easy vein.

In this view it is, that the Editor cannot help
confidering the recovery of the original of one of
Shakf Shakespeare's plays as not an event of mere curiofity,
but as an important acceffion to the Literature of
his Country. While it lays before them the cha-
racteriſc features of the ſtyle of this great Author,
it furnishes the Scholar and Antiquarian with ſure
grounds, on which he may deduce the hiftory of
his native tongue. It preſents a ſtyle, as undressed
as it is uniform; and so much so, that the Editor
is thoroughly affured, that whoever will give him-
felf the trouble of collating a few ſcenes, muſt,
if he has the ſmallest critical ſagacity, be able to
pronounce for himself with certainty as to almoſt
every instance, in which the general ſtyle of the
Author is departed from and a new one ſubstituted;

xiv

PREFACE.

and that, instead of his simple phraseology, and
sentences framed according to their natural order
and construction, the obvious general features of
his own writings, there will be found at intervals
tumor and gaudy trappings, and hardnefs, and
inversion.

By way of example, the Editor here lays before
the Public one or two instances: p. 59, line 1153.

“ Stew Tript mee behynde beynge downe in-
“ sultedde raylde

“ ande putte onne hymme foe muche o the Manne

“ Thatte worthyedde hymme ande gotte hymme
“ prayfes o the Kynge

“ Ande forre the Attempt of thys hys softe sub-
“ dud employte

“ Drewe oune mee here agayne.”

In the Quarto Edition of 1608; and in the Mo-
dern Editions, ACT II. SCENE II.

“ Stew. Tript me behinde, being downe, in-
“ sulted, raild,

“ And put vpon him such a deale of man,

“ That worthied him, got praifes of the King,

“ For him attempting who was selfe subdued,

“ And in the flechuent of this dread exploit,

“ Drew on mee heere againe.”

PREFACE.

XV

In the following scene, in Edgar's speech; p. 63,
line 1219.

“ Edg Blankette mye loynes twifte alle mye
“ hayre in Knottes

“ Ande inne Adam lyke Nakedenesse oute face

“ The Winde ande perfecutyonne o the Skye.”

In the Quarto Edition of 1608; and Modern Edi-
tions, SCENE III.

“ Edg Blanket my loines, elfe all my hair with
“ knots,

“ And with prefented nakednes out-face

“ The winde, and perfecution of the fkie.”

Again, in p. 68, line 1433; the fame SCENE.

“ Leare I woud divorce thee fromme thye Mo-
“ therres Wombe

“ Ande faye the Motherre was an Adultreffe.”

In the Quarto Edition of 1608; the fame SCENE.

“ Lear I woud divorce me from thy mothers
“ toombe,

“ Sepulchring an adultreffe.”

xvi

PREFACE.

And again, in p. 140, line 2759.

“ *Edm* Sir I thoughte itte *fyttenne* toe fende the
“ oulde Kynge

“ Toe cloſe retennetyonne.”

In the Quarto Edition of 1608; ACT V. SCENE III.

“ *Baſt*. Sir, I thought it *fit*

“ To fend the olde *and* miſerable King

“ To ſome retention, *and appointed guard*.”

It is not in the vain expectation of recalling the innovating and critical Genius of the present age to the manly plainneſs and ſimplicity of their anceſtors, that this doctrine, ſo oppoſite to the trade of conjectural Criticifm, is advanced; but a hope is indulged by the Editor, that that idea may ever be fresh and indelible in the breaſts of his countrymen, which one, worthy of being a commentator on the Merits and Genius of Shakſpeare, has ſo nobly expreſſed, that,

“ Whilſt to the ſhame of flow endeav'ring art

“ His eafy numbers flow, and that each heart

“ Hath from the leaves of his unvalu'd book

“ Thoſe Delphic lines with deep impreſſion took,”

PREFACE.

xvii

this impreſſion may neither be weakened nor ef-
faced by the rafh hand of officious friendſhip, or
over-weening vanity.

With refpect to the improvement which this
copy preſents, Mr. Ireland reſts not ſo much on
the ſeveral beautiful paſſages here given in addition
to the printed copies, as he does on the natural
courſe of the dialogue and turn of the thought;
which, injuriouſly to the reputation of Shaſkſpeare,
has, he affirms, been frequently in thoſe copies
diverted and varied to anſwer the purpofes already
pointed out. To the intelligent reader it muſt be
unneceſſary to enumerate them. The opinion en-
tertained by the Author of the copies printed in his
own life time, (unleſs it can be ſhewn that this
Work is a mere fabrication) is aſcertained by the
Deed of Truſt to John Hemynge, inferted in this
work; in which he ſays,

“ & ſhod. they bee everr agayne Impryntedd

“ I doe orderr thatt theye bee ſoe donn from theſe

“ mye true writtten Playes & nott from thoſe nowe

“ prynted.”

In the Lear three leaves are unfortunately want-
ing in the original MS.; theſe the Editor has
ſupplied from the Quarto Edition of 1608; and

xviii

PREFACE.

they will be found in pages 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54, marked with inverted commas. The Editor, in the pages following the Preface, has ventured to supply such words or letters as he conceives to have been accidentally the omission of the Author in writing this play; and this mode, he flatters himself, will be thought preferable to infertig them in the body of the work. It may not be improper to add, that in the paper, on which this Play is written, more than twenty different water marks appear.

The Editor informs the Public, that (befides the Play of Vortigern, now preparing for reprefentation at Drury-Lane Theatre) another, and more interesting, historical Play has been discovered amongst the other papers, in the hand writing of Shakſpeare: this will in due time be laid before the public. He likewife acquaints them, that he is in poſſession of a great part of Shakſpeare's Library, in which are many books with Notes in his own hand, and thofe of a very curious nature. Some of theſe he, moſt probably, will reprint: they exhibit him in a new character,—unite with the Bard, the Critic and the Moralift, and diſplay an acute and penetrating judgment, with a diſpoſition amiable and gentle as his Genius was tranſcendant. Such a view of our immortal Poet muſt

PREFACE.

xix

prove highly acceptable to every ſincere admirer,
who will doubtlesſ concur with the Editor, that
nothing ſhould be loft, ſcarce even

“ One drop which fell from Shakſpeare’s pen.”

c 2

*Extracts from Miscellaneous Papers.*

Inne the Yeare o Chryfte

FORRE oure Trouble inne goynge
toe Playe before the Lorde Lçefterre
ats houſe and oure greate

Expenneces thereuponne 19 poundes

Receyvedde ofs Grace the Summe
o 50 Poundes

Wm Shakſpeare

FORRE oure greate Trouble inne gettynge alle
inne orderre forre the Lorde Lçefterres Comynge
ande oure Moneyes layde oute there
uponne 59 Shyllynges

Receyvedde o Maſterre Hemynge forre thatte
Nyghte 3 Poundes

Maſterre Lowinne 2 Shyllynges moure forre hys
Goode Servyces ande welle playinge

Wm. S.

## Note of Hand.

ONE Moneth from the date hereof I doe pro-
myſe to paye to my good and Worthye Freynd
John Hemynge the ſume of five Pounds and five
ſhillings Englifh Monye as a recompenſe for hys
greate trouble in ſettling and doinge much for me
at the Globe Theatre as alſo for hys trouble in
going downe for me to ſtatford Witneſs my Hand

Wm Shakſpere

September
the Nynth 1589

RECEIVED of Maſter Wm Shaſkſpere
the Sum of five Pounds and five
Shillings good Englifh Money thys
Nynth Day of October 1589

Jnº Hemynge

A 2

Letter to Anna Hatherrewaye

Deareſſte Anna

AS thou hafte alwaye founde mee toe mye Worde
moſte trewe foe thou ſhalt fee I have ſtryctlye kepte
mye promyſe I praye you perfume thys mye poore
Locke withe thye balmye Eyſſes forre thenne in-
deede ſhalle Kynges themmefelves bowe ande
paye homage toe itte I doe affure thee no rude
hande hathe knottedde itte thye Willys alone hathe
done the worke Neytherre the gyldedde bawble
thatte envyronnes the heade of Majeſtye noe norre
honourres moſte weyghtye wulde give mee halfe
the joye as didde thyſe mye lyttle worke forre
thee The feelinge thatte dydde neareſte approache
untoe itte was thatte whiche commethe nyghſeſte
untoe God meeke ande Gentle Charytye forre thatte
Virrtue O Anna doe I love doe I cheryſhe thee
inne mye hearte forre thou arte afs a talle Cedarre
ſtretchynge forthe its branches ande ſuccourynge
ſmaller Plants fromme nyppynge Winneterre orr
the boyſterouſe Wyndes Farewelle toe Morrowe
bye tymes I wille fee thee tille thenne Adewe fweete
Love
Thyne everre

Wm Shakſpeare

Anna Hatherrewaye

Verſes to Anna Hatherrewaye

I

IS there inne heavenne aught more rare
Thanne thou fweete Nymphe of Avon fayre
Is there onne Earthe a Manne more trewe
Thanne Willy Shakſpeare is toe you

2

Though fyckle fortune prove unkynde
Stille dothe ſhe leave herre wealthe behynde
She neere the hearte canne forme anew
Norre make thye Willys love unnetrue

3

Though Age withe witherd hand doe ſtryke
The forme moſte fayre the face moſte bryghte
Stille dothe ſhe leave unnetouchedde ande trewe
Thy Willys love ande freynſhyppe too

4

Though deathe with neverre faylynge blowe
Dothe Manne ande babe alyke brynge lowe
Yette doth he take naughte butte hys due
Ande ſtrikes notte Willys hearte ſtille trewe

5

Synce thenne norre forretune deathe norre Age
Canne faythfulle Willys love affi wage
Thenne doe I live ande dye forre you
Thy Willye fyncere ande moſte trewe

Letter to the Earl of Southampton.

Copye of mye Letter toe hys grace offe Southampton

Mye Lorde

DOE notte eſteeme me a fluggarde nor tardye
for thus havynge delayed to anſwerre or rather toe
thank you for youre greate Bountye I doe affure you
my graciouſe ande good Lorde that thryce I have
eſſayed toe wryte and thryce mye efforts have benne
fruitleſſe I knowe notte what toe ſaye Proſe Verſe
alle all is naughte gratitude is alle I have toe utter
and that is tooe greate ande tooe ſublyme a feeling
for poore mortalls toe expreſſe O my Lord itte is a
Budde which Blloſſommes Bllooms butte never
dyes itte cheriſhes ſweete Nature ande lulls the
calme Breaſte toe ſoſte ſoſte repoſe Butte mye
goode Lorde forgiſe thys mye departure fromme
mye Subjeſtε which was toe retturne thankes and
thankes I Doe retturne O excuſe mee mye Lorde
more at preſente I cannotte

Yours devotedlye and withe due
reſpecte

Wm Shakespeare

The Earl of Southampton's Anſwer.

Deare Willam

I CANNOTTE doe leſſe than thanke you forre
youre kynde Letterre butte Whye deareſt Freynd
talke ſoe muche offe gratitude mye offerre was
double the Somme butte you woulde accepte butte
the halfe thereforre you neede notte ſpeake ſoe
muche onn thatte Subjeſtε as I have beene thye
Freynd ſoe will I continue aughte thatte I canne
doe forre thee praye commande mee ande you ſhalle
fynde mee

Julye the 4

Yours

Southampton

To the Globe Theatre
Forre Maſt'r Willam
Shakſpeare

Proseſſion of Faith.

I BEYNGE nowe offe founde Mynde doe hope
thatte thys mye wyſhe wille atte mye deathe bee
acceded toe as I nowe lyve in Londonne ande as
mye foule maye perchance foone quitte thys poore
Bodye it is mye defire thatte inne fuche caſe I maye
bee carryed to mye native place ande thatte mye
Bodye bee there quietlye interred wythe as little
pompe as canne bee ande I doe nowe inne theſe
mye ſeyriouſe Moments make thys mye proſeffione
of fayth and whiche I doe moſte ſolemnlye believe
I doe ſyrſte looke toe oune lovynge and greate God
ande toe hys gloriouſe ſonne Jefus I doe alſoe be-
leyve thatte thys mye weake ande frayle Bodye
wille retturne toe duſte butte forre mye foule lette
God judge thatte as toe hymſſelfe ſhalle ſeeme
meete O omnipotente ande greate God I am fulle
offe Synne I doe notte thynke myſelfe worthye offe
thye grace ande yette wille I hope forre evene the
poore pryſonerre whenne bounde with gallyng Irons
evenne hee wille hope for Pittye ande whenne the
teares offe fweete repentance bathe hys wretched
pillowe he then looks ande hopes forre pardonne
thenne rouze mye Soule ande lette hope thatte
fweete cheriſher offe alle afforde thee comforte
alſoe O Manne whatte arte thou whye confiderſte
thou thyſelfe thus greatlye where are thye greate
thye boaſted attrybutes buryed loſte forre everre
inne colde Deathe. O Manne whye attempteſt

Proſſion of Faith.

thou toe ſearche the greateneſſe offe the Almyghtye
thou doſte butte looſe thye labourre more thou
attempteſte more arte thou loſte tille thy poore
weake thoughtes arre elevated toe theyre ſummite
ande thence as ſnowe fromme the leſſe Tree droppe
ande diſſtylle themſelves tille theye are noe more
O God Manne as I am frayle bye Nature fulle offe
Synne yette greate God receyve me toe thye
boſomme where alle is fweete contente ande
happynefſe alle is blyſſe where diſcontente iſſe
neverre hearde butte where oune Bonde offe freynd-
ſhippe unytes alle Menne Forgive O Lorde alle
oure ſynnes ande withe thye grete Goodneſſe take
uſſe alle to thye Breaſte O cheriſhe uſſe like the
fweete Chickenne thatte under the coverte offe herre
ſpreadynge Wings Receyves herre lyttle Broode
ande hoveringe oerre themme keepes themme
harmleſſe ande in ſafetye.

Wm Shakspeare

B

Letter to Richard Cowley,

Worthye Freynde

HAVYNGE alwaye accountedde thee a Pleafaynte
ande wittye Perfonne ande oune whofe Companye
I doe muche eſteeme I have ſente thee incloſedde
a whymfycalle conceyte whiche I doe ſuppofe
thou wilt eafylye diſcoverre butte ſhoudſt thou
notte whye thenne I ſhalle ſette thee onne
mye table offe loggerre heades

Marche
nynthe

Youre trewe Freynde

Wm Shakſpeare

Toe Maſterre Richard Cowleye
dwellynge atte oune Maſterre
Hollifs a draperre inne
the Wattlynge Streete
Londonne

Deed of Gift to Ireland,

I WILLIAM Shakspeare of Statford on Avon
butt nowe livyng in London neare untoe a Yard
calledd or knowne bye the name of Irelands yarde
in the Blackfryars London nowe beyng att thys
preaſaunte tyme of ſounde Mynde ande enjoyinge
healthe of bodye doe make ande ordeyne thys as
ande for mye deede of Gyfte for inn as as muche
as life is mouſte precyouſe toe alle menne ſoe
ſhoulde bee thatte perfonne who att the peryle of
hys owne ſhalle ſave thatte of a fellowe Createure
Bearyng thys inn Mynde ande havyng beene ſoe
ſavedde myeſelfe I didd withe myne owne hande
fyrſte wryte on Papere the conntennts hereof butte
for the moure ſecurytye ande thatte noe dyſpute
whatever myghte happenne afterre mye deathe I
have nowe cauſedd the fame toe bee written onn
Parchemente and have heretoe duly ſett and
affyxedd mye hande and Seale Whereas onne or
abowte the thyrde daye of the laſte monethe beyng
the monethe of Auguſte havynge withe mye goode
freynde Maſterre William Henrye Irelande ande
otherres taene boate neare untowe myne houſe
aſowrefayde wee dydd purpofe goynge upp
Thames butte thofe thatte were ſoe toe connducte
us beynge muche toe merrye throughe Lyquorre
theye didd upſette oure fowrefayde bayrge alle
butte myeſelfe ſavedd themſelves bye ſwimmyng

B 2

Deed of Gift to Ireland.

for though the Waterre was deepe yette owre be-
ynge clofe nygh toe fhore made itte lyttel dyffy-
culte for themm knowinge the fowrefayde Arte
Mafterre William henrye Irelande notte feynge
mee dydd afke for mee butte oune of the Com-
panye dydd anfwerre thatte I was drownynge onn
the whyche he pulledd off hys Jerrekynne and
Jumpedd inn afterre mee withe muche paynes he
draggedd mee forthe I beynge then nearelye deade
and foe he dydd fave mye life and for the whyche
Service I doe herebye give hym as folowithe!!!
fyrfte mye writtenn Playe of Henrye fowrthe
Henrye fyfthe Kyng John Kyng Leare as allfoe
mye written Playe neverr yett impryntedd whych
I have named Kyng henrye thyrde of Englande
alle the profytts of the whych are whollye toe bee
for fayde Ireland ande atte hys deathe thenne toe
hys fyrfte Sonne namedd alfoe William henrye
ande atte hys deathe toe hys brother ande foe onne
butte inn case of faylure of Iffue thenne toe the
nexte of kynn ande foe on for everre inn hys lyne
Ande I doe alfoe give untoe fayde Ireland the Sum
of ten Pounds as a preefaunte oute of the whyche
I doe require hym toe buye oune Rynge as a Re-
membraunce In Witneſſe whereof I have toe thys
mye deede of Guyfte fette mye hand and Scale in
the preafaunce of the twoe Witneſſes whoſe Names

Deed of Gift to Ireland.

are alfoe affyzedd toe the backe hereof thys fyve
ande twentyethe daye of Octoberre beynge in the
Yeare of oure Lorde one thouſande ſix hundrethe
ande foure ande in the ſeconde Yeare of oure So-
veraygne Lorde Kynge James 1604

William Shakspeare

(L. S.)

Sealed and delyveredd in
the prefaunce of us

Jo: Edwards

Jos: Byggett

Deede of guyftte from Shakſpeare
toe Irelaunde

2 James

Tributary Lines to Ireland.

GIVENNE toe mye moufte worthye
ande excellaunte Freynde Mafterre
William Henrye Irelande inne
Remembraunce of hys havynge
Savedde mye life whenne onne
Thames

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE

Inne life wee
wille live togetherre
Deathe
fhalle forre a lytelle
parte uffe butte
Shakfpeares Soule resteleffe
inne the Grave fhalle uppe
Agayne ande meete hys freynde hys

IRELAND

Inne the Blefte Courte of Heavenne
O Modelle of Virretue Charytyes fweetefte
Chylde thye Shakfpeare thanks thee
Norre Verfe norre Sygh norre Teare canne
paynte mye Soule norre faye bye
halfe howe muche I love thee

Thyne

WM SHAKSPEARE

Keepe thys forre mee ande fhoude the Worlde
prove fowerre rememberre oune lives thatte loves
the ffylle

Agreement with John Lowine

ARTICLES of Agreemeate Indented made and
Agreed upon the feaventh day of November in the
Yeare of the reigne of our foveraigne Lord James
by the grace of God King of Englande Scotlande
Fraunce and Irelande defendor of the faythe &c
Viz. of England Fraunce and Ireland the fixth
And of Scotlande the two and fortieth Betwene
John Lowine of London Gent of the one pte and
William Shakfpeare late of Stratford on Avon in
the Coy. of Warwicke Gent. butte who is nowe
refydynge in London of the other pte Witnesseth
that the s<sup>d</sup>. Jn<sup>o</sup>. Lowine in confideration of the co-
venaunts and agreements herein after contayned
doth bind hymfelfe to and with the fayd W<sup>m</sup> Shak-
fpeare for the fpace or term of four Yeares to playe
upon the Stage for the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakf Shakespeare as well
thofe Comedyes and Tragedyes which he has al-
readye produced as thofe whiche he may at anye
tyme hereafter brynge forward ande likewife any
other Playes which he the faide W<sup>m</sup>. Shakf Shakespeare
maye at anye tyme caufe to be played not written
or compofd bye hymfelfe but whiche are the
Writyngs or compofityons of others Ande the s<sup>d</sup>.
W<sup>m</sup>. Shakf Shakespeare his Ex<sup>s</sup>. Ads<sup>s</sup>. Affigns doth here-
bye covenaunte ande agree to and with the s<sup>d</sup>. Jn<sup>o</sup>.
Lowine thatte he the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakf Shakespeare will paye
untoe hym y<sup>e</sup> fayd Jn<sup>o</sup>. Lowine the fumme of
oune Pounde ande ten Shillings per Week forre hys

Agreement with John Lowine.

the s<sup>d</sup>. Jnº. Lowines services before ment<sup>d</sup>. Butte
it is herebye agreed thatte in caſe of Sickneſſe or
anye other Impedymente thatte maye at anye tyme
hereafter happenne thatte thenne the s<sup>d</sup>. Jnº. Low-
ine ſhall notte be called upone to playe as afore-
fayd butte ſhalle more over receive the fayd Salarye
And Laſtlye itte is herebye agreed betweene them
thatte in caſe the s<sup>d</sup>. Jnº. Lowine ſhoulde at anye
tyme breake anye of the Covenauts herein before
agreed uponne thenne thatte he the s<sup>d</sup>. Jnº. Lowine
ſhalle paye untoe the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakspeare the ſumme
of oune hundred Pounds and the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakspeare
doth Covenaunte ande declare to and with the s<sup>d</sup>.
Jnº. Lowine to keepe alle the Covenauts herein-
before agreed upon ande dothe alſoe promife toe
paye untoe the fayde Jnº. Lowine the s<sup>d</sup>. Summe
everye Saturdaye duringe the s<sup>d</sup>. Terme before
twelve offe the Clocke at Nighte In Witenſſe
whereof the s<sup>d</sup>. ptyes toe theſe prefants there handes
and Seales have interchangeablye ſette the daye and
Yeare firſte above writtenne

William Shakspeare
(L. S.)

Sealed ande delyvered in the prefence
of

Ro: Willington

Alex: Amcotte

7th Nov: 6th Jam.

Agreement with Henry Condelle.

ARTICLES of agreement Indented and
agreed upon this twentieth day of Maye in
the Yeare of the Raigne of oure Soveraigne
Lorde James by the grace of God Kinge of Eng-
lande Scotlande Fraunce and Irelande defend<sup>r</sup>, of
fayth &c Viz<sup>t</sup>, of Englande Fraunce and Ire-
lande the eyghth and of Scotlande the five ande
fortyeth Betweene Henrye Condelle of Londonne
Gen<sup>t</sup>, of thone pte<sup>e</sup>, and W<sup>m</sup>. Shakeſpeare late of
Stratford on Avon in the Co<sup>r</sup>, of Warwicke Gen<sup>t</sup>:
butte nowe livinge in Londonne of tother pte
Witnesſeth that the s<sup>d</sup>. H<sup>y</sup>. Condelle in Confidera-
tion of the Covenauts and agreements herein after
conteyned doth bynde hymſelfe to and with the
s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakeſpeare for the further ſpace or terme
of three yeares to play upon the Stage for the s<sup>d</sup>.
W<sup>m</sup>. Shakeſpeare alle Comedyes ande tragedyes
whiche he the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>. Shakeſpeare may at any tyme
during the s<sup>d</sup>. terme caufe to be played not written
or compofed by hymſelfe butte are the Writings or
Compoſytyons of others Ande the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>, Shake-
ſpeare hys Executors Adminiſtrators ande Aſſigns
doth herebye covenaunte ande agree to ande withe
the fayd Henrye Condelle thatte he the fayd Wil-
liam Shakeſpeare wille paye untoe hym the fayd
Henrye Condelle the Summe of oune Pounde and
oune Shillynge per Weeke for hys the fayd Henrye
Condelles Services before mentyoned *But it is*

C

hereby agreed thatte in cafe of Sicknesse or any
other Impedymente thatte maye happenne thatte
thenne the fayde Henrye Condelle fhalle notte be
called upon to playe as aforefayd butte fhalle not-
withftandynge receyve the fayd Salarye And
Lastипе it is hereby agreed betweene them thatte
in cafe y<sup>e</sup>. s<sup>d</sup>. H<sup>y</sup>. Condelle fhoulde at any tyme
breake anye of the Covenauts hereinbefore agreed
upon then thatte he fhalle paye untoe the s<sup>d</sup>. W<sup>m</sup>.
Shakefpeare the fumme of oune hundred Poundes
and the fayd W<sup>m</sup>. Shakefpeare for hymfelfe hys
Ex<sup>s</sup>: Ad<sup>s</sup>: and affigns doth covenaunt promife
ande agree to keepe all the Covenauts hereinbe-
fore agreed upon ande doth alfoe promife to paye
hym the fayd H<sup>y</sup>. Condelle the fayd fumme every
Saturdaye durynge the fayd terme before twelve
of the Clocke at Nyghte In Wittnefſe whereof
the fayd pts to theſe Prefents have Interchange-
ablye fett theyre hands & Seals the daye & Yeare
firſt above Writtenne

William Shakeſſpeare
(L.S.)

Sealed and delyvered in the
Prefence of

Jnº. Bruce
Jnº. Slye

20th. Maye 9th: Jam<sup>s</sup>:

H<sup>y</sup>. Condelle
(L.S.)

Leaſe to Michl. Fraſer and Eliz<sup>th</sup>. his Wife.

THIS Indenture made the fourteenth daye
of July in the yeares of the raigne of our Soveraigne
Lord James by the grace of God of England
Scotland France and Ireland Kinge Defendor of
the fayth viz<sup>t</sup>. of England France and Ireland
the eight and of Scotland the forty forth
Betweene Willam Shakeſpeare of Stratford on
Avon in the County of Warwick Gent but now
refidynge in London and John Hemynge of Lon-
don Gent of thone Pte and Michael Fraſer and
Elizabeth hys Wife of the othere Pte Wittnefſeth
that they the faid Willam Shakeſpeare and John
Hemynge have demifed leafed graunted and to
ferme letten and by theſe prefents do demife grant
and to ferme lett unto the faid Michl. Fraſer and
Elizabeth hys Wife all thoſe his two Meſſuages or
tenements abutting close to the Globe theatre by
Black Fryers London ſometyme in the tenure or
occupation of Henry Holland Gent and late of
John Gregory Gent or his afflignee or Aſſignees
And alſo all thoſe two Gardens on the North ſide
of the fame which appertayne or belong thereto
and which conteyne fix Acres and an half be they
more or leſs And all and ſingular Cellars Sollars
Lights Eafements Homes Profits Commodityes
and appurtenaunts whatsoever to the faid dwelling
houſes or tenements belonging or in any wife ap-
pertyning To have And to hold the faid dwel-

C 2

## *Leafe to Mich¹. Frafer and Elizth. his Wife.*

ling houſes tenements and all and ſingular other
the premifes in theſe preſents before ment⁴. to be
demifed and part and parcel thereof with their
appurts unto the ſaid Mich¹ Fraſer and Elizabet
hys Wife their Exs. Adms. and Aſſigns from the
Feaſt day of Saint Michael the Archangel which
will next come after the date hereof unto and for
the ende and terme of ſixty ſoure yeares from thence
next enfuing & fullie to be compleate and ended
without impeachm¹t. of waſte Wielding and paying
therefore Yrly and every Year during the ſaid term
unto the ſaid Willam Shakesſpeare & John Hem-
ynge the ſum of forty and ſoure Pounds of good
Money of Englande to be payd half yrly the next
payment to commence on the Feaſt day next follow-
ing the date of theſis Preſents. Provided always
that if the s⁴. Mich¹. Fraſer and Elizth. hys
Wife theyr Exs. Ad⁴. or Aſſigns or any of them do
well and truly perform and Keep all & ſingular the
s⁴. covenanunts hereinbefore agreed upon that then
it ſhall and may be lawfull to and for the s⁴. M¹.
Fraſer and Elizth. hys Wife to enter into and enjoy
the fame but in caſe of non performance or non
paym¹t. of the fame that then it ſhall be lawſulle
to & for the s⁴. Willam Shakesſpeare and John
Hemynge again to have & enjoy the fame But
for the better performance of y⁶. covts. & agreeemts.
herein Conteyned he the s⁴. Mic¹. Fraſer & Elizth.

## *Leaſe to Mich¹. Fraſer and Elizth. his Wife.*

hys wife do bind themſelves hymſelf & herſelf in
the ſum of 200¹. in caſe of neglect or default of
any of the agreements herein before conteyned And
the s⁴. Wm. Shakesſpeare & John Hemynge for
themſelves theyr Hs. Exs. Ad⁴. & Aſſigns ſhall &
will clearlye exonerate & diſcharge from tyme to
tyme the s⁴. M¹. Fraſer & Elizth. hys wife from
the Paym¹t. of ſuch Rent & well & sufficiently
keep harmleſs the s⁴. M¹. Fraſer & Elizth. hys
wife theyr Exs. Ad⁴. & Aſſigns & every of them
of & from all incumbres whatsoever by them the
s⁴. Wm. Shakesſpeare & Jnº. Hemynge at any tyme
before committed or done except the fee or fees to
the cheeſ Lord of the Premes for or in reſpecte of
his Segnorye onlie to be due & done In wittneſſe
whereof the s⁴. Ptes to theſe Indres Interchangeablie
have ſett their hands & Seales the daye & yeare
firſt above Written: Anno-Dom (1610)

William Shakspeare
(L.S.)

Mic¹. Fraſer
(L.S.)

Jo: Meer
Wm. Danee

14th July. 8 Jams.

Deed of Trust to John Hemynge.

I WILLIAM Shakespeare being of Stratforde
on Avon but now living in Londonn doe make
and orderr this as and for mye Deede of gifte
Having founde muche wickedneſs amongſte thofe
of the lawe and not liking to leave matterrs at theyre
wills I have herein named a truſty and tried friende
who ſhall afterr mye dethe execute withe care
myne orderrs herein given But in caſe I ſhoulde
att any tyme hereafterr make a Will as perrchaunce
I ſhall in manner of forme I have leſte ſome things
nott herein given or diſpoſedd of thatt maye ſerve
toe fylle upp faid Will and thereby cauſe no hynd-
raunce in the Executyonn of thys mye deede of
gifte But ſho<sup>d</sup>. I nott chaunce make a will thenn
I doe give all ſuche thyngs afs<sup>d</sup>. nott herein ment<sup>d</sup>.
unto mye lovynge Daughterr and herr heyres for
everr—Firſte untoe mye deare Wife I doe orderr
as folowithe thatt ſhe bee payde withinne oun>e
monthe afterre mye dethe the ſomme of oun>e
hondrythe and fowre ſcore Pounds fromm the
moneys whyche be nowe laynge onn Accompte
of the Globe Theatre inn the hands of Maſter John
Hemynge Alſo<sup>e</sup> I doe give herr mye ſuyte of greye
Vellvett edged withe Silverr tog<sup>r</sup> withe mye lyttelle
Cedarr Trunke in wyche there bee three Ryngs
oun>e lyttell payntyng of myſelfe in a filverr Cafe
& ſevenn letterrs wrottenn to her before oure Mar-
ryage theſe I doe beg herr toe keepe faſe if ever

ſhe dydd love me—Toe mye deare Daughterr who
hathe alwaye demeaned herrſelfe well I doe give
as folowithe the ſomme of twentye Pounds and
ſevenne ſhyllyngs thys muſte bee payde herr with-\inne two Months afterr mye dethe & for rayſyng
s<sup>d</sup>. ſumme of 20<sup>l</sup>. & ſevenne ſhyllyngs I doe here-
bye orderr Maſterr hemynge toe ſell mye ſhare of
the two houſes neare the Globe butt ſho<sup>d</sup>. thatt nott
bee enough thenne I doe orderr him toe make itt
upp oute of the Moneys inn hys hands onne Ac-
compte of the Theatre— I doe allſo give herr mye
fuyte of blacke filke & the Rynge whyche I doe
alwaye weare givenne toe mee bye hys Grace of
Southampton thys I doe beg herr as ſhe dothe love
mee neverr toe parte fromm Toe mye good Cow-
leye whom I muche eſteeme & who hathe alwaye
loved mee I doe orderr as folowithe thatt Maſterr
Hemynge doe paye toe hym the ſomme of five
Pounds & thatt he doo alſoe delyverr toe hymm
fromm the Oakenn Cheſte att oure Globe Theatre
mye Playes hereafterr ment<sup>d</sup>. Mye Tempeſte Mye
Myſdomerrs dreme. Mackbethe. Henrye viii
& mye altered Playe of Titus Andronicus all writ-
ten bye myeſelfe & placed inn s<sup>d</sup>. Cheſte as of
uſuage att oure Theatre & ſho<sup>d</sup>. they bee everr
agayne Impryntedd I doe orderr thatt theye bee ſoe
donn from theſe mye true writtenn Playes & nott
from thofe nowe prynted all the profytts comynge

from fuche newe pryntyng these 5 are wholly toe
belonge toe Cowleye and hys hrs for everre. Toe
Masterr Lowinne oure beste Actorr I doe orderr as
folowithe yc. lyke fomm of 5¹. to be pdc. bye
Hemynge & thatt hee delyverr toe hymm the
Playes thatt doe followe Mye moche adoe aboute
noethynge The Wives of Windfore. Rycharde
yc 3d. as allfo mye Coryolanus All these 4 I doe
give inn fame manner & withe fame powerrs as to
Cowleye. Toe Masterr Conndell who hathe done
me manye ferrvices I doe orderr as folowithe thatt
hee bee allfo pdc. yc fomm of 5¹. & thatt hee bee
forrgivenn yc debte of 3¹. & 9 fhyllyngs thatt hee
dothc owe tocmee & thatt he Rememberr mee afterr
mye dethe I doe herebye orderr hymm a plaine
Golde Rynge of yc worthe of 20 fhyllyngs Toe
mye good Kempe I doe give 3¹. & a gold Rynge
itt mufte bee lyke Value 20s. Toe Masterr Bur-
bage I give as folowithe from the Chefte afsd. mye
2 Playes of Cymbelyne & Othello together withe
mye chofe Interrlude neverr yette Impryntedd &
wrottenn for & bye defyre of oure late gracyowfe
& belovedd Quene Elisabethe called yc Virginn
Quene & playde 3 tymes before herrefelfe att the
Revells yc profytts fromm pryntyng fame toe bee
whollye for sd. Burbage & hys hrs fhoulde hee
thynke fyttenne foe toe doe. Toe mye pleafaunte
& wittye Masterr Armynne I doe give yc fomm

of 5¹, toe bee pdc: toe hymme bye mye Mastert
Hemynge Toe Masterr Shancke I doe give 37
fhyllyngs as allfoe a Rynge Value 18 fhyllyngs itt
mufte allfoe bee of Golde. Toe Masterr Ryce I
doe give 49 fhyllyngs as allfoe mye greene floppd
Suyte of Vellvette. Toe Mafter Greggs inn yc
Borowgh I doe give yc fomm of 3¹, as allfoe mye
two Clothe fuytes whyche bee nowe inn hys howfe.
Toe hys little fonne namedd Jonas Greggs I doe
give 15 fhyllyngs for yc troble he hathe hadd inn
goynge often tymes withe letterrs toe yc Globe
All these fomms toe bee pdc. bye John Hemynge
withinne 3 Moneths afterr mye dethe And laftlye
toe mye freynde John Hemynge who hathe yc
manygyng all mye matterds att yc Globe & toe
whose truſte I give thys mye deede of Guyfte
truſtyng hee will fee itt faythfullye executed &
performe evry thynge accordynge toe mye defyres
payinge evry fomm herein mentd. att yc. fev¹. tymes
& toe yc fev¹. Perrſons herein namedd Secondlye
thatt hee doe give upp yc fev¹. Playes wrytten bye
myeſelfe & whiche I have herein diſpoſed of Allſoe
thatt hee doe fee yc fev¹. Ryngs fuytes & evry
otherr thynge givenn accordyng toe mye wifhe.
And as a Recompence forr yc troble hee will have
in feeynge thys mye deede ryghtlye executedd I doe
herebye orderr thatt hee doe take for hymſelf
yc fomm of 10¹. & 20 fhyllyngs toe buye hymm

D

a Golde Rynge I allfoe give hymm oute of s<sup>d</sup>. Cheft
y<sup>e</sup> Playes folow<sup>s</sup>. Mye Gentlemenn of Verona
alterrd mye Meafure for Meafure Comedye of
Errors Merrchaunte of Venice Togetherr withe
mye newe Playe neverr yette imprynted called
Kynge H<sup>r</sup>. vii thefe toe bee whollye for s<sup>d</sup>. J. Hem-
ynge And as there wille ftille remayne in hys hands
287<sup>l</sup>. & 14 fhyllyngs I furtherr orderr hym toe
brynge upp thatt Chylde of whom wee have
fpokenn butt who muſte nott be named here & to
doe fame I defyre hym toe place owte s<sup>d</sup>. Moneye
in y<sup>e</sup> beſte waye he cann doe tylle s<sup>d</sup>. Child ſhall
be of Age fyttenn toe receyve s<sup>d</sup>. Moneye & withe
whatte ſhall comm uppon s<sup>d</sup>. Moneye foe toe In-
ftruſte hym as aforefayde I allſo orderr Maſterr
Hemynge toe ſelle mye three howſes inn y<sup>e</sup> Bo-
rowghe & toe putt oute y<sup>e</sup>. Moneye comynge from
fame forr s<sup>d</sup>. Childe I allfoe give toe s<sup>d</sup>. Chylde
y<sup>e</sup> eyghe Playes thatt bee ſtylle inne s<sup>d</sup>. Cheſte as
allſo mye otherr Playe neverr yett Impryntedd
called Kynge Vorrtygerne thys as allſo y<sup>e</sup> otherr
eyghe toe bee whollye forr y<sup>e</sup> benyfytte of s<sup>d</sup>.
Chylde as welle y<sup>e</sup> pryntynge as playinge fame and
fhoulde I chaunce write more as bye Gods helpe
& grace I hope toe doe I herebye give y<sup>e</sup> Profytts
of evry Kynde comynge fromm anye ſuche newe
playes orr otherr Wrytyngs unntoe s<sup>d</sup>. Chylde &
hys heires forr everre truſtynge toe mye freynde

John Hemynges honorr and allſo onn hys promys
of beynge clouſe of ſpeeche inn thys laſte Matterr
I have toe thys mye deede of gifte dulye ſette mye
hande & ſeale in the preſaunce of three Witneſſes
this 23<sup>d</sup>. daye of februayre beynge the nynthe Yere
of oure foveraygne Lord Kynge James & in y<sup>e</sup> Yere
of Chriſte 1611

By me William Shakspeare
(L. S.)

Signed Sealed & delyvered
in y<sup>e</sup> preſaunce of us

W<sup>m</sup>. Fenere

Sam<sup>l</sup>. Jordon

W<sup>m</sup>. Leiche

Deede of Guyſte fromm
Shakeſpeare toe otherrs
9 James

1611

KYNGE LEARE.

Enterre Kent Glofter ande Edmunde

Kent I thoughte oure Kinge had more affe-
tedde the
Duke of Albanye thanne Cornwalle

*Glo* So didde itte everre feeme to ufse Butte nowe
inne the divyfyonne of the Kyngdomme itte ap-
peares notte

which of thefe Dukes he Values mofte forre Qua-
lytyes

are foe weyghd thatte curyofytye inne neytherre
canne make choyce of thothers Moietye

Kent Is notte thys youre Sonne Mye Lorde

*Glo* Hys bryngyng uppe Sir hathe layd atte
mye Charge

I have foe oftenne blufhd toe acknowlegdge
hymme thatte

10

Nowe I am brayzd tot

Kent I doe notte conceyve you

*Glo* Goode Sir thys younge fellows Motherre
could uponne

the whyche ife became rounde wombd ande hadde

B 2

KYNGE LEARE.

indeede Sir a Sonne forre herre cradle eere the
had a hufbande forre herre Bedde Doe you nowe
fmelle the faulte

Kent I nere canne wifhe the faulte undonne Its
Ifsue

beynge thufse properre

Glo Butte I have * a Sonne Sir bye orderre of
Lawe olderre 20

bye Yeares thanne thys who is no dearer inne mye
Accounte

though thys Knave came fomewhat fawcylye
intoe the

World eere he was fente forre yette was hys
Motherre

fayre there was excellente fporte atte hys makynge

Ande the Whorefonne mufte bee acknowleggedde
Knowe you

thys Nobleman Edmonne

Edm Noe mye goode Lorde

Glo Mye Lorde of Kente

Ande Rememberre hym hereafterre as my honour-
able Freynde

Edm Mye dutye toe youre Lordfhyppe 30

Kent I mufte love you ande knowe toe fue you
betterre

Edm Sir I fhalle ftudye defervynge

* a is omitted in the MS.

KYNGE LEARE.

Glo He hathe beene abfente nyne Yeares ande
agayne he

Shalle hye hymme The Kynge ifse comynge

Enterre Kynge Cornwalle Albanye Gonerille
Reganne Cordelia ande Attendaunts

Leare Attende the Lordes of Fraunce and
Burgannedye

Glo I fhalle mye Lorde Glofterre Exitte

Leare Meane tyme wee fhalle make knowne
oure darkerre Purpofe

Give mee the Mappe here Knowe thatte wee have
parcelledde

Intoe three oure Kyngdomme Ande tis oure fixt
Intente

Toe fhake alle Cares ande Bufyneſſe fromme oure
Age 40

Difpofynge themme onne Youngerre Strengthes
while wee

Unburthennd crawlè towarde Deathe Oure Sonne
of Cornwalle

Ande you oure noe leſſe lovynge Sonne of Albanye

Thys houre we ſhalle our conſtante Will make
knowne

Oure Daughterrs feveralle dowerres thatte future
Strife

## KYNGE LEARE.

6

Maye bee prevennetedde nowe The Prynce of
Fraunce ande Burgandye

Greate Ryvalles inne oure Youngerre Daughterres
love

Long inne oure Courte have made theyre amo-
roufe fojourne

And fhalle ftreyghte be anfueredde Telle me mye
Daughterres

Synce wee fhalle nowe diveſte ufse both of Rule
Cares of State ande Interefte of Terrytorye

The whiche of you thenne dothe love ufse moſte

Thatte wee oure greateſte bounty maye extende

Where nature doth withe meritte Challenge

Oure eldeſte borne ſpeake fyſſte

Gon Sir I love you more thanne Word canne
wielde the Matter

Dearere thanne eye Syghe ſpace ande Libertye

Beyonde whatte canne bee valuedde riche or rare

Noe leſe thanne life withe beautye healthe grace
honoure

As muche as Childe eere lovd or Fatherre founde 60

A love thatte makes breathe poore ande Speeche
unable

Naye beyond alle things of ſo muche I love you

Cor Whatte muſte Cordelia faye Love ande be
filente

Leare Of alle theſe boundes fromme thys lyne
evenne toe thys

## KYNGE LEARE.

7

With ſhadowaye Foreſtes and withe Cham-
pyonnes rich

Withe plenneteouſe Riverres ande wide ſkirtedde
Meades

Wee make thee Ladye To thyne ande Albanys Iſſues

Bee thys perpetualle Whatte fayes oure ſeconde
Daughterre

Our deareſte Reganne Wife of Cornwalle

Reg I am made of thatte ſelfe Metalle as mye
Syſtterre

Ande prizemee atte herre worthe In mye true hearte

I fynde ſhe Names mye verye deede of Love

Onlye ſhe comes too ſhorte thatte I profefſe

Myeselfe an Enemye toe alle otherre joyes

Whiche the moſte precyouſe ſquare of Senſe pro-
ſeſeſe

Ande fynde I am alone felyſytate

Inne youre dear hyghneſſe love

Cor Thenne poore Cordelya

Ande yette notte ſoe ſynce I amme ſure mye loves

More ponnederouſe thanne mye tongue

Leare Toe thee ande thyne heredytarye everre

Bee thys ample thirde of oure Kyngdomme

Noe leſe inne ſpace valydytye ande Pleafure

Thanne thatte confeerd onne Gonerylle Nowe
oure Joye

Allthough oure laſte ande leafte toe whofe younge
love

## KYNGE LEARE.

8

The vines of Fraunce ande Milke of Burgannedye
Strive toe bee Interefte nowe Whatte doe you faye
toe drawe

A thirdre more opulente thanne youre Syfterres
fpeake

Cor Nothynge mye Lorde

Leare Nothynge

Cor Noe Noethynge

Leare Noethynge wille come of noethynge
fpeake agayne

Cor Unhappe thatte I amme I cannotte have

Mye hearte intoe mye Mouthe I love your Majeſtye

Accordynge toe mye bonde noe more norre leſſe

Leare How nowe Cordelya Looke you mende
your Speeche a lyttle

Leaſte you marre youre Fortunes

Cor Goode mye Lorde

You dydde begette mee you bredde mee ande
lovd mee

I retturne thoſe dutyes backe aſs are rygheſt ſitte 100

Obeye you love you and moſte honourre you

Whye have mye Sifterres húſbanndes iſſe theye faye

Theye love you alle Happylýe whenne I ſhalle
wedde

Thatte Lorde whoſe hand muſte take mye plygheſt
ſhalle carrye

Halfe mye love with hymme halfe mye Care ande
Dutye

90

## KYNGE LEARE.

9

Sure I ſhalle neverre marrye lyke mye Syſterres

Leare Butte goes thye hearte with thyſe

Cor Aye mye goode Lorde

Leare Whatte foe younge ande ſo unnetennederre

Cor Soe Younge mye Lorde ande true

110

Leare Lette itte bee foe thye truth thenne bee
thye dowerre

Forre bye the facredde raydyaunce of the Sunne

The myſtyryes of Hecate ande the Nygheſt

Bye alle the Operatyonnes of the Orbs

Fromme whome wee doe exiſte ande ceaſe toe bee

Here I diſclayme alle mye Paternalle care

Propinnequitye ande Propertye of bloode

Ande aſſe a Straungerre toe mye hearte ande mee

Hold thee fromme uſs forre everre The Barbarouſe
Seythyanne

Or hee thatte makes hys generatyonne Mefſes 120

Toe gorge hys Appetyte ſhalle toe mye boſomme

Bee as welle neyghbourde Pyityedde ande releyvd

As thou mye ſometyme Daughterre

Kente Goode mye Leiyge

Leare Peace Kente

Come notte betweene the Dragonne and hys wrathe
I lov'd herre mouſte ande thoughte toe ſette mye
reſte

Onne herre kynde nurſerye hence ande avoyde mye
ſygheſt

Soe bee mye Grave mye Peace as here I give

c

## KYNGE LEARE.

10

Her Fatherres hearte fromme herre call Fraunce
who ftyrres 130

Call burgannedye Cornewalle ande Albanye

Withe mye twoe Daughterres dowerres dygefte
the thyrde

Lette Pride whiche she calls playneneffe marrye herre

I doe inveſte you joynelye with mye Powerre

Domynyonne Ande alle the large Effects

Thatte troupe withe Majeſtye Ourſelſe bye Month-
lye courſe

Withe referrevaytyonne of an hundredde Knyghtes
bye you toe bee ſuſtaynd fhalle oure abode

Make wythe you bye due turne onlye wee fhalle
retayne

The Nayme ande alle the addytyonne toe a Kynge
the Swaye 140

Revennue Executyonne of the reſte

Belovedde Sownes bee youres whyche toe conne-
fyrme

Thyſe Coronette parte betweene you

Kent Royal Syre

Whom I have everre honourde as a Kynge

Lovd as mye Fatherre as mye Mafterre followed

Ande as mye Patronne thoughte onne inne mye
Prayerres

Leare The Bowe is bente thereforre awaye
fromme the Shafte

Kente Lette itte falle ratherre though the Forke
invade

## KYNGE LEARE.

11

The Reygonne of mye hearte be thou unmannerlye
Kente

Whenne Leare is madde whatte wouldſt thou doe
old Manne 150

Thinkſt thou thatte dutye ſhalle have dreade toe
ſpeake

Whenne Powerre toe flatterye bowes

Toe Playnneſse honnours bownde

Whenne the Kynge falls toe follye referve thye State

Ande the beſte confideratyonne checke

Thys hydeouſe rafhenefſe anſwerre mye life mye
Judgemente

Thye Youngeste Daughterre dos notte love thee
leaste

Norre are those windye heartedde whose lowe
soundes

Reverrebe noe hollowneſse

Leare Kente onne thy life noe more 160

Kente Mye life I neverre helde butte as a pawne

Toe wage agaynste thyne enemyies neere feare toe
lose itte

Thye safetye beynge motive

Leare Quitte mye Syghe

Kente See betterre ande lette mee stylle remayne

The trewe blanke of thyne Eye

Leare Nowe bye Apollo

Kente Nowe bye Apollo Leare

Thou swearste the Goddes inne Vayne

C 2

KYNGE LEARE.

12

Leare O vassalle miflicreante 170

Alb Deare Sir forrebeare

Kente Kylle thye Physycyanne ande thye fee
bestowe

Uponne the Soule dysease revoke thye Gifte

Orre whilst I canne vente clammourre fromme
mye throate

Ille saye thou doste Evylle

Leare Heare mee vile Slave onne thyne Alle-
gyaunce heare mee

Thatte thou haste soughte toe make ufse breake
oure Vowes

Whiche wee durfte neverre yette ande with ftraynde
Pride

Toe come betwixte oure Sennetaunce and oure
Powerre

Whiche neytherre Nature norre oure Place canne
beare 180

Oure Potencye made godde take thye rewarde

Five dayes wee doe give thee forre provyfyonne

Toe keepe thee fromme dyfafterres of the Worlde

Ande uponne the fyxthe toe turne thye haytedde
backe

Uponne oure Kyngdomme iffe the tenthe daye
followinge

Thye banyfhedde trunke be founde inne our
Domynyonnes

Thatte momente ifse thye Deathe awaye bye
Apollo

KYNGE LEARE.

13

Thys fhall notte bee revokedde

Kent Fare thee welle Kinge fythe thufse thou
wilt appeare

Fredomme lives hence ande banyfhmente is here 190

The Gods toe theyre deare Shelterre take thee
mayde

Thatte juftlye thynkes ande hathe moufte rightlye
fayde

Ande youre large Speeches maye youre deedes
approve

Thatte godd Effects maye fprynge fromme Words
of Love

Thufse Kente thenne Prinneces biddes you alle
adieu

Hele fhape hys oulde courfe inne a Countrye newe

Enterre Glofterre withe Fraunce ande Burgannedye
and Atiennedauntes

Cor Heres Fraunce and Burgannedye mye
noble Lorde

Leare Mye Lorde of Burgannedye

Wee firfte addrefse towarde you who withe thys
Kynge

Hathe ryvalld forre oure Daughterre whatte inne
the leafte

Wille you require inne prefente Dowre withe
herre

200

14 KYNGE LEARE.

Orre ceaſe youre queſte of Love

Bur. Moſte Royalle Maſeſetye

I wille noe more thanne whatte youre hyghneſse
offerrde

Norre wille you tenderre leſſe

Leare Ryghe noble Burgannedye whenne ſhe
was deare toe uſſe

We helde herre foe

Butte nowe herre worthe iſse fallenne Sir there ſhe
ſtands

Iſſe aught withinne thatte lyttle ſeemynge Subſtance

Or alle of itte with oure dyſpleaſure peacd 210

Ande noethynge more maye fittelye lyke youre
Grace

Sheſe there ande ſhee iſse youres

Bur I knowe noe anſwerre

Leare Wille you withe thoſe Inneſyrmytyes ſhe
owes

Unneſfreynnededde newe adopptedde toe oure hate

Dowrd with oure curſe and ſtrannegerde with oure
Oathe

Take leave or leave herre

Bur Pardonne mee Royalle Sir

Electyonne makes notte uppe onne ſuche Conne-
dytyonnes

Leare Thenne leave herre Sir forre bye the
powerre thatte made me 220

I telle you alle herre Wealthe Forre you greate Kynge

KYNGE LEARE.

15

I woulde notte fromme youre love make ſuche a
ſtraye

Toe matche you where I hate thereforre be-
ſeeche you

Toe turne youre lykynge a more worrethyerre waye

Thanne onne a Wretche whome Nature iſse afhamd

Almoſte t'acknowleydge herre

Fra Thys iſse moſte ſtrange

Thatte ſhee who butte nowe was youre beſte
Objectte

The argumente of youre Prayſe balme of youre Age

The beſte the dearyſte ſhoude inne thys tryce offe
tyme

Commyttee a thynge foe monſtrouſe toe dyſ-
mantle 230

Soe many foldes offe favourre ſure herre Offence

Muſte bee offe ſuche unnenaturalle degree

Thatte Monſterres itte Or youre fore-voucht af-
fectyonne

Falle intoe taynte whiche toe beleyve offe herre

Muſte bee a faythe thatte Reaſonne withoute
Miracle

Shoulde neverre plante inne mee

Cor I yette beſeeche youre Maſeſtye

Iſſe forre I wante thatte glibbe ande Oylye Arte

Toe ſpeake ande purpofe notte ſince whatte I wille
innetende

I'll dot eere I ſpeake thatte you make knowne 240

KYNGE LEARE.

16

Itte ifse noe vycyoufe blotte Murtherre or Foulenefse
Noe unnechafte Actyonne or dyshonorredde Steppe
Thatte hathe depryvedde mee of youre Grace ande
favoure

Butte fore wante of thatte alone fore whiche I
amme richerre

A ftille folycytynge Eye ande fuche a Tongue

Thatte I amme gladde I have notte though toe have
itte notte

Hathe lofte mee inne youre lykynge

Leare Betterre thou hadſt notte beene borne

Thanne notte toe have pleasd mee betterre

Fra Ifse itte thenne butte thys A tardyneſſe in
Nature
250

Whiche oft tymes leaves the Hyſtorye unneſpoke

Thatte itte innetendes toe doe mye Lorde of Bur-
gannedye

Whatte faye you toe the Ladye Loves notte Love

Whenne tis mingledde withe regardes thatte ſtande

Aloofe fromme the innetyre poynte wille you have
herre

She ifse herſelfe a Dowrye

Bur Royalle Kynge

Give butte thatte portyonne whiche youreſelfe
proposd

Ande here I take Cordelya bye the Hande

Dutcheſſe offe Burgannedye

Leare Nothynge I have fworne ande ſtill I am
fyrme

KYNGE LEARE.

17

Bur I amme forrye thenne thatte you have foe
loſte a Fatherre

Thatte you muſte loſe a Hufbande

Cor Peace bee withe Burgannedye

Synce thatte reſpecte ande forretunes are hys love

Itte willes mee notte toe bee hys wife

Fra Fayreſte Cordelya thou arte moſte riche
beynge poore

Moſte choyce forreſaykenne ande moſte lovſ
delſpisd

Thee and thyе Virretues here doe I ſeyze uponne

Bee itte lawſulle I take uppe whats caſte away 270

O Goddes Tis ſtrange thatte fromme theyre coldſt
neglecte

My love ſhould Kynnedle toe innflaymedde re-
fpecte

Thye dowerreleſſe Daughterre Kynge throwne toe
mye chaunce

Ifse Queene of ufse of ourſe ande oure fayre Fraunce

Notte alle the Dukes of wariſhe Burregannedye

Canne buye thys unnepryzedde Mayde of mee

Bydde themme farewelle Cordelya though unne-
kynde

Thou loofeſte here a betterre where toe fynde

Leare Take herre Fraunce ande lette herre be
thyne for wee

Have noe ſuche Daughterre norre ſhalle everre
ſee
280

D

18

KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte face of herſe agayne thereforre bee gone
Withoute oure love oure Grayce orre benyzonne
Come Noble Burregannedye

Fra Bydde farewelle toe youre Syſterres

Cor The Jewelles offe oure Fatherre with waſhd
Eyeſe

Cordelya leaves you I knowe you thatte you are

And lyke a Syſterre amme mouſte loathe toe calle

Youre faults as theye are namedde Love welle oure
Fatherre

Toe youre profesſedde boſommes I commyte
hymme

Butte yette ſtoode I withinne hys Grayce 290

I woulde preferre hymme toe a betterre place

Soe farewelle toe you bothe

Reg Spare uſſe wee knowe oure dutye

Gonne Lette youre Studye

Bee toe connetente youre Lorde who hath receyved
you

Atte fortunes Almes you have obeyyence
ſcannetedde

Ande welle are worthe the wante thatte you have
wantedde

Cor Tyme ſhall innforme what plygħtedde
cunnynge hydes

Who coverres faultes atte laſte with ſhame derydes

Welle maye you proſperre 300

Fra Comme thenne fayrefte Cordelya

KYNGE LEARE.

19

Gonne Syſterre itte iſſe notte lyttle I have toe faye
Offe whatte mouſte nearelye appertaynes toe uſſe
bothe

I thynke oure Fatherre will hence toe Nyghte

Reg Thatts moſte certayne ande with you butte
nexte with uſſe

Gon Doe you marke how hys Age changes
whatte Obſerrevatyonne

We have made oft hath beene ſmalle hee everre
lovd oure

Syſterre mouſte ande withe whatte ſhallowe
Judgemente

Hee hathe nowe caſte herre offe appeares but too
groſſelye

Reg Thatts the Innefyrmytye ofſ Age yette
hath he alwaye

butte ſlennederrelye knowne hymſelfe 310

Gonne The beſte ande foundeſte of hys tyme
hath benne butte

raſhenefſe whiche innefyrme ande cholerycke
Yeares

brynge withe themme

Reg Suche unneconneſtante ſtartes aſſe thys of
Kentes

banyſhemente are wee lykelye toe have fromme
hymme

Gonne Yette more Commeplemente iſſe there
twixt Fraunce ande

D 2

KYNGE LEARE.

20

Hymme praye lette uſſe fytte togetherre iſſe oure
fatherre
beare Authorityte whye thyſſe laſte furrennederre
of hys Wille dothe butte offende ufſe

SECOUNDE SCEANE

Baſterde comes forrewarde

Bas Thou Nature arte mye Goddeſse toe the
Lawe
320
Mye ferrevyceſſe ſtande bounde Wherrefore ſhoud I
Reſte inne the Plague of Cuſtomme ande permytte
The Curyoſytye of Natyonnes toe depryve mee
Caufe thatte I amme ſome twelve orre foureſteene
Moonſhynes

Lagge of mye brotherre Whye Baſterde wherefore
bafe

Whenne mye dymenneſyonnes are as welle comme-
pacte

Mye Mynde as generouſe ande mye ſhape as true
As honeſte Manns Iſſue whye branſde theye thufſe
Withe bafe withe bafeſe baſterdye—bafe bafe
Who inne the luſtye ſtealthe of Nature take 330
More Compoſytonne ande feyrce Qualytye
Thanne dothe withinne a dulle ſtayle tyredde Bedde
Goe the creatynge a whole trybe of foppes
Gotte twixt ſleep ande awake Welle thenne

KYNGE LEARE.

21

Legytymyte Edgarre I muſte have youre Lande
Oure Fatherres love iſſe toe the baſterrede Edmunde
As toe the legytymate fyne worde legytymate
Welle mye legytymate iſſe thys Letterre ſpeede
Ande mye Innevennetyonne thrive Edmunde the
bafe

Shalle toe the legytymate I growe I proſperre
340
Nowe Goddes ſtande uppe forre baſtardes

Enterre Glouſeſſeterre

Glo Kente banyſhd thus ande Fraunce toe inne
Cholerre parretedde

Ande the Kynge gone toe Nyghte Prefcribd hys
powerre

Conſynd toe exhybytyonne Alle iſſe gone

Uponne the Gadde Edmunde howe nowe whatte
Newes

Bas Soe Pleaſe youre Lordſhyppe none

Glo Whye wouſdthou ſoe eareneſtelye cloake
- thatte Letterre

B I knowe noe Newes mye Lorde

Glo Whatte Paperre were you readynge

B Nothynge mye Lorde

350

Glo Howe ſoe whye thenne thatte terrible dys-
patche of itte noe

thyngc hathe noe ſuche neede toe hyde itteſelfe
Comme

KYNGE LEARE.

22

Letts fee ift tis naughte I neede notte Spectacles

Bas Praye you parredonne mee Sir itte iffe butte
fromme mye

brotherre ande I have notte alle oere reade ande forre
thatte I have perusd Itte fyttes notte youre oere
lookynge

Glo Give mee the Letterre Sir

Bas I fhalle offeynde eytherre toe detayne orre
give ite

The Connetentes affe inne parte I understande
themme

Are muche too blame
360

Glo Lets fee Lets fee I faye

Bas I hope forre mye brotherres goode thys
was butte anne

Efsaye forre proofe offe mye Virretue

Glo Readynge Ths Polycye ande Reveranne
of Age

makes the Worlde betterre ande keeps oure for-
tunes fromme

uffe tille wee cannotte rellifhe themme I ginne toe
fynde an Idle ande fonde bonnedage inne the
weyhte

of agedde tyrannye who fwayes notte as itte hath
powerre

butte as tis sufferedde Comme toe mee thatte of
thyfse

I maye fpeake more Iffe oure Fatherre woulde sleepe

[370]

KYNGE LEARE.

23

tille I wakd hymme you fshould enjore halfe hys
Revennewe forre everre ande bee the belovedde of
youre

brotherre Edgar. Soe Soe Confpyracye Sleepe

tille I wake hym you fshould enjoye halfe hys Re-
vennewe

Mye Sonne Edgar hath hee a hand for ths Or a
hearte

toe Fatherre itte Whenne had you ths who
broughte itte

Bas Mye Lorde itte was notte broughte mee
theres the

cunnynge oft I founde itte throwne inne atte the
Cafemente of mye Clofette

Glo You knowe the Charaeterre toe bee hys 380

B Iffe theyre Importe were godde mye Lorde
I durfte fweare

itte were hys butte inne refpecte of thatte I fayne
woud

thynke twere notte

Glo O tis hys

B Tis hys hande mye Lorde butte hys hearte
wills

Notte the Connetentes

Glo Hath he nere fpoke of ths before

Bas Neverre mye Lorde butte hee hathe oft
fayde twere

fytte thatte Sonnes atte perrefecte Age and Fatherres

## KYNGE LEARE.

24

declynd the Fatherre fhoud bee Warde toe the
Sonne

Ande hee manage hys Revennewe 390

Glo O Villayne The verye Opynyonne of Letterre O detefsetedde

ande unnenaturalle Villayne worfe thanne brutyfhe
Goe feeke hym Ile apprehende hym where is hee

Bas I knowe notte mye Lorde ift fhalle pleafe
you fuffepende

awhile youre Innedygnatyonne agaynfte mye
brotherre

tille you fynde betterre proofe ofs innetente forre
fhoud you vyolentelye proceede agaynfte hymme
myftakynge ofs purpofe itte woude make a greate
gappe inne youre honourre ande fhake the hearte
of 400

hys obeyence I dare pawne myne owne life thatte
hee hath writte thys betterre toe knowe mye Love
toe youre honourre ande toe noe otherre dangerre

Glo Thynke you foe

Bas Shoud you judge itte meete I wille place
you where

you fhalle heare uſſe conferre onne the affayre

Ande bye Auryculayre afsuraunce fynde Satys-
factyonne

ande with noe longerre delaye thanne thys Evenynge

Glo Edmunde feeke hym oute he is noe fuche
Monfterre

## KYNGE LEARE.

25

I praye you lette mee well intoe hym ande dot
afterre 410

Youre owne Wifdomme I would unneſtate mye-
felfe toe

bee inne due reſulutyonne

Bas I wille feeke hym Sir and forre the buſy-
nefse acquainte

You withe alle

Glo The late Eclypſeſe inne the Sunne ande
Moone portende noe goode

toe uſſe though inne herre wifsedomme Nature
reafonnes itte thufse

Love cools Freyndſhyppe dyvides ande brotherres
are notte foe Inne

Cytyes Mutynyes inne Countryes dyſcorde inne
Pallaces Treafonne

Ande noe bonde twixt Sonne ande Fatherre Thys
Villayne

comes underre the predyctyonne thufse thenne iſſe
Sonne agaynſt

Fatherre the Kynge totterres fromme the byaſſe
offe Nature thereſ 420

Fatherre agaynſte Chylde Wee have ſeene the
beſte offe oure

tyme Machynatyonnes treacherye alle ruinouſe
dyſorreferres

followe uſſe diſquietelye toe oure Graves Finde
ths Villayne

E

## KYNGE LEARE.

26

Edmunde itte fhalle loofe thee noethynge doe itte carefullye

Aye Ande the noble ande trewe heartedde Kente
banyfhedde

Hys Offence beynge butte Honeftye Tis ftraunge

Bas Thys is the excellente fopperye of the
Worlde thatte

Whenne wee are fycke inne fortune the furfeytes
off oure

owne behavyoure wee make guiltye of oure dys-
afterres

Vyllaynes bye nifsefsytye fooles bye compul-
fyonne Knaves 420

ande Thieves bye predomynaunce Drunkards
Lyars ande

Adulltererres bye Obedyence toe Planetarye inne-
fluence

ande alle thatte wee are eville inne bye dyvine
thruftyng

onne Admyrable evafyonne of mye Whore Mafterre

Manne Mye Fatherre componndedde with mye
Motherre

Underre Dragonnes Tayle ande mye Natyvytye
was

underre Urfa Magor foe follows itte I amme
rough ande

Lecheroufe I fhould have thatte whiche I amme
hadde

## KYNGE LEARE.

27

the mofte Maydennelye Starre ith Fyrmamente
twinkledde onne mye bafterdyfynge

430

### *Edgarre commes forrewarde*

Patte lyke the Cataftrophe of the old Comedye here
he comes Mye Cue iffe Villaynoufe Melannecholye
lyke Tom O Bedlamme O thefe Eclypſes doe
portende

theſe dyvyfyonnes Fa Sol La Mee

Edg How nowe brotherre Edmunde whye thys
feryouſe

Contemplatyonne

Bas I amme thynkynge of a predyctyonne I
reade thys

otherre Daye onne whatte fhould follow theſe
Eclypſes

ande I promife you the effects he writes of fucceede
unnehappylye butte whenne faw you mye fatherre
lafte

440

Edg The Nyghte gone bye

Bas Spake you withe hymme

Edg I two hours togetherre

Bas Parretedde you inne goode termes Founde
you noe

dyspleafure inne hymme bye worde norre Coun-
tenaunce

Edg None atte alle

E 2

28 KYNGE LEARE.

Bas Bethynke yourefelfe whereinne you have
offenndedde
ande praye you forrebeare hys prefence tille the
heate of hys dyfpleafure bee quelledde whiche foe
rageth inne hymme thatte withe the myfchiefe of
youre

perLFonne itte woulde fcarcelye allaye 450

Edg Some Villayne hathe done mee wronge

Edm Thats mye feare Therefore praye you
forrebeare

tille hys rage goe flowerre ande retyre withe mee
toe mye Lodgynge where you fhall fytley heare
mye Lord fpeake there's mye Keye ande
floud you flyrre praye you goe armedde

Edg Armd Brotherre

Bas I amme noe honeste Manne if there bee anye
godde meanynge toe you I praye you thenne 460
awaye

Edg Shalle I heare fromme you anonne

Edm Thuffe doe I ferve inne ths bufyneffe

A Credulouſe Fatherre ande a brotherre noble

Whofe Natures are foe farre fromme doinge harmes

Thatte theye ſuſpecte none ande onne whofe
honestye

Mye Praſtyceſſe ryde eafye I fee the bufyneſſe

Iſſe notte bye byrthe thenne lette mee have Landes
bye Witte

alle with mee is meete foe I canne faſhyonne itte

KYNGE LEARE.

29

SCEANE THYRDE

Gonnerylle ande Stewarde comme forrewarde

Gonn Dydde mye Fatherre ſtryke mye Genne-
tlemanne

forre chydynge hys foole

Stew I Madame 470

Gon Bye daye ande Nyghte he wrongs mee
Everye houre he flafhes into oune groſe cryme or
otherre

Thatte tetts uſſe alle atte odds Ile notte innedure itte

Hys Kyghts growe ryatouſe ande hymſelfe uppe-
brayds uſſe

Inne everye tryſle whenne he retturne fromme
huntynge

Ille notte ſpeake with hymme faye I amme fycke

Iſſe you come ſlacke of formerre Serrevyces

You ſhall doe welle the fault Ille anſwerre

Gent Hes comynge Mam I heare hymme

Gon Putte onne whatte wearye neglygence you
pleaſe 480

Ide have itte come toe queſtynne iſſe he dyſkyke
itte lette hymme toe oure Syſterre our Myndes
inne thatte are oune foliſhe Age thatte ſtylle woud
Manage thofe Authorytyes hee hath gyvenne awaye
forre bye mye life olde fooles muſte bee uſedde aſſe

30 KYNGE LEARE.

babyes ande have checkes forre flatteryes whenne
theye are feene abusd rememberre whatte I telle you

Gent Verye welle Madame

Gon Lette hys Kyghtes have colderre lookes
too itte

matterres notte whatte comes oft advife thye fel-
lowes

foe Ile write ftraygthe toe mye Syfterre toe
holde mye verye courfe goe prepare for dynerre

### Kente

Ken Iffe butte afs welle I otherre accentes bor-
rowe thatte

canne mye fpeeche defufe thou banyfht Kente iffé
thou canſt ſerve where thou doſt ſtande con-
demnedde

thye Mafterre whom thou lovſt ſhalt fynde thee
fulle

offe laybourre

### Enterre Leare

Leare Lette mee notte ſtaye a jotte forre dyn-
nerre goe gette

itte readye how nowe whatte arte thou

Kente A Manne Sir

Leare Whatte doſt professe whatte wouldſt
withe uſſe

Kente I doe professe naughte more thanne I
feme toe bee

KYNGE LEARE.

31

trewe toe hymme thatte woude putte mee inne
trufte toe

love hymme thatte iſs honeſte toe ſaye with
hymme

thatte iſs wife toe ſeare Judgemente toe fyghte
whenne

I cannotte chufte ande toe eate noe fyſhe

Leare Whatte arte thou

Kente An honeſte heartedde fellowe as pore aſs
the Kynge

Leare Iſſe bee as poore forre a Subjecte as hee
foree a Kynge

thenne arte poore inndeede butte whatte wouſt
thou

Kente Service

Leare Who wouſt ſerve

Kente Youe

Leare Doſt knowe mee fellowe

Kente Notte I butte you have inne you thatte
I woude

calle Mafterre

Leare Aye whatts thatte

Kente Authorytye

Leare Whatte canſt thou doe

Kente Keepe honeſte couſayle ryde runne
marre a

tayle in the tellynge itte deſverre a playne

Meffage bluntlye whatte ordynarye Menne are

KYNGE LEARE.

32

fytte forre thatte an I qualyfyedde inne butte the
beste offe mee ifs dylygence

Leare Howe olde arte thou

Kente Notte foe Yonge toe love a womanne for
fyngynge norre

foe olde toe dote onne herre forre anye thynge
I have

Yeares onne mye backe fortye ande eyghte

Leare Followe thenne thou fhalt ferve mee anne
I lyke thee no

worfe afterre dynnerre Ille notte parte with thee
yette

530

Whatte ho I faye dynnerre wheres mye knave mye
foole goe calle mye foole hytherre firra wheres
Mye Daughterre

Enterre Stewarde

Stew Soe pleafe you

Leare Whatte fayes the fellowe there calle the
clotte

pole backe mye foole I faye I thynke the Worldes
afleepe ho wheres mye munnegrelle

Kente He fayes mye Lorde youre Daughterre
ifs notte welle

Leare Wherefore came hee notte whenne I calld
hymme

Ser He annefweredde roundlye thatte he would
notte

KYNGE LEARE.

33

Leare He woud notte

540

Ser Mye Lorde I knowe notte whatte the Mat-
terre iſſe

butte toe mye judgmente youre Hyghneſſe iſſe notte
receyvedde with the affectyonne you were wonte
therſe greate abatemente appeares aſs welle inne
depennedaunts as inne the Duke hymſelfe ande
youre Daughterre

Leare Ha fayſt thou foe

Ser Pardonne I doe beſeche mye Lorde Iſſe I bee
Myſtakenne forre mye dutye cannotte bee ſylente
whenne I doe thynke youre Hyghneſſe wrongd

550

Leare Thou butte remembereſte mee of myne
owne

connecptyonne I have perceyvedde a faynte neglècte
of late whiche I have the ratherre aſs mine owne
Jealouſe curyofytye I wille looke fartherre intoe itte
butte wheres thys foole I ha notte ſeene hymme thys
two dayes

Ser Synce mye Younge Ladyes goynge intoe
Fraunce

Sir hee hath muche pynd awaye

Leare Noe more of thatte I have notedde itte
goe telle mye

daughterre I woulde ſpeake wits herre goe too calle
hytherre mye foole O you Sir come you hytherre
Who am I Syrre

560

Stew Mye Ladys fatherre

F

KYNGE LEARE.

34

Leare My Ladys fatherre mye Lords Knave you
whorfonne dog

Stew I am none of thys I praye you pordonne
mee mye Lorde

Leare Doe you bandy lookes withe me Knave

Stew Ile notte bee ftrucke mye Lorde

Kente Norre trypt neytherre you bafe foote ball
Playerre

Leare Fellow I thanke thee thou fervft mee ande
I love thee

Kente Come Sir Ile teache you dyfferences awaye
awaye

iffe you wille meafure youre lubberres length agayne
tarrye butte awaye you have wifdome

Leare Nowe freyndlye Knave I thaynke thee
theres earneft
of thye fervyce

### Enterre Foole

Foole Lette mee hyre hymme too Heres mye
Coxcombe

Leare Howe nowe mye prettye Knave how doft
thou

Foole Sirra you were beſte take mye Coxcombe

Kente Whye Foole

Foole Whye forre takynge ownes parte thatts
oute of favoure

KYNGE LEARE.

35

Naye an thou canſt notte ſmyle as the winde getts
thout

catch colde ſhortlye welle take mye Cocks-
combe

Whye he hath banyſhd two of daughterres ande
done the thyrde a bleſſynge agaynſt hys wille
iffe thou wilt followe hymme thou muſte needes
weare my Cockſcombe how now nunckle woud
I hadde two Cockſcombes ande two daughterres

Leare Whye mye Boye

foole Iſſe I gave themme anye lyvynge Ide keepe
the Cockſcombe myeſelfe theres myne begge
anotherre of thye daughterres

Leare Take heede Syrrah the whyppe

foole Truth is a dog thatte muſte toe Kennelle
whenne

mye Ladye ſtandes by th Fyre ande ſtynkes

Leare A peſtylente Gulle toe mee

foole Sirra Ile teache thee a ſpeeche

Leare Doe

foole Marke itte Unneckle have more thanne
thou ſheweſte ſpeake leſſe thanne thou knoweſte
lende leſſe thanne thou oweſte ryde more thenne
thou goeſte learne more thenne thou troweſte
leave thye drynke ande thye hope ande keepe
inne a doore thenne ſhalt thou ha more thanne
twoe tens toe a Score

Leare Thys is nothnge foole

F 2

KYNGE LEARE.

36

foole Thenne ift as the breathe of an unnefedde
Layerre

You faye mee naught fort canſt make noe uſe of
Noethynge Unckle

Leare Whye noe noethnge canne bee made o
nothynge
O thourt a bytterre foole

folle Doſt knowe the difference boye twixt a
bytterre ande
a fweete foole 610

Leare Noe Ladde teache mee

foole Thatte Lorde thatte couſayld thee to give
thye Lande awaye

Comme place hymme here bye mee doe thou for
hymme ſtande

Thenne foone wilte the fweete ande bytterre foole
appeare

Leare Doſt call mee foole boye

foole Alle thye Tytles haſt thou gyvenne awaye
thatte
thou waſt borne withe

Kente Thyſſe iſſe alle toegerthere foole mye
Lorde

foole Noe faythe Lordes ande greate Menne
wille notte

lette mee have alle foole toe myeſelfe theyle 620
bee ſnatchynge give nee an Egge Nunckle ande
Ile give thee two Crownes

KYNGE LEARE.

37

Leare Whatte twoe Crownes ſhall theye bee

folle Whye afterre I ha broke the Egge ande eate
the meate thenne take the twoe Crownes oth Egge
whenne thou cloveſte ande graveſte awaye thye
Crowne thenne thou hadſt lyttle witte inne thye
baulde Crowne lette hymme bee whypt thatte
fyndes itte notte foe

Fooles had nere leſſe witte inne a Yeare 630

Forre wife menne are growne foppyſhe
Theye knowe notte howe theyre Witts doe weare
Theyre Mannerres are foe Apyſhe

Leare Whenne where you wonte toe bee thuffe
fulle
of Songs Syrra

foole I have uſedde itte Nunckle everre ſynce
thoud madſt

thye Daughterres thye Motherre Nunckle forre
Whenne thou gavſt themme the Rodde theye forre
joye dydde weepe Ande I forre Sorrowe ſung
thatte fuche a Kynge ſhoulde playe a bo peepe
I praye thee Nunckle keepe a Schoole Maſterre 640
thatte canne teache thye foole toe lye I woulde
fayne learne toe lye

Leare Iſſe you lye lye you ſhalle bee whipte

foole Whatte kynne arte thou ande thye
Daughterres

theyl ha mee whypt forre ſpeakynge trewe ande
thou forre lyinge O I hadde ratherre be anye

38 KYNGE LEARE.

thynge thanne a folle yette woud I notte bee
thou Nunckle thou haſt payd thye witte a bothe
fydes ande leſte noethynge inne the Myddelle
heere commes oune o the Parynges 650

Gonnerylle

*Leare* Howe nowe daughterre whatte makes
thatte frontlett onne

Methynkes you are toe muche a late ith frowne
foole Thou waſt a prettye fellowe whenne thou
caredeſte

notte forre herre frowne nowe thou arte O withoute
a figure I amme a foole thou arte noethynge though
youre face byddes mee holde mye peace Yette doſt
thou faye noethynge

Mumme. Mumme hee thatte keepes norre Cruſte
norre Crumme

Wearye of alle ſhalle wante forre fome Thatts a
ſheald pefcod

Gon Notte onlye thys foole you are lycened
butte otherre offe 660
the retynewe doe hourelye carpe ande quarrelle ande
ryotts notte toe bee enneduredde I hadde thoughte
Sir

bye makynge thys welle knowne toe you toe have
Founde a ſafe redreſſe butte amme fearefulle bye
youre

KYNGE LEARE.

late ſpeeche ande Actes thatte you doe proteſte thys
courſe

whiche iſſe you ſhoulde Sir the faulte wille notte
ſcape

cenneſure norre ſhalle redreſſe ſleepe whiche inne the
tennederre offe a wholeſome weale myghte inne
workynge

doe you thatte offence thatte elſe were ſhame butte
thenne

neceſſytye muſte calle dyſcreete proceedings 670

folle Forre you trowe Nunckle the hedge Spar-
rowe fedde the

Cookow ſoe longe thatte itte hadde the heade be
itte younge

ſoe oute wente the Cannedelle ande wee were leſte
darklynge

Leare Are you oure daughterre

Gon Comme Sir I woudde you make uſe offe the
wifdomme whereoffe

I knowe you are fraughte ande putte awaye theſe
dybſpſytyonnes

thatte late have transforremedde you fromme
whatte you are

foole Maye notte an Aſs knowe whenne the
Carte drawes the horſe

whoope Juſſe I love thee

Leare Dothe anye here knowe mee thyſſe iſſe
notte Leare dothe

KYNGE LEARE.

40

Leare walke thuffe fpeake thuffe where are hys
Eies hys 580

dyfcerrenynges are letharregye forre fure tis notte
foe who

ift canne telle mee who I amme Ift Leares
fhadowe fyre

I woud learne thatte bye the markes offe fo-
vereygntye

ande reafonne I fshould bee falfe perrefwadedde
I hadde

daughterres

Folle Whiche theye wille make anne obedyente
fatherre

Leare Thye Name fayre Gennetlewomanne

Gon Thys Admyratyonne favourres of otherre
newe prankes I praye

You unnederreftande mye purpofes aryghte as you
are oulde

foe fhoud you bee wife heere doe you keepe foure
hundredde

Knyghtes ande Squires Menne foe diforrderre-
lye foe 690

deboyſte ande bolde Thatte thyſe oure Courte
inneſectedde

with theyre mannerres ſhewes lyke a ryatouſe
Inne bee

thou defyredde bye herre thatte elfe wille take the
thynge

KYNGE LEARE.

41

fhe beggs a lyttle toe dyſquannetytye youre trayne
ande

the remaynderre thatte ſtylle depende toe bee fuche
Menne as maye beeforte youre Age ande knowe
themmeſelves ande you

Leare Darkneſſe ande divels faddle mye horſes
call mye

trayne togetherre degenerate baſtarde elfe notte
trouble

thee yette have I owne daughterre leſte 700

Gon You ſtryke mye People ande youre dys-
orrederedde rabble

make ſervaunts of theyre betterres

Duke commes forrewarde

Leare O Wee thatte toe late repentes uſle O
Sir you are comme

Is itte yore wille Wee prepare anye horſes In-
gratytude

thou Marble heartedde feynde More hideouſe
whenne

thou ſheweſte thee inne a Childe thanne the Sea
Monſterre orre deteſſetedde Kyte thou leſſen mye
trayne ande Menne of choyſe who alle partyculars
of dutye knowe O mouſte ſmalle fauſte howe
uglye dydſte thou inne Cordelya ſhowe thatte 710
wrencht mye verye frame of nature fromme its fyxt

G

42 KYNGE LEARE.

place drewe fromme mye hearte alle love ande
addedde toe the galle O Leare Leare beate atte
thye gate thatte lette thye follye inne ande thye
dear judgmente oute goe goe alle mye People

Duke Mye Lorde I amme guiltlesse afs I amme
Ignorante

Leare Itte maye bee foe harke Nature heare deare
Goddeffe

fuspende thye purpofe iffé thou woudft make thys
Creature fruitefulle intoe herre wombe conveye
fterylytye drye uppe inne herre the Organnes
offe

Innecreafe ande lette noe babe fprynge toe honorre
herre

butte iffé fhe muſte teeme create herre Chylde of
ſpleene

ande lette itte channelle rynkles onne herre browe
of youthe with accente teares turne alle herre paynes
toe rude laughterre ande contempte Thatte ſhee
maye

knowe howe ſharpe ande lyke a Serrepentes toothe
it is

toe have a thankleſſe Chylde goe goe mye People
Duke Nowe Gods thatte wee adore howe comes
thyſſe

Gon Aſk notte the cauſe butte lette hys dyſpo-
ſytyonne have

the ſcope thatte dotage gives itte

730

KYNGE LEARE.

43

Leare Whatte fiftye atte a Clappe ande with-
inne a fyrtnyghte too

Duke What's the Matterre Sir

Leare Marke mee Ile telle the life ande deathe
I amme

aſhamd thou haſt powerre toe ſhake mye Mann-
hoode

thuſſe thatte theſe hotte teares thatte breake fromme mee perreſorce ſhoud make worſe blaſts ande Foggs onne the unnetennederre woundynges of a Fatherres uſſe playe thys parte agayne Ile plucke ye oute ande caſte you with the Waterres thatte you maye temperre claye Yea tis come toe thys yette iffé 740 there oune daughterrre leſte whome I amme ſure iffé kynde ande commeſforretable whenne ſhee ſhalle heare thys of thee with herre Nayles ſhele ſlee thye Wolfyſhe Viſage ande thoulte ſynde I ſhalle ſeſume the ſhape whiche ſeemynge I have caſte offe
Yeſſe thou ſhalte I warrante thee goes oute

Gon Doe you marke thatte mye Lorde

Duke I cannotte bee foe partyalle toe the greate
Love I beare thee

Gonnerille

Gon Praye you connetente whatte Ofwalde hoa
You Sir more knave thanne foole afterre youre
Maſterre

foole Nunckle Leare Nunckle Leare

Tarrye take the foole withe thee

750

G 2

44

KYNGE LEARE.

A Fox whenne oune has caughte herre

Ande fuche a daughterre

Should fure love the flaughterre

Iffre mye Cappe woulde buye a halterre

Soe fhalle the foole followe afterre

Gon Thys Manne hathe hadde goode counfelle

A hundredde Knyghtes he maye oureguarde

Hys dotage with hys powerres 760

Ande holde oure lives inne Mercye Curane I faye

Alb Welle you may feare too farre

Gon Saferre thanne trufte toe farre

Whathe he hath uttered I have writte mye fyfterre

Iffre fhe fuftayne hymme ande hys hundredde
Knyghtes

Whenne I have fhewd th unfytnesse

### Enterre Stewardre

How nowe Curane

Haft thou yette wrote thatte Letterre toe mye fyfterre

Curan I Madamme

Gon Take thenne fome Companye ande awaye
toe horfe

Inneforme herre fulle off mye partycularre feare 770

Ande thereto adde fuche reafonnes of youre owne

Affre maye compacte itte more Gette you gone

Ande haftenne toe youre retynewe

KYNGE LEARE.

45

Thys mylkye gennetlenesse ande courfe offre yours

Though I condemne notte yette underre pardonne

You are muche more atte taſke forre wante of
wisdomme

Thanne prayſd forre harmfulle myldneſſe

Alb Welle Welle to th evente

### Leare Kente Gentlemanne ande foole

Leare Goe you before toe Glofterre withe theſe

Letterres 780

acquainte mye daughterre noe furretherre withe anye
thinge you knowe thenne commes fromme herre
demande

butte of the Letterre iſſe youre dylygence bee
drowſye

I fhalle bee there before you

Kente Ille notte ſleepe tille I have delyvyredde
youre Letterre

foole Iſſe a Mans brayns were inſheeles wert
notte inne

dangerre offre kybes

Lere I boye

foole Thenne praye thee bee merrye thye witte
goes notte

flyppe ſhodde 790

Leare Trewe ha ha ha ha

46

KYNGE LEARE.

foole Thoult fee thye otherre daughterre wille
ufe thee

welle forre though fhes afs lyke thyffe afs Crabbs
toe

an apple yette I canne telle whatte I lyfte

Leare Whatte canſt telle Boye

foole She wille taſte as lyke toe a Crabb afs does
thys

thou knowſt whye ounes Nofe ſtands ith myddelle
ons face

Leare Noe

foole Whye toe ones Eyes of fydes ones Nofe
thatte

whyche Manne cannotte ſmelle oute hee maye
fee oute

800

Leare I dydde herre wronge

foole doſte knowe howe the Oyſterre makes hys
ſhelle

Leare Noe

foole Neytherre canne I Yette doe I knowe whye
a Snyyle

has a houſe

Leare Ande whye thatte

foole Toe hyde hys heade inne notte toe give itte
awaye

toe hys Daughterres ande leave hys hornes withoute
a Cafe

Leare I wille forregette mye Nature foe kynde
a Fatherre

KYNGE LEARE.

47

whatte hoa there bee mye horſes readye

foole Thye Aſſes are aboute themme the reaſonne
the ſeafonne

810

Starres are noe more thanne iſſe a prettye reaſonne

Leare Caufe theye are notte eyghte

foole Werte thou mye foole Nunckle thou
ſhouldſt bee

beate forre beynge oulde afore thye tyme

Leare Hows thatte

foole Thou ſhoudſt notte ha beene oulde tille thou
hadſte

beene wife

Leare Lette mee notte bee madde O fweete
heavenne I

woud notte bee madde O keepe mee inne temperre
whatte

Hoa are the horſes readye

Gent Readye mye Lorde

820

Leare Comme boye

foole She thatts a Mayde nowe ande laughs atte
mye deparreture

ſhalle notte be a Mayde länge unleſſe thyngs bee
ſhorterre

Baſtarde ande Curanne

Bas Save thee Curanne

Cur Ande you Sir I have beene withe youre
fathere

KYNGE LEARE.

48

Ande givenne hymme Notyce

Thatte the Duke off Cornwalle ande Regan hys
ducheſſe

Wille bee here with hymme thys nyghte

Bas Howe comes thatte

Cur Naye I Knowe notte you have hearde o the
Newes
930

abroade of the eare buffynge Arregumennts

Bas Notte I praye you whatte are theye

Cur You maye learnne ere longe farewelle Sir

Bas The duke bee here toe Nyghte the betterre
beſte

Thyſſe weaves itteſelfe perforce intoe mye bufyneſſe
mye fatherre hath ſette guarde toe take mye
brotherre

And I have oune thynge of a queafye queſtyonne

Whiche I mſte acte briefeneſſe ande forretune
helpe mee

### Edgarre

Brotherre a worde O flye thys place

Descennde brotherre I faye mye fatherre watches 940

Innetellygence is givenne where you are hydde

You have the goode advantage of the Nyghte

Haſt thou notte ſpokenne gainſt the duke of
Cornwalle

Knowſte thou notte hes comynge hytherre ith haſte

KYNGE LEARE.

49

Ande Reganne withe hymme have you nothynge
fayd

Uponne youre partye gaynſt the duke of Albanye
Advife thyſelfe I faye

“ Edg. I am fure on't not a word.

“ Baſtard. I heare my father comming, pardon
“ me in crauing, I

“ muſt draw my fword vpon you, feemme to de-
“ fend your ſelfe, now

“ quit you well, yeeld, come before my father,
“ light heere, heere,

“ flie brother flie, torches, torches, ſo farwell ;
“ ſome bloud drawne

“ on me would beget opinion of my more fierce
“ endeuor, I haue

“ ſeene drunkards do more then this in ſport ;
“ father, father, ſtop,

“ ſtop, no helpe ?

### Enter Gloeſter.

“ Gloſt. Now Edmund, where's the villaine ;

“ Baſt. Heere ſtood he in the darke, his ſharpe
“ ſword out,

“ warbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the
“ Moone to ſtand his

“ aufpicious Miftris.

“ Gloſt. But where is he ?

H

50

KYNGE LEARE.

“ Baſt. Looke fir, I bleed.

“ Gloſt. Where is the villaine, Edmund?

“ Baſt. Fled this way fir, when by no means
“ he coud—

“ Gloſt. Purſue him, go after, by no meanes,
“ what ?

“ Baſt. Perſwade me to the murder of your
“ Lordſhip, but that

“ I tolde him the reuengiue Gods, gainſt Paracides
“ did all their

“ thunders bend, ſpoke with how many ſould
“ and ſtrong a bond.

“ the child was bound to the father; fir, in a fine,
“ feeing how loth-

“ ly oppoſite I ſtood to his vnnaſtall purpofe,
“ with ſell motion

“ with his prepared ſword, he charges home my
“ vnprouided bo-

“ dy, launcht mine arme; but when he ſaw my
“ beſt alarumd ſpirits

“ bold in the quarrels right, rouzd to the en-
“ counter, or whether

“ gaſted by the noife I made, but ſodainly he
“ fled.

“ Gloſt. Let him ſlie farre, not in this Land
“ ſhall he remaine vn-

“ caught and found; diſpatch, the Noble Duke
“ my maſter, my

51

KYNGE LEARE.

“ worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, by his
“ authority I will

“ proclaime it, that he which findes him ſhall
“ deferue our thankes,

“ bringing the murderous caytiffe to the ſtake, he
“ that conceales

“ him, death.

“ Baſt. When I diſſwaded him from his intent,
“ and found him

“ pight to do it, with curſt ſpeech I threatned to
“ diſcouer him; he

“ replied, Thou vnpoſſeſſing baſtard, doſt thou
“ thinke, if I would

“ ſtand againſt thee, could the repoſure of any truſt,
“ vertue, or

“ worth in thee make thy words faith'd? no:
“ what I ſhould deny,

“ as this I would, I, thogh thou didſt produce
“ my very character,

“ ide turne it all to thy ſuggeſtion, plot, and
“ damned pretence, and

“ thou muſt make a dullard of the world, if they
“ not thought the

“ profits of my death were very pregnant and
“ potentiall ſpurres to

“ make thee ſeeke it.

“ Gloſt. Strong and faſtened villaine, would he
“ deny his letter?

H 2

KYNGE LEARE.

52

" I neuer got him : harke, the Dukes trumpets,
" I know not why he

" comes ; all Ports ile barre, the villaine fhall not
" scape, the Duke

" muſt grant me that : befides, his picture I wil
" fend far and neere,

" that all the kingdome may haue note of him,
" and of my land,

" (loyall and naturall boy) ile worke the meanes
" to make thee capable.

" Enter the Duke of Cornwall.

" Corn. How now my noble friend, since I
" came hether, which

" I can call but now, I haue heard ſtrange newes.

" Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too
" ſhort which can

" purfue the offender ; how doſt my Lord ?

" Gloſt. Madam, my old heart is crakt, is
" crakt.

" Reg. What, did my fathers godſon feeke
" your life ? he whom

" my father named your Edgar ?

" Gloſt. I Lady, Lady, ſhame would haue it hid.

" Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous
" Knights that

" tends vpon my father ?

KYNGE LEARE.

53

" Gloſt. I know not Madam, tis too bad,
" too bad.

" Baſt. Yes madam, he was.

" Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill
" affected,

" Tis they haue put him on the old man's death,

" To haue theſe—and waſte of this his reuensues :

" I haue this preſent euening from my ſiſter

" Beene well inform'd of them, and with ſuch
" cautions,

" That if they come to ſoiourne at my houſe, ile
" not be there.

" Duke. Nor I, aſſure thee Regan; Edmund, I
" heard that you haue

" ſhewne your father a child-like office.

" Baſt. Twas my duty fir.

" Gloſt. He did betray his practice, and receiued

" This hurt you ſee, ſtriuing to apprehend him.

" Duke. Is he purſued ?

" Gloſt. I my good Lord.

" Duke. If he be taken, he ſhall neuer more be
" ſeard of doing

" harme, make your owne purpofe how in my
" ſtrength you pleafe ;

" for you Edmund, whoſe vertue and obedience
" doth this inſtant

" ſo much commend it ſelſe, you ſhalle be ours,
" natures of ſuch deep

KYNGE LEARE.

54

" truſt, we ſhall much need, you we firſt ſeize on.

" Baſt. I ſhall ſerue you truely, how euer else.

" Gloſt. For him I thanke your Grace.

" Duke. You know not why we came to viſite
" you?

" Regan. Thus out of feaſon, threatning darke
" eide night,

" Occaſions noble Gloeſter of ſome prize,

" Wherein we muſt haue vſe of your aduice,

" Our father he hath writ, ſo hath our ſiſter,

" Of defences, which I beſt thought it fit,"

Toe anſwerre fromme oure hande the ſeveralle
Meſſengers

Fromme hence attende dyſpatche oure goode oulde
freynde

Laye comforte toe youre biſomme ande beſtowe

Youre Needeſulle confaſſle toe youre buſyneſſes

Whiche craves oure inſtaunte uſe

Glo I ſerve you Madame youre Graces are
rygthe welcome
1060

Kente ande Stewarde

Stew Goode even to thee freynde arte of the houſe

Kente I

Stew. Were maye wee ſette oure horſes

Kente. Inne the Mire

Stew Prithee an thou love mee telle mee

KYNGE LEARE.

55

Kente I love thee notte

Stew Whye thenne I care notte forre thee

Kente Waſt butte inne Lipſburye Penſolde Ide
make

thee care forre mee

Stew Wherefore doſt thou uſe mee thuſs I
knowe thee

1070

notte

Kente Fellowe I knowe thee

Stew Whatte doſt thou knowe mee forre

Kente A Knave a rafcalle who eates brokenne
Meates

a bafe proude beggarrelye three ſhewtedde hundredde
Pounde a whorefonne Glaſſe a gazynge ſuper-
fyncalle

Rogue oune Trunke innehererytynge ſlave thatte
woude bee a bawde inne waye off goode Service
ande arte noethynge butte the compofytyonne of a
Knave Cowarde

ande Panderre whome I wille beate intoe whyn-
ynge iſſe thou

denye the ſmalleſte Syllable of the addytyonne 1080

Stew Whye whatte a Monſtrous fellowe thou
arte toe rayle onne

oune who knowes notte thee norre iſſe knowne of
thee

Kente Brazenne facd Varlette doſt denye thou
knowſt mee iſſe

KYNGE LEARE.

56

notte butte two dayes fynce I beate thee ande
tript thee

before the Kyng drawe you Rogue though itte
bee Nyghte

yette the Moon fhynes thatte I maye a foppe
offe thee

drawe you whorefon cullye drawe

Stew Awaye I have noethynge toe doe with thee

Kente Drawe I faye thou haſt Letterres agaynſt
the Kynge

ande take Vanytye the Puppetts parte agaynſt the
Royaltye

1090
of therre fatherre drawe orre Ile foe Carbonadoe
youre

fhankes drawe thenne I faye

Stew Helpe ho Mirtherre Helpe

Enterre Edmunde Glofterre duke ande duchefſe

Bas Howe nowe whatts the Matterre

Kente Withe you goodman boye ile fleafhe
you mye younge
Maſterre

Duke Peace onne youre lives he dies thatte
ſtrykes agayne

Reg The Mefliengerre fromme oure Syſterre
ande the Kynge

Duke Whats youre difference ſpeake

KYNGE LEARE.

57

Stew Im ſcarce inne breathe mye Lorde

Kente Noe marvaile notte thou haſt foe beſtird
thye

Valoure thatte Nature declaymes inne thee the 1100
Taylorre

Duke Thou arte a ſtraunge fellowe a Taylorre
make a Manne

Kente Sir a Stone Cutterre orre a Paynterre coud
notte ha made

hymme foe ille hadde he workd butte oune
houre

Glos Speake howe grewe the quarrelle

Stew Thys ancyente Ruffyan Sir whofe life I
ſpard atte

fuite of hys greye Bearde

Kente O Thou Whoreſon Zedde thou unnecef-
farye Letterre

if you wille give mee leave mye Lorde Ile treade
thys Villayne intoe waterre ande daube the

Walls of a Jaques with hymme ſpare mye
greye

1110

Bearde you Wagtayle

Duke Peace beaſtlye Knave thou haſte noe Re-
veraunce

Kente Yefle butte angerre has a Pryvyledge

Duke Whye arte angrye I faye

Kente That fuch a flave as thys ſhoud weare a
Sworde

I

58

KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte weares noe honeſtye fuche ſmylynge
Rogues as thee

Like Ratts nibble thofe Cordes inne twaine

Whiche are toe intrenche ande looffen everye
ſmooth Paffyon

Thatte inne the Natures of theyre Lordes rebelle

Knowinge noughte like dayes butte followinge

Eache puffye gale ande varye of theyre Maſterres

1120

Smoile you mye Speeches as I were a folle

Goofe If I hadde thee on Sarum Playne

Ide fende thee Cacklynge home toe Camulette

Duke Saye arte Mad olde fellowe

Glos How fell you oute faye thatte

Kente Noe contraryes holde fuche difference as
I ande fuche a Knave

Duke Werefore doſte call hymme Knave
whats hys Offence

Kente Hys countenaunce lykes mee notte

Duke Noenore perchaunce dothe minne orre hers

Kente Sir tis mye occupatyonne to bee Playne

I have ſene betterre faces inne mye Daye

Thanne ſtands onne anye Shoulderre thatte I fee

Nowe before mee atte thys inſtaunte

Duke Thys is a fellowe who havynge beene
oſte prayſde

Forre bluntneſſe dothe affecte a ſaucye ruffeneſſe

Noe ſooth hee cannote flatterre hee muſte bee
playne

KYNGE LEARE.

59

Hee muſte ſpeake truthe ande theye wille take
itte ſoe

Iſſe hees notte playne theſe kynde of Knaves I
knowe

Whiche inne thys playnneſſe has boure more craſte
ande far more corrupte Endes thenne twentye
ſillye duckynge

obſervaunts thatte ſtretche theyre dutyes nicelye

Kente Sir inne goode ſoothe

Underre the allowaunce of youre greate Aſpecte

Whofe inneſtluence lyke the wreathe of radyente fire
Glytterynge fromme Phebus fronte

Duke Whatte meanſt thou bye thys

Kente Toe goe fromme mye dyalogue whiche
you didde

muche dyſcommende Sir I amme noe flattererre hee
thatte beguilde you with ſmoothe accente was a
playne Knave which parte I wille notte aſte
though I ſhoud winne youre dyſpleafure

Duke Wats the offence you gave hymme

Stew I nere gave hymme anye itte pleafd the
Kynge hys Maſterre

Verye late toe ſtrike atte mee uponne hys miſconſtructyonne

Wenne hee conjunct ande flatterynge hys dyſpleafure

Tript mee behynde beynge downe inſultedde raylde
ande putte onne hymme ſoe muche o the Manne

12

60

KYNGE LEARE,

Thatte worthyedde hymme ande gotte hymme
prayſes o the Kynge

Ande forre the Attempte of thys hys ſofte ſubdud
employte

Drewe oune mee here agayne

Kente Nonne O theſe Rogues ande fooles butte
Ajax is theyre Knave

Duke Whatte ho the ſtocks

You ſtubborne Miſcreante you unreverente bragarte

Welle teache you

Kente I am toe oulde to learne calle notte your
Stocks for mee

I ſerve the Kynge onne whoſe Employementes I was
ſente toe you

You ſhould doe ſmalle reſpecte toe mye Maſterre
Stoppynge thus hys Graces Meſſengerre

Duke Fetche forthe the ſtockes

As I have life ande honoure there ſhalle ſitte tille
Noone

1170

Reg Tille Nyghte mye Lorde ande alle Nyghte
toe

Kente If I were youre fatherres dog Madam

You coud notte uſe mee foe

Reg Sir beynge hys Knave thenne I wille

Duke Thys is a fellowe o the Nature oure Sif-
terre ſpeakes of

Glos Lette mee beſeeche your Grace notte to
doe foe

61

KYNGE LEARE.

Hys faulte is muche ande the goode Kynge hys
Maſterre

Wille checke hymme fort thys is ſuche meane
Correctyonne

As moſte common treſpaffes are punyſht withe

The Kynge muſte take itte ille thatte hes' foe
flyghtlye valud

1180

Iſſe you hys Meſſenger ſhould have thus reſtraynd
Duke Ile anſwerre thatte

Reg Mye Sifterre wille receive itte ſtille muche
worſe

Toe have her Gentlemenne abuſd affaultedde

For followinge her affayres putte inne hys leggs

Come mye Lorde awaye

Glos I amme forrye forre thee freynde tis the
Dukes pleafure

Whofe dyſpofytyonne alle the worlde welle knowes

Wille notte bee rubd norre ſtopt yette Ile intreat
for thee

Kente doe notte I praye you Sir I have watcht
ande travayled harde

1190

Some tyme I wille ſleepe the reſte Ile whiftle

For a goodmanns fortune Sir maye growe oute
ats heels

Give you goode Morrowe Sir

Glos Inne thys innedeede the Dukes toe blame

An I feare twille bee butte ille looke

62

KYNGE LEARE.

Kente Goode Kynge thatte muſte approve the
common ſawe
Who oute of Heavens benedyctyonne comeſte
Toe the warme Sunne
Approache thou beacon toe thys unnederre Globe
Thatte bye thye alle radyaunte beames I maye 1200
Peruſe thys Letterre ſcarce noethynge fees mye
wracke
Butte Miserye I knowe tis fromme Cordelya
Who mouſte haplye hath beene informed
Of mye obſcurd Courſe ande ſhalle fynde tyme
From thys enormous ſtate feekynge to give
Loſſes theyre remedyes alle wearye ande oere watcht
Take vantage Heavye Eyes notte toe beholde
Thys ſhameful lodgynge Farewelle fortune
Smyle ande turne thye weele ounce more

### Edgarre

I heare myefelfe proclaymed 1210
Ande bye the happye hollow of a Tree
Eſcapt the hunte Noe place noe porte is free
Thatte guarde ande mouſte unneufvalle Vigylauunce
Doſt notte attende mye takynge while I maye ſcape
I have beethoughte ande wille preferve myefelfe
Bye takynge the bafeſte ande pooreſte ſhape
Thatte everre penurye inne contempte of Manne

63

KYNGE LEARE.

Broughte neere toe beaſte Mye face Ile grime
with filthe
Blankette mye loynes twiſte alle mye hayre in
Knottes
Ande inne Adam lyke Nakeddeneſſe oute face 1220
The Winde ande perfecutyonne o the Skye
Thys Countrye gives mee proofe ande prefydente
Of Bedlam Beggars thatte withe roarynge voyces
Ande horrid blows numbered onne theyre lymes
Sometyme with lunatycke banns ande thenne with
Prayeres
Enforce theyre Charytye poore poore Tom poore
Edgarre
Thatte innedeede is fomethynge I amme noethynge

### Kynge ande Knyghte

Leare Tis ſtraunge they ſhoulde thus departe
from hence
Ande notte ſende backe mye Meſſengerre
Knygthe I dydde heare the Nyghte before there
was 1230
Noe purpofe of hys remove
Kente Alle hayle toe thee noble Maſterre
Leare How makſt thou thys ſhame thye paſtyme
Foole Ha Ha looke he weares crewelle Garterres
Horſes are tyde bye the Heels dogs ande beares
Bye the Necke Munkyes bye the loynes ande Menne

## KYNGE LEARE.

64

Bye the Legs whenne hees fomewhatte over luftye
Thenne he weares woodenne neatherre Stockes

Leare Whas hee thatte hathe thye place foe
muche miftooke

Toe fette thee here

1240

Kente Tis bothe hee ande fhee youre Sonne
ande daughterre

Leare Noe

Kente Yes

Leare Noe I faye

Kente I faye Yea

Leare Noe noe they woulde notte Itte can-
notte bee

Kente Agayne I faye tis evenne foe

Leare Bye Jupiterre I fweare noe they durft
notte do itte

Suche outrage is worfe thanne murderre

Refolve mee withe alle modefte haſte whiche
waye

1250

Thou mayſt deferve or they purpofe thys ufage

Commynge fromme uſſe

Kente Whenne atte theyre houre my Lorde

I didde commende youre hyghneſſe Letterres toe
them

Eere I was rifenne fromme the place thatte ſhewedde
Mye dutye Kneelynge came there a reekynge Poſte
Stewd in hys haſte halfe breathleſſe pantynge forthe
Salutatyonnes fromme Gonerylle hys Miftreſſe

## KYNGE LEARE.

65

Thenne producd Letterres whiche they foon oere
reade

Strayghte ſummoned uppe theyre Menne ande
tooke horſe

1260

Commanded mee toe followe ande attende the
leyfure

Of theyre Anſwerre gave mee colde looks

Ande Meetynge here the otherre Meſſengerre

Whofe Errande I perceyvd had poyfond myne

Beynge the ſelfe fame fellowe who of late

Dyſplayd foe ſawcylye agaynſt youre hyghneſſe

Havynge more Manne thanne Witte drewe

He rayſd the houſe youre Sonne ande daughterre

Founde thys faulte worthe the ſhame whiche here
it ſufferres

1270

Leare O howe thys Motherre fwels uppe to-
warde mye hearte

Hiftorica Paffio—down thou clymynge Sorrowe

Thye Elementes belowe where iſſe thy daughterre

Kente Withinne the Earle Sir withinne

Leare follow notte butte ſtaye theyre

Knyghte Made you noe more offence thanne
thatte you ſpeake of

Kente Noe

How chaunce the Kynge has foe ſinalle a trayne

foole Hadſt beene fette ithe ſtocks forre thatte
Queſtynne

Thou hadſt welle defervd itte

1380

K

66.

KYNGE LEARE.

Kente Whye foole
foole Wele fende thee toe an Ante whol teache
thee
theyres noe labourynge ithe Winterre Alle thatte
followe theyre Nofes are ledde bye theyre Eyes
Whenne
a greate wheele paces downe the hille loofe thye
holde
leafte itte breake thye Necke inne the follow-
inge itte
butte whenne itte mounte the hille eene thenne lette
itte drawe thee Whenne a wife Man gives thee;
betterre
counfelle give mee mine agayne Id ha none butte
Knaves followe itte fince a foole gives itte
Thatte Manne who ferves for gayne
Ande followes butte forre forme
Wille packe whenne itte begynnes toe rayne
Ande leave thee ithe Storme
Butte I wille tarrye the foole wille ftaye
Ande lette the wife Manne flye
The Knaves turnes foole thatte runnes awaye
Thenne foole noe Knave perdye

Kente Where learnte you thys
foole Notte ithe Stockes

67.

KYNGE LEARE.

Leare ande Glofterre

Leare Denye toe fpeake withe mee tharè fycke
ande wearye
Theye traveld harde toe Nyghte paltrye juggle
Tis notte foe whatte revolte ande flynge offe
Fetch me a betterre anfwerre

Glos Mye dearefte Lorde
You knowe the fierye Qualytye of the Duke
How immoveablye fixt he iffé ins courfe

Leare Deathe ande confufyonne
Whatte fierye Qualytye whye Glofterre
Glofterre I faye where is the Duke of Corn-
walle 1410

The Kynge woud fpeake with Cornwalle the deare
fatherre
Woulde withe hys daughterre fpeake commands
her fervice

Glos Aye mye goode Lorde
Leare Fierye Duke telle the hotte duke thatte
Leare
Naye butte notte yette may bee hee ifs notte welle
Innefirmytye doth ftille neglecte alle iffue where toe
oure healthe
Is bounde wee are notte ourefelves whenne nature
beynge opprefte
Commands the Mynde toe fufferre withe the bodye
Ile forbeare

K 2

68

KYNGE LEARE.

Ande am fallen oute withe mye more heavyre
wille

Toe take the innedyfpoſedde ande fycklye fitte forre
the founde Manne 1420

Deathe onne mye ſtate wherefore ſhould he ſitte here

Thys aſte perſwades mee thatte thys emotyonne

Offe the Duke ande herre is prætioſe onelye

Give me mye Servaunte foorthe Telle the duke
ands wife

Ile ſpeake withe themme ande preſentlye too

Bidde themme come forthe Orre atte theyre Cham-
berre doore

Ile beate mye drumme tille itte crye ſleepe toe deathe

Duke ande Reganne

Leare Goode Morrowe toe you bothe

Duke Alle hayle toe youre Grace

Reg I amme gladde toe ſee youre hyghneſſe 1430

Leare I doe thynke you are I knowe whatte
reafonne

I have toe thynke ſoe anne thou ſhoudſt notte bee
gladde

I woud divorce thee fromme thy Motherres Wombe

Ande faye the Motherre was an Adultreſſe

Thye Sifterre is naughte O Reganne ſhe hath tiedde

Sharpe toothd unnekyndneſſe lyke a Vulture here

KYNGE LEARE.

69

I ſcarce canne ſpeake toe thee thoult notte believe
Of whatte bafe qultyte ſhe is O Reganne

Reg Praye you Sir take Patyence I have hope

You leſſe knowe how to Value herre deſerte 1440

Thanne ſhe toe ſlacke inne dutye

Leare Saye howe is thatte

Reg I cannote thynke mye Syſterre ithe leafte

Woud ſlacke inne dutye ande oblygatyonne

Leare Mye Curſes onne herre

Reg O Conſydderre Sir you are oulde

Nature inne you ſtands onne the verye verge ande
confyne

You ſhould bee ruld ande led bye ſome dyſ-
cretyonne

Thatte dycernes youre ſtate betterre the you canne

Toe oure Syſterre thenne wee doe praye you make
retturne

Ande faye thatte you have wrongd herre

Leare Whatte doſt faye afke herre forregiveneſſe

Marke you how woud thys become the houſe

I doe confefſe deare Reganne thatte I amme oulde

Onne mye Knees thenne I begge thatte youl
vouchſafe

Toe give mee thys Nyghte bedde ſoode ande
Raymente

Reg Good Sir noe more theſe are unneſſittynge
trickes

therefore wee praye you goe backe toe oure Syſterre

70 KYNGE LEARE.

Leare Noe Reganne Neverre Neverre
She hathe abatedde mee of halfe mye trayne 1460
Lookt blacke uponne mee ftrucke mee with herre
tongue

Mofte serpente lyke uponne mye verye hearte

Maye alle the ftord vengeance of Heavene falle

Onne herre ungratefulle toppe ftryke herre younge
bones

You Ayres thatte ftrike withe lameneſſe

You nimble lyghtnynges darte youre blindyng
flames

Intoe herre ſcornfulle Eies You fenne fuckd Foggs

Drawne bye the powerrefulle heate of the funne

Inneſſeſte herre Beautye ande blafte herre pride

Duke O fye Sir 1470

Reg O the bleſſe Gods youl wifh foe onne mee

When the rafhe Moode takes

Leare Noe Reganne thou ſhalt neverre ha mye
Curſe

Herre Eies are feirce butte thine doe comforte mee

Noe Nature ſhalt notte give toe thee mye

Tis notte inne thee toe grudge mye Pleafure

Toe cutte offe mye trayne ande uſe haſtye Wordes

Ande inne Conclufyonne to oppoſe the Bolte

Agaynſt mye comynge inne thou betterre knowſt

The offyces of Nature bonde of Childhoode 1480

Effects offe Curteſye due offe Gratytude

Thy halfe offe thys Kyngdomme haſt forregotte

71 KYNGE LEARE.

Twas I thate endowedde thee withe itte

Butte who waſt thatte putte mye ithe Stockes

Stewarde comes forrewarde

Duke Whatte Trumpettes thatte

Reg I knowt toe bee mye Syfterres

Bye Letterre ſhe fayde ere longe ſhe woud bee here
Iſſe youre Ladye comme

Leare Thys iſſe the Slave whoſe eafye borrowd
pryde

Dwels ithe fyckle Grace offe herre hee followes

Oute Varlette fromme mye Syghe 1490

Corn Whatte meanes youre grace

Gonnerylle

Leare Who commes here hyde mee kynde
heavennes I praye

Iſſe you doe love oulde Menne make itte youre
Caufe

Sende downe ande take mye parte

Arte notte afhamd to looke uponne thys bearde

Whatte Reganne wilt thou take herre bye the hande

Gon Whye notte Sirre

How have I offendede alls notte offence

Thatte Innedyſcretyonne ande dotage termes
foe 1500

## KYNGE LEARE.

72

Leare O fydes you are toe toughe wille you
ftylle houlde

Agayne how came mye Manne ithe Stockes

Duke I fette hymme there butte hys owne dif-
orrederres

Defervd muche leſſe advancemente

Leare You whatte waſt you

Reg I praye you fatherre beynge weake fceme foe
Iſſe tylle the expyratyonne offe youre Moneth
You wille retturne ande fojourne withe mye Syfterre
Difbandynge halfe youre trayne comme thenne
toe mee [1510]

Beynge nowe fromme home ande oute of Plentye
Whiche iſſe needefulle forre youre entertaynemente
Leare Retturne toe herre ande fiftye Menne
dyſmyſt

Noe ratherre I abjure Alle roofes ande chufe
Toe wage agaynſt the enmytye o the Ayre

Toe bee afs Comrade withe the Wolfe ande Owle
Whye the hotte bloode of Fraunce thatte
dowerreleſſe

Tooke hence oure youngeſte borne I coud bee
broughte

Toe Knee hys Throne ande ſquire lyke penſyonne
begge

Toe Keepe bafe life a foote thanne retturne withe
herre

Perſwade mee ratherre toe bee a ſlave ande Sumpter

Toe Thys deteftedde Gromme

1520

## KYNGE LEARE.

73

Gon Atte youre Choyce Sir

Leare Nowe praye you daughterre doe notte
make mee madde

I wille notte trouble thee mye Chylde Farewelle
Welle noe more meete noe more ſee oune anotherre
Stille arte thou mye bloode mye Fleſhe ande
daughterre

Or ratherre a diſeaſe thats inne mye fleſhe

Whiche I muſte needs calle myne thou arte a Byle
A Plague fore ande inboſſedde Carbuncle

Inne mye corruptedde Bloode butte Ile notte
chyde thee

1530

Lette ſhame come whenne itte wille I doe notte
calle itte

I doe notte bydde the Thunderres beare ſhoote

Norre telle tales of thee toe hygh judgynge Jove

Mende whenne thou canſt be betterre atte the
Leyſure

I wille bee patyente ande wille ſtaye withe Reganne

Aye myſelſe ande mye hundredde Knyghtes

Reg Yette notte foe Sir I looke notte forre you
yette

Norre have I thatte whiche beſyttes youre welcome

Therefore praye you give Eare toe mye Syfterre toe
thofe

Thatte myngle reaſonne withe youre paffyonne 1540

Naye bee contente ande thynke thatte you are oulde

Believe mee Sir ſhe knowes welle thatte ſhe does

L

KYNGE LEARE.

74

*Leare* O Reg iffé thys welle fpokenne

*Reg* I dare avouche itte Sir fiftye followerres

Are welle enoughe wherefore fhoud you neede more

Yea orre foe manye fythe thatte bothe charge ande
dangerre

Speakes gaynſt thatte Numberre forre howe ſhoud
foe manye

Inne oune houſe ande underre two dyſtynct com-
mandes

Holde Amytye tis harde almoſte impoffyble

*Gon* Whye notte mye goode Lorde receive
attendaunce 1550

Fromme thoſe whome ſhe calls Servaunts orre
fromme myne

*Reg* Aye thou fithe trewelye whye notte mye
Lorde

Wee canne controule themme iffé you comme toe mee
forre nowe I ſpye a dangerre I entreate you

Toe brynge butte five ande twentye toe noe more

Wille I give place orre coutenaunce

*Leare* I gave you alle

*Reg* Aye ande inne goode tyme you gave toe

*Leare* Made you mye Guardyans mye de-
pofytaryes

Butte kepte a refervatyonne toe bee followedde 1560

With fuche a Numberre whatte muſte I come
toe you

Withe five ande twentye Reganne fayde you foe

KYNGE LEARE.

75

*Reg* Aye ande ſpeakt agayne mye Lorde

*Leare* Thoſe wickedde Creatures yette doe
ſeeme welle favourd

Whenne otherres are more wickedde Notte beynge
the worſte

Standes inne ſome ranke offe prayſe Ile goe
withe thee

Thye fiftye dothe ſtylle double five ande twentye

Thou arte innedeede twice herre love

*Gon* Heare mee mye Lorde

Whye neede you five ande twentye tenne orre
five 1570

Toe followe inne a houſe where twice the numberre

Have commande toe tende you

*Reg* Naye whatte needes oune

*Leare* O reaſonne notte the deede oure bafeſte
Beggarres

Are inne the pooreſte thynge ſuperreſluouſe

Give notte ſweete Nature more thanne nature needes

Mans life ande beaſtes are equalle inne cheapeneſſe

Iſſe onelye toe goe warme were gorgeouſe

Thenne Nature needes butte halfe the Ladye weares

Heavennes give mee meeke patyence I lacke
itte 1580

You fee mee here Ye Gods a poore a poore oulde
Manne

Aſſe fulle offe griefe as age wretchedde inne bothe

Iſſe itte bee you thatte ſtirre Mye daughterres heartes

L 2

76

KYNGE LEARE.

Agaynfte theyre fatherre foole mee notte too muche
Toe beare itte tamelye touche mee withe angerre
O lette notte Womennes weaponnes waterre droppes
Stayne mye Mannes cheekes Noe ye unneturalle
haggs

I wille poure downe fuche Revenge onne ye bothe
Thatte alle the World fhalle—Ile doe fuche thynges
Whatte they are yette I knowe notte butte theye
fhalle bee 1590

The terrorres o the Earthe you thynke Ile weepe
Noe Ile notte though I have fulle caufe of weepynde
Butte thys mye hearte fhalle breake inne a thou-
fande flawes

Eyre I wille weepe O foole foole I fhalle goe Madde
[Leare Kente Glofterre ande foole goe oute

Duke Lets withdrawe twille bee a Storme

Reg Thys houfe is lyttle the oulde Manne ands
People

Cannotte bee welle beſtowedde

Gon Tis hys owne blame hathe putte hymme
fromme reſte 1600

Reg Thenne hce muſte needes taſte hys follye
Forre hymſelfe I wille receyve hymme gladlye
Butte notte ounne followerre

Duke Soe ſtandes the Matterre withe mee
Butte where iſſe mye Lorde of Glofterre

KYNGE LEARE.

77

Glofterre

Glos The Kynge is inne hygh Rage
Ande wille I knowe notte whetherre

Reg Thenne give hymme waye hele leade
hymſelfe

Gon Entreate hymme notte mye Lorde to ſtaye

Glo Alacke the Nyghte comes onne ande the
bleake Windes

Doe forelye ruffelle forre manye a Myle aboute 1610

Theyres neytherre hedge norre wille ſerve forre
coverte

Reg O Sir toe wilfulle Menne

The injuryes they themmefelves doe procure

Muſte ſerve themme forre Schoole Maſterres ſhutte
the doors

He iſſe attendedde withe a deſperate trayne

Ande whatte theye maye prompte hymme too
beynge apte

Toe have Eare abuſd Wifdomme byddes uſſe
feare

Kente ande Gentlemenne

Kente Whatte iſſe theyre here beſydes foule
Weatherre

Gent Oune myndedde lyke the Weatherre
Mouſte ſowerre ande unnequietyelye

1620

## KYNGE LEARE.

78

Kente I knowe thee wheres the Kynge

Gent Contendynge withe the fretfulle Elemente
Who byddes the Wynde blowe Earthe intoe Sea
Orre fwelle the curledde waterres bove the Mayne
Thatte thyngs maye change orre ceafe teares hys
white hayre

Whiche the impetuouſe blaſts with Eyeleſſe Rage
Catche inne theyre furye ande make a nothynge of
Strives inne hys lyttle worlde of Manne toe oute
ſcorne

The adverſe Wynde ande rayne Unnebonnetedde
He runnes Ande byddes whatte wille take alle 1630

Kente Butte who iſſe withe hymme

Gent None fave the foole who labourres toe
oute jefte

Hys hearte ſtrooke innejuryes

Kente Sir I doe knowe you

Ande wille commende a deare thynge toe you

Theyre iſſe dyvyſyonne though itte bee cladde

Withe mutualle cunnynge twixte Alb ande Com-
walle

Ande fromme Fraunce mouſte fure theyre comes
a powerre

Intoe thys oure ſeatteredde Kyngdomme

Theye have ſecrette foe inne ſome of oure
Pourtes 1640

Ande wille ſhowe uſſe ere longe theyre Bannere

Make ſpeede therefore toe Doverre theyre you
fhalle fynde

## KYNGE LEARE.

79

Some who wille thanke you makynge juſte Reporte

Offe the ryghte Caufe oure Kynge hathe offe Playnte

Gent Ile ſpeake fartherre withe you

Kente Naye doe notſe butte take thys Purſe
contaynes

Thenne if you chance toe ſee Cordelya

Ande I dubte notte butte you ſhalle ſhew thys
Ryng

Thenne ſhe wille telle you whou the fellowe iſſe

Toe whome thou ſpeakſt ande doſt notte as yette
knowe 1650

O ſye onne thys Storme Ile goe ſeeke the Kynge

Gent Give mee thy hande haſt naughte more
toe faye

Kente Butte ſewe wordes yette more thanne alle
yette

Thatte whenne the goode Kynge bee founde

The luckyerre hounde o the two

Shalle hollowe the otherre

### Leare ande foole

Leare Blowe Windes and cracke youre cheeks
Rage Blowe

You Caterackes ande Hurycanoes ſpoute

Tylle you have drenchd the Steeples drownd the
Cocks

You ſulpherouſe ande thoughte executynge
fires 1660

80 KYNGE LEARE.

You Oake cleavynge thunderre Boltes finge mye
white heade

Thou alle shakynge Thunderre ftryke flatte ande
make voyde

The vaſte ande thycke routundytye o the Worlde

Cracke Natures Moulde all Germayne ſpille at
ounce

Thatte forms ungratefulle ande deteftedde Manne

foole O Nunckle Courte holye Waterre inne a
drye houſe

Tis betterre thanne rayne waterre oute a doore

Inne goode Nunckle ande afke forre a Bleſſynge

Forre thys iſſe a Nyghte indeede thatte pittyes

Neytherre the heade of Age norre thatte of
follye

1670
Leare Grumble thy Belly fulle ſpitte fire ſpoute
Rayne

Norre thunderre fire Rayne Winde are mye
daughterres

Noe Noe tis notte you I taſke withe unnekyndneſſe

I dyvydedde notte twixt you mye Kyngdomme

You owe mee noe ſubſcryptyonne whye thenne
lette falle

Youre horryle pleafure ande heare I ſtande

A weake innefyrme and deſpyſedde oulde Manne

Yette are ye butte poore fervile minifterres

Thatte joyne withe two pernycyouſe daughterres

Agaynſte a heade ſoe oulde ande white O tis
foule

81 KYNGE LEARE.

foole Hee thatte has a houſe toe putte hys heade
inne

Has innedeede a mouſte excellente heade peace

Thatte manne who makes hys toe whenne he hys
hearte ſhould make

Shalle have a Corne crye woe ande turne hys ſleepe
toe wake

Forre neverre yette was there fayre Woemanne

Butte ſhe made Mouthes ithe Glaffe

Leare Noe Ile bee a Patterne of Virtue ande
Patyence

Ande faye nothynge

Kente

Kente Whos there

foole Marrye heares Grace ande a Cod peee 1690

Thats bothe wife manne ande foole

Kente Alas mye Liege ist you here

Thoſe who love Nyghtes love themme notte fuche
as theſe

Synce I was Manne fuche ſheetes offe lividde fire

Suche burſtes of thunderre and fuche groanes of
Winde ande Rayn

I rememberre notte toe have hearde

Leare Lette the greate Gods who thunderre
oere oure heades

Fynde theyre Enemyes nowe tremble thou wretche

M

82

KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte haſt withinne thee undyvulgedde Crymes
Hyde thee thou bloudye hande unwhypte of
Juſtice 1700

Thou Sycophante diſſemblerre of Virtewe

Ande convenyente ſeemynge thatte pracyſedde

Cloſe pente uppe guiltes onne credulouſe Mens lives

Rive youre concealedde Centerres ande begge Grace

Offe theſe Greate ande thundersyngcere Summonerres

Butt I amme oune more ſynnd agaynſt thenne
ſynnyng

Kente Whatte beare headedde mye moſte graya-
ſouſe Lorde

Harde bye here is a hovelle ſome frendefhyppe

Gaynſt thys rude unnecyville tempeſte wille itte
lende

Repoſe you here whylſt Ile toe thys harde houſe 1710

More harde innedeede thanne thatte whereoffe tis
rayſd

Whiche evenne buttenowe denyd mee toe come inne

Whenne afkynge afterre you

Leare O mye Witte gins toe maddenne

Come onne mye Boye howe doſt mye Boye arte
colde

I amme coulde myeſelſe Where is the ſtrawe goode
ſellowe

Tis ſtrange howe oure neceſſytyes canne make

The vileſte thynges the mouſte precyouſe

Foole and Knave ſhowe mee thenne thyе poore
hovelle

KYNGE LEARE.

83

Oune Cornerre of mye hearte yette forrowes
forre thee

1720

foole He thatte has a lyttle tyne Witte

Withe a heyghe hce the winde ande the Rayne

Muſte make connetente withe hys forretunes ſytte

Forre the Rayne itte Raynethe everye a Daye

Gloſterre ande Edmunde

Glos Alacke Alacke Edmunde I lyke notte thys

Whenne I defyrd theyre leave toe pittye hymme

Theye tooke fromme mee the uſe of myne owne
houſe

Stryct chargd mee onne payne offe theyre diſpleaſure

Neytherre toe ſpeake orre anye waye ſuſtayne
hymme

Edm Mouſte Savage ande unnenaturelle

1730

Glo Goe toe ande ſaye you noethynge

Theres a dyvyſyonne twixt the Dukes

Ande worſe thanne thatte forre I have receyvedde

A Letterre whiche I have lockt inne mye Cloſette

Theſe innejuryes the Kynge beares wille bee
revengd

Forre parte of a Powerre is nowe Landedde

Ande tis ſytte wee doe inclyne toe the Kynge

Ile feeke hymme ande privatelye releeve hymme

Goe you ande houlde conference withe the Duke

M 2

84

KYNGE LEARE.

Thatte thys mye Charytye bee notte per-
eyvedde
1740

The Kynge mye oulde Maſterre ſhalle be releivedde

Theres fomewhatte ſtrange towarde Edg praye
bee careſſule

Bas Thys Courteſye fromme thee toe thee
oulde Kynge

Shalle the Duke knowe ande of the Letterre too

Thys ſeemes a fayre deſervynge ande muſte drawe

Thatte toe myeſelſe whiche mye fatherre loſes

Whiche is naughte more or leſſe thanne alle

Thus doe younge rife whenne the oulde doe falle

Leare Kente ande Foole

Kente Heres the place mye goode Lorde praye
you enterre

Thys Nyghtes toe ruffe forre Nature toe inne-
dure
1750

Leare Lette mee alone

Kente Praye you mye goode Lorde enterre

Leare Wilt breake mye hearte

Kente Heavennes witneſſe

I hadde rathere breake mine owne

Leare Thynkſt thou tis muche thatte thys re-
lenteleſſe Storme

Innevades uſſe toe the Skynne tis foe toe thee

Butte where the greaterre Malydye iſſe fyxte

KYNGE LEARE.

85

The leſſerre iſſe ſcarce felte thou wouſt ſhunne a
Beare

Butte iſſe thy[e] flyghte laye towarde the ragynge
Sea
1760

Thoudſt meete the Beare ithe Mouthe whenne the
Mynds free

The Bodys delycate the tempeſte inne mye Mynde

Dothe fromme mye Sences take alle feelynge elſe

Save vile ande venemouſe innegratytude

Iſt notte as iſſe thys Mouthe ſhoud teare thys
Hande

Forre liftynge foode tot butte I wille punyſh yette

Ande weepe noe more inne fuche a Nyghte as thys

O Reganne Gonerylle youre oulde fatherre

Whofe Hearte lyke openne Charytye gave you alle

O lette mee ſhunne thatte forre there Madneſſe
lyes
1770

O ile notte there noe noe

Kente Naye goode mye Lorde enterre

Leare Prethee goe inne ande ſeeke thyne owne
eaſe

Thys Tempeſte wills notte thatte I doe ponderre

Onne thyngs would hurte mee more butte Ile goe
inne

Poore nakedde wretches where foe ere you are

Thatte byde the Peltynge o thys Pityleſſe Nyghte

Howe ſhalle youre houſe leſſe heads ande unfedde
fydes

86

KYNGE LEARE.

Youre loopt ande raggedde Garmentes defende you
Fromme Seasonnes fuche as thefe O I have
tayne 1780

Toe lyttle care o thys take Phyfyck Pompe

Expofe thyefelfe toe feele thatte wretches feele

Thatte thou mayſt poure onne themme thye Su-
perfluxe

Ande ſhewe the heavennes more juſte

foole Come notte here Nunckle heres a Spiritte

O fave mee helpe mee

Kente Thou doſt crye afore thou arte hurte

Butte give mee thye hande who is there

foole A Spirytte oune thatte fays hys Names
poore Tom

Kente Whatte arte thou thatte doſt grumble the
Strawe 1790

Comme fourthe I faye ande anſwerre ſtrayghte

Edg Awaye the foule feynde followes mee

Through the ſharpe Hawthorne blowe the Windes

Hum goe toe thye coulde Bedde ande warme thee

Leare Dyſt give alle toe thye Daughterres

Ande arte comme toe thys atte laſte

Edg Who iſt thatte gives anye thynge toe
poore Tom

Whome the feynde hathe ledde through fyre ande
flame

Ore Sworde ore Bogge ore whirlpoole ande Quag-
myre 1800

KYNGE LEARE.

87

Layde Knives ins Pillowe ande Halterres ins Pue

Made hymme proude of hearte toe ryde onne a
Baye trotterre

Hathe myngledde Ratſbayne withe hys Porrydge

Ande vaynlye courſe hys ſantaſtyck Shadowe

O Toms a colde O doe de dee de doe

O Bleſſe you fromme Whirle Winde ande Starre
blaſtynge

Doe poore Tom Charytye whome the feynde vexes

Nowe nowe coud I ha hymme there and there
agayne

Leare Whatte ande ha thye daughterres broughte
thee toe thys paſſe

Whatte couldſt fave noethynge wouſt give
themme alle

foole Naye Butte hee kepte hys Blankette 1810

Elſe wee hadde alle beene ſhamd

Leare Nowe maye alle thofe Plagues thatte
hange ithe Ayre

Ande gore Menns faults lyghte onne thye daugh-
teres

Kente He hathe noe daughterres mye goode Sir

Leare Deathe I faye noethynge coud ha ſubdud
Nature

Toe fuche lowneſſe fave hys kyndleſſe daughterres

Iſt thenne the faſhyonne thatte dyſcardedde fa-
therres

Should have foe lyttle mercye onne theyre fleſhe

88

KYNGE LEARE.

Judycyoufe Sentaunce twas thys fleſhe begotte
thofe Pelycanne daughterres 1820

Edg Pyllycocke fatte onne Pyllycocke Hille
alloo alloe loo loo

foole Thys Nyghte foe couldle foe rawe I feare
Toe fooles wille turne bothe Kente ande Leare

Twoe are alreadye ande twoe moure

Wille turne the twoe thenne intoe foure

Edgar Take heede o the foule feynde obeye
thye Parentes

Keepe thye worde ande Whore withe Mans fworne
Spouſe

Decke notte thye fweete hearte inne proude arraye
Leafte otherre Meenne falle a lovynge Toms a
Colde

Leare Whatte haſt thou beene 1830

Edg A Sevyngmanne proude inne hearte and
mynde

Thatte curld myne hayre ande wore Gloves inne
mye Cappe

Oune thatte ſtepte inne the contryvynge of Luſte

Ande wakd toe doe the Aſte of Darkneſſe

Wine lovd I dearelye ande dyce too dearlye

Falſe of hearte lyghte of Eare Bloodye handedde

Hogge inne flothe Foxe inne ſtealth Wolfe inne
Greedyneſſe

Lette notte Womans Sylkes betraye thy poore hearte

Keepe foole oute a Brothells hands oute a Placketts

KYNGE LEARE. 89

Thye Penne fromme Lenderres bookes defye the
foule feynde 1840

Stylle throughe the hawthorne blowes the Colde
bleake winde

Mumm Mumm Nonnye Dolphynne boye lette
hymme trotte bye

Leare Thou werte betterre ithye Grave thenne
thus toe anſwerre

Withe bodye bare before the innelemente heavennes

Iſſe Manne naughte butte thys confyderre hymme
welle

Thou owſt the Worme noe Sylke beaſte noe hyde

Butte here are three ounes ſophyſtycatedde

Thou unaccomodatedde manne arte the thynge

Forre thou arte indeede naughte butte thys

A poore bare ande forkedde Anymalle 1850

Offe Offe thenne you Lendynges unbottonne here

Gloſterre

foole bee contente Nunkee tis naughtye Nyghte
toe fymme inne

Nowe a lyttle fire inne a Wilde feylde

Were lyke a Letcherres hearte butte oune lyttle
ſparke

Ande alle the reſte of ounes bodye o life

Butte looke here commes a walkynge fire

Edg Thys iſſe the foule Fliberretygybette

N

90 KYNGE LEARE.

He ginnes atte Curfewe ande walkes tylle fyrste
Cocke

Hee fquintes ithe Eye ande makes the hare lyppe

Milledewes the white Wheate ande hurts thys
poore Creature Earthe

Swythholde footedde thrce the oulde

Meete the Nyghte Mare ande herre nyne folde
Bydde herre alyghte

Ande herre trothe plyghte

Aroynte thee Whyche Aroynte thee

Kente Howe fares youre Grace

Leare Whaths hee

Kente Whos there whatte feeke ye

Glos Youre names I praye who are you

Edg Poore Tomme who eates the swimmynge
Frogge ande toade

Whofe hearte is fierye whenne the feynde rages

Swallowes the oulde Katte ande the ditche dogge

Drynkes the greene mantle fromme the standynge
poole

Thatte is whipte fromme tythynge toe tythynge

Thatte is ftockd punyfhd ande immepryfoenedde

Thatte hathe three fuites toe hys backe fyxe Shirtes
tos Bodye

Horfe toe ryde ande Weaponne toe weare

Butte Mice ande Ratts ande fuche fmalle deere

Ha beene Tomms foode thys fevenne longe
Yeare

91 KYNGE LEARE.

Beware mye followerre peace fmilburre peace
feynde

Glos Whatte hathe youre Grace noe betterre
Companye

Edg Poore Toms a Colde

Glos Goe inne withe mee mye dutye cannotne
fufferre

Inne alle toe obeye youre daughterres harde com-
mandes

Though theyre innejunctyonne bee toe barre mye
doores

And lette thys boyfteroufe Nyghte take houlde
o thee

Stylle have I comme ande venneterd toe feeke
youre Grace

Ande brynge where bothe fyre ande foode are
readye

Leare Staye fyrste Ile talke withe thys Phylofo-
pherre

Telle mee Poore Tomm whatts the Caufe o thun-
derre

Kente Goode mye Lorde take hys offerre ande
goe inne a doore

Leare Ile talke a Worde withe thys fayde
Learnedde Thebanne

Whatte is your Studye

Edg bothe toe prevente the feynde and Kylle
Vermyne

N 2

92

KYNGE LEARE.

Leare Lette mee afke you oune Worde inne
Private

Kente Immeporretune hymme agayne mye Lorde
Forre hys Wittes gynne toe unnefettelle

Glos Canft blame hymme freynde

When's daughterres doe feeke hys deathe
O thatte goode Kente hee fayde itte woud bee
thuffe

1900

Helas poore honefte butte banyfhte Manne

Thou fayft the Kynge growes madde Ile telle the
freynde

I myefelfe amme almoufte madde I had a Sonne

Nowe outelawd fromme mye bloode hee foughte
mye life

Butte latelye verye latelye I lovd hymme freynde

Noe fatherre a Sonne dearerre thruthe toe telle thee

The Greefe o thys hathe o thys hathe crazd *mye*
verye Witts

Whatte a Nyghte is here I doe befeeche youre grace

Leare O youre mercye I crye youre mercye

noble Phyloefopherre youre Companye 1910

Edg The feynde The feynde Toms a Coldea Colde

Glos Innetoe thye hovelle fellowe ande keepe
thee warme

Leare Comme thenne weele inne alle

Thys waye mye Lorde

Ile keepe withe hymme withe mye Phylofopherre

Kente Soothe hymme mye goode Lorde and
lette hymme take thys fellowe

93

KYNGE LEARE.

Glos Take hymme you onne

Kente Comme Sirra and goe inne withe uffe

Leare Aye Aye comme thou goode ande
learnedde Athenyanne

Edg Chylde Rowelande toe the darke towerre
came

1920

Hys Worde was ftylle fye foe ande fumme

I fmelle the Bloude of a brytyfhe Manne

*Cornewalle ande Baflarde*

Duke Ile ha mye Revenge ere I departe thys houſe

Bas Howe mye Lorde I maye bee cenfuredde

Thatte Nature inne mee thus gives waye toe
Loyalletye

Duke I doe nowe preceyve twas notte alleto-
getherre

Youre Brotherres evylle dyspofytyonne

Whiche alone dydde make hymme feeke hys deathe

Butte a reproveable badneſſe inne hymſelfe

Edm O howe malcyyouſe is mye forretune 1930

Thatte I muſte nowe repente forre beynge juſte

Thys is the Letterre thatte does approve hymme

An innetellygente freynde ande partye toe Fraunce

O heavennes thatte thys hys treafonne were notte

Norre I hys detectorre

Duke Goe inne withe mee toe the dutcheſſe

Edm Iſſe thys Paperre dothe ſpeake trewe

You have myghtye bufyneſſe inne hande

94

KYNGE LEARE.

Duke Trewe orre falfe itte hathe made the Earle
of Glofterre
Seeke oute thee faherre thatte he maye bee
readye
1940

Forre oure ryghte juſte Apprehefyonne
Edm Anne he fhalle bee founde comforretynge
the Kynge

Twille more fullye prove oure Sufpytyonnes
I wille perſevere inne thys mye Loyalletye
Thoughe the conſlycte goe harde twixte itte ande
mye Bloode

Duke I wille laye truſte onne thee
Ande inne mye Love thoult fynde a dearerre fatherre

Kente Glos Leare (Edg Tom) ande foole

Kente Betterre farre here thanne ithe openne Ayre
Alle hys witts ha givenne waye toe hys impatyence
O goode Sir maye the Gods rewarde youre
Kyndneſſe

Edg Fretterretoe Calles ande tells mee
Neroe is anglynge ithe Lake of Darkeneſſe

foole Prethee Nunkle
Iſſe a madmanne a foole orre a Yeomanne

Leare Softe goode foole Ile telle thee a Kynge a
Kynge

Edg O the foulde feynde bytes mye backe
foole Hees madde thatte truſtes toe tamenefſe of
a Wolfe

95

KYNGE LEARE.

A horſes healthe a Boyes Love a Wores Oathe
Leare Naye Naye notte foe butte inne the love
of Daughterres

O the vile ſhe foxes ſytte here ſapyente Sir 1960
Edg Looke where ſhe ſtandes Wanſt thou Eyes
alle trye alle

Beffye comme oere the broome toe mee Beſſye
The foule feynde hauntes poore Tomme
Hoppe dawnce cryes inne mee forre twoe white
herrynges

Kente howe does your grace wille you notte
laye downe
Leare Brynge inne the Evydence they ſhall bee
Cryd

Sitte you there you are othe Commyſſyonne
Arraygne Arraygne herre tis Gonerylle
I here take oathe before thys affemblye
Shee dydde Kyche the poore oulde Kynge herre
fatherre
1970

Butte mye gracyouſe Sirs hadde ſhe beene a Manne
Hee woud notte ha neededde thys youre tryalle

Edg Bleſſe thye five Witts
O Sir wheres thatte fame Patyence nowe
O the whiche you dydde foe ofte make boaſſe

Edg My teares begynne toe take hys parte fo muche
I feare theyle marre mye counterſeytynge

Leare Naye the lyttle doggs too alle barke atte mee
Whye Treye Blaunche ande Sweete hearte hytherre
boyes

96

KYNGE LEARE.

Edg Tomme fhalle throwe hys heade atte themme avaunte Curs 1980

Bee thou blacke orre Greye orre White

Toothe thatte payfonnes anne itte byte

O Tomme fhalle make themme weepe ande wayle

Forre thorowinge thuffe mye heade

Doggs leape the hatche nowe alle are fledde

Tou Lu Lu Lu comme marche toe wakes ande fayres

Bee Merrye bee Merrye poore Toms horne is drye

Leare Anatomyze thatte Reganne fée whatte inne herre breedes

Iſſe there caufe inne Nature toe make heartes thuffe 1990

Whatte foe harde ande flintye O noe noe noe

You ſhoud bee of mye hundred butte youre
Garmente

Thatte fuites mee notte welle welle lette itte bee
changd

Tomm Tomm where dydſt ſteale thyne Adams
Coate

Edg Fromme mye Childe anne ſhede notte give itte mee

Leare A goode Thefte A goode Thefte welle fayde Tomm

Kente Nowe mye goode Lorde lye here awhile

Leare Hufh Hufh make noe noyfè butte drawe the Curtaynes

Soe Soe foe wele goe toe Supperre ithe mornynge fo fo 2000

97

KYNGE LEARE.

Gloſterre

Glos Goode Sir where is the Kynge mye Maſterre

Kente Heare mye Lorde butte trouble hymme notte hys Witts are gone

Glos Take hymme I praye thee Sir inne thyne Armes

Forre I have oerehearde a Plotte of Deathe uponne hymme

There is a Lytterre tye hymme onne itte ſtrayghte

Ande ſpeede thee towarde Doverre where thou ſhalt meete

Goode welcome ande Proteſtyonne take thye maſterre

Forre ſhoudſt thou dallye orre delaye oune houre

Thyne ande hys life togetherre withe alle thofe

Shalle offerre toe defende hymme ſtande furelye lofte 2010

Followe mee thatte wille toe fome provyfyonne

Give thee ſure ande quicke conducte

Come Come awaye quicklye

Cornewalle Reganne Gonerylle Edmunde ande
Servantes

Corn Poſt ſpeedylye toe mye Lorde youre hufbande

0

98

KYNGE LEARE.

Thys Letterre wille shewe the Frenche Armye
landedde

Goe feeke oute thatte Traytorre Glofterre

Howe nowe wheres the Kynge

Stew Mye Lorde of Glofterre hath conveyd
hymme hence

Ande withe hys Knyghtes hathe fente hymme to-
warde Doverre

Theye dydde loudlye talke of armedde freyndes
there

Gon Farewelle fweete Lorde ande Syfterre

Corn Edmunde Farewelle Goe feeke thatte
Traytorre Glofterre

Pinnyonne lyke Thiefe thenne brynge hymme
before uſſe

Though withoute Juſtyce we maye paffe ons life

Yette ſhalle oure Powerre doe Curteſye toe oure
wrathe

Whiche Menne perchaunce maye blame butte
notte comptrolle

Gloſterre

Reg Innegratefulle Foxe tis hee

Glos Whatte meane youre Grace

Goode mye Freyndes you are mye Gueſtes

Doe me noe foule playe

Corn Bynde hymme I faye

2030

99

KYNGE LEARE.

Glas Unnemercyfulle Ladye

Corn Toe thys Benche bynde hymme

O Villayne thou ſhalte fynde

Glos Bye the greate Gods tis ignoeblye done

Toe plucke Age thuffe bye the Bearde

Reg Soe white ande fuche a Traytorre

Glos O naughtye Ladye

Theſe hayres thatte thou ravilſe fromme mye
Chynne

Wille quckenne and accuſe thee I amme youre
hoffe

Ande you withe mercyleſſe and Robberres handes

Doe ruffle thuffe mye markes of Mannehoode

Whatte wille you doe

Corn Saye Sir whatte Letterres hadde you
fromme Fraunce

Whatte Conneſederacye hadde you withe thofe

Thatte nowe have broke inne uponne our Kyng-
domme

Reg Toe whome hafte fente the Lunatycke
Kynge

Glos I have oune Letterre gueſſynglye ſette
downe

Thatte came fromme oune thats of a newtralle
hearte

Corn O cunnynge

Reg Yea Cunnynge ande mouſte Falſe

Corn Where haſt fente the Kynge

2050

02

KYNGE LEARE.

100

Glos Toe Doverre

Corn Ande whye to doverre waſt notte chargd
atte perylle

Glos O ye have have tyedde mee toe the Stake
Ande nowe I needs muſte ſtaunde the courſe

Reg O Traytorre butte wherefore toe Doverre

Glos Cauſe thatte I wouddе notte ſee thyе cruelle
Nayles

Plucke oute hys poore oulde Eyes norre thyе feyrce
Syſterre

Inne hys annoyntedde fleſhe ſtycke Boaryſhe
Phanges 2060

The Sea withe ſuche a Storme as hys beare heave

Inne Helles blacke nyghte induredde woud ha
boyedde uppe

Ande quenchedde the ſtelledde fyres

Yette porre oulde hearte hee holped the heavennes
toe rayne

Iſſe Wolves atte thatte ſteyrne tyme atte thyе Gates
hadde howld

Thou ſhouldſt ha ſayde goode Porterre turne the
Keye

Butte I ſhalle ſee Vennegeance ore take ſuche
Chyldrenne

Corn Seet thou ſhalte neverre fellowes houlde
the Chayre

Onne theſe oulde Eyes of thyne Ile ſette mye ſoſte

Glos Twere betterre dye thenne live tylle oune
bee oulde 2070

KYNGE LEARE.

101

O Give mee ſome helpe Cruelle Cruelle O ye
Gods

Reg Oune ſyde wille mocke anotherre come
totherre tooe

Ser Holde hymme noe neverre

Mye Lorde I ha ſervd you ſynce I was a Chylde

Butte betterre Service I ha neverre done

Thenne nowe to looſe mye houlde

Reg Dyſt thou butte weare a Bearde uponne
thyе Chynne

Ide plucke itte offe as I dydde thys fame Lordes

Fellowe thyе Sworde a peafante ſtande uppe thuffe

Ser Oh I amme ſlayne yette have you oune
Eye leſte 2080

Toe ſee thys dede onne thyе ſaythefulle Servante

Corn Leafte itte ſhoud ſee more Ile prevente itte

Oute vyle jellye wheres thyе luſterre nowe

Glos Alls darke ande comforteleſſe wheres mye
Sonne Edmunde

O where ere thou arte kyndle all ſparkes offe nature

Ande quitte ſuche Sceanes ſuch crynge Actes

Reg Oute Villayne thou callſt onne hymme
thatte hates thee

Twas hee thatte tolde uſſe of thyе Treaſonnes

Hee whos heartes too goode toe pitye thee

Glos O mye ſollyes thenne Edgarre was
abuſd 2090

Forgive mee thatte kynde Gods ande proſperre
hymme

102

KYNGE LEARE.

Reg Goe thrufte hymme oute atte Gates
Ande lette hymme fmelle hys waye toe doverre
Thys Slave maye ferve toe fattenne the dunghylle

### Edgarre

Edg Betterre thus ande knowne toe bee Contemnedde
Thenne ftylle contemned ande flatteredde toe bee worfe

The lowefte ande moufte abjecte of Fortunes Slaves
Ifre riche ande lives oune inne Efperawnce

Welcome thenne thys lyghte Ayre whiche I embrace

Thatte wretche whome thou haſte blowne untoe
thee worſte

Owes noethynge toe thye Blaſtes 2100

Butte who comes here mye fatherre poorlye ledde
O Worlde Worlde O Worlde

Butte thatte thye ſtraunge Mutatyonnes make uſe
hate thee

Life wouddede nere yeylde toe Age

Olde Manne O mye goode Lorde I ha beene
youre Tenaunte

Ande youre deare fatherres Theſe fourefcore Yeares

Glos Gette thee awaye goode freynde I prethee
bee gone

Thye comfortes canne doe mee noe goode atte alle

Butte thee theye maye feverelye hurte 2110

KYNGE LEARE.

103

Oulde Manne You cannotne ſee youre waye

Glos I have noe waye ande therefore neede notte
Eyes

O Mye Sonne Mye Edgarre were arte thou
The food of thye abufedde Fatherres wrathe
Myghte I butte live toe ha thee inne mye touche
Thenne woud I faye I hadde Eyes agayne

O Manne Howe nowe whos there

Edg Ye Gods who ift canne faye thatte I amme
othe worſte

Forre nowe I amme worſe thenne ere I was

Ande thys is notte othe worſte forre worſe I maye
be yette

O Manne Tis poore madde Tomme 2120

Glos Thenne is he a Beggarre Manne

O Manne Aye madmanne ande Beggarre too

Glos He hathe reaſonne elfe coud he notte begge

Suche an oune dydde I ſee I the laſte Nyhtes
ſtorme

Whenne mye precyouſe Starres dydde inne thys
Globe

Shewe the glarynge Canopye off heavenne

Thenne dydde I thynke thys forme Manne a poore
Worme

Thenne too dydde I thynke o mye Sonne Edgarre

Though mye mynde was thenne ſcaree freynds
with hymme

Butte helas ſynce thatte more have I hearde 2130

## KYNGE LEARE.

104

As Flyes are to the wantonne Boyes are wee to the
Godds

Theye nyppe byte ande teaze uſſe ande alle forre
fporte

Edg Thenne innedeede is mye fooles Trade
notte othe worſte

Bleſſe thee goode Maſterre

Glos Iſt the nakedde foole thatte ſpeakes

O Manne Aye mye goode Lorde

Glos Thenne Prithee bee gone forre mye ſake

Thoulte oretake uſſe here a Myle orre twayne

Ithe waye towarde Doverre doe itte forre ancyente
love

1140

Brynge withe the coverynge forre thys nakedde
Soule

Whome Ile innetreate toe leade mee

O Manne Alacke Sir hes madde

Glos Hes notte alone thenne Tis the tymes Plague

Whenne Madmenne leade the Blynde

O Manne Ile brynge hymme the beſte Parelle I ha

Comme ont whatte wille

Glos Syrrah nakedde fellowe

Edg Porre Toms a Colde

Glos I praye thenne poore Tomme come
hytherre

1150

Edg Ande yette I wille

Bleſſe thy eſſete Eyes theye bleede

Glos Knowſte the waye towarde Doverre

## KYNGE LEARE.

105

Edg Knowt aye aye Style ande Gate horſewaye
ande footwaye

O poore Tom hathe beene ſcard ofſ goode Witts

O bleſſe thee thou goode Manne fromme the foule
Feynde

Glos Take thenne mye Purſe thou whome the
heavennes plague

Chaunce twille make thy e wretchedneſſe happyerre

Thenne bee itte thyne forre itte cannotte eafe mee

Telle mee doſt knowe Doverre

1160

Edg Aye mye goode Sir

Glos There is a Cliffe whoſe hygh ande bend-
ynge heade

Lookes raggedde ande fearefulle onne the confynd
deepe

Brynge to the brymme othatte ſelfe fame place

Ande Ile repayre the miſerye thou doſte beare

Withe ſomethynge ryche ande precyouſe aboute mee

Fromme thence departe thenne I ſhalle noe lead-
ynge neede

Edg Give mee thyne Arme

Poore Tom ſhalle leade thee

### Gonerylle Baſtarde Stewarde

Gon Wellecome mye Lorde

1170

I marvelle oure mylde hufbande meete uſſe notte
Sirra wheres youre Maſterre

P

106

KYNGE LEARE.

Stew Madame withinne butte nere was Manne
foe changd

I tolde hymme othe Armye ande hee fmyld

I dydde announce youre comynge hee anſwerd the
worſe

Offe Gloſterres treacherye ands Sonns loyalle ſervice

Thenne dydde hee calle mee ſotte ande toulde mee

Evenne foe thenne thou haſte the wronge fyde oute

Thatte hee ſhoulde dyſkyke beſeemes hymme the
mouſte

Thatte hee ſhoud the mouſte offen ſeſive

Gon Thenne goe noe furtherre 1180

Tis the cowiſe terror of hys Spiritte

Backe Edmonde toe mye Brotherre

Haſtenne hys Muſterres ande conneducte hys
powerres

I muſte Change Names atte home ande give the
dyſtaffe

Innetoe mye hufbandes handes Thys truſtye
Servante

Shalle paſſe twixte uſſe eere longe you ſhalle heare

Anne you dare venneture inne youre owne behalfe

A Mystreffes commaunde weare thys ande ſpare
ſpreeche

Declyne youre heade Thys Kyſſe ande iſt durſte
ſpeake 1190

Would ſtretche thee ſpiryttes innetoe the verye Ayre

Thys connecyve ande fare the welle

KYNGE LEARE.

107

Edm Youre evenne ithe Rankes of Deathe

Gon Thys is Gloſterre O the difference twixte
Menne

A Womannes ſerreſyces toe thee are dewe

Mye ſoote butte uſurpes mye Bodye

Stew Tufhe Madame here commes mye Lorde

Alb O Gonerylle Thourte notte worthe thatte
duſte

Whiche the rude winde blowes uponne youre face

Gon Shame mylkye liverd Manne 1200

Thatte haſte a Cheeke forre Blowes ande heade forre
wronges

Thatte haſte notte inne the Browes an Eye

Dyſerrenynge thyne honorre fromme thy e ſuſ-
ſerynge

Alb Looke Looke butte atte theſelſe thou Divelle
Soe horrſde inne thee are deſorremytyes

Thatte thou haſte cleanſd ande made pure the feynde

Meffennegerre

Ser Mye goode the Duke o Cornewalles deade
Ande bye the hande ofſs owne Serrevanntes

Twas the puttynge oute Gloſterres Eyes thatte
cauſd itte

Alb Howe faye you Gloſterres Eyes

Mefs A Serrevannte thatte he bredde thrylld
withe remorſe

Oppoſd agaynſt the aſte bendynge hys ſworde

P 2

108

KYNGE LEARE.

Toe hys greate Mafterre who threate enragd
Flewe onne hymme ande mongft themme feld
hymme deade

Butte notte withoute thatte harmefulle Stroke

Whyche fynde hathe pluckd hymme afterre

Alb O you felfe Judges nowe you doe fynde

Howe fwifte ande keenelye the Gods doe venge
themselves

Butte O poore Glofterre lofte hee hys otherre Eye

Mefs Bothe Bothe mye goode Lorde 1220

Madame thys Letterre fromme craves youre
speedye anfwerre

Gon Owne waye thys belykes mee welle

Butte beynge Widowe ande mye Glofterre withe
herre

Maye alle thys Buildynge inne mye fannecye

Plucke uponne herre hatefullife

Butte thys newes ffylle ffylle wille I reade ande
anfwerre

Alb Where was hys Sonne whenne theye dydde
take hys Eyes

Mefs Mye Lorde I dydde meete hymme ithe
waye backe agayne

Alb Knewe hee the wickeddeneffe

Mefs Mye goode Lorde twas HEE thatte in-
formd agaynſt hymme

1230

Ande dydde onne purpofe quitte the houſe

Thatte theyre punyſhmente myghe ha freerre
Courfe

KYNGE LEARE.

109

Alb Glofterre I live Toe thanke forre thatte
Love

Whiche thou ſhowdſt the Kynge and toe revenge
thyne Eyes

Comme hytherre Freynde ande telle me whatte
more thou knoweſte

Corredelya Gentlemanne and Souldyerres

Cor Alacke Alacke tis he

Ande madde as the vexte Sea eene nowe was he
mette

Syngynge alowde ande crownedde withe ranke
femytarre

1240

Withe harde oakes hemlocke Nettles Cuckoo
Flowerres

Withe Lillyes Darnelles ande alle idle weedes
thatte growe

Sende ſtrayghte a Centerye ſearche eache Acre

Inne the hygh growne Feylde ande brynge hymme
toe uſſe

Hee whoſe wifdomme wille helpe inne foſtorynge

Hys poore bereavedde ſenſe take alle mye out-
wardе worthe

Gent Meanes there are Madame the foſterre
Nurſe o nature

Iſſe thatte whiche youre deare fatherre lackeſe repoſe

## KYNGE LEARE.

110

Toe provoke the whiche there are manye Symples

Whofe powerre canne clofe the Eye of an-
guifhe 1250

Cor O you bleſte ſecrettes O alle you unpub-
lyſhd Vertewes

Thatte fromme Motherre doe take theyre ryſe

Sprynge withe theſe Teares bee aydaunte ande
remedyate

Inne the Goodmannes deſyres O ſeeke ſeeke forre
hymme

Leafte hys unngovernd rage dyffolve thatte life

Whyche wantes the meanes toe leade itte

### Meſſenegerre

Newes Madame the Brytyſh Powerres

Are marchynge hytherrewarde

Cor Twas knowne before oure Preperatyonne
ſtaundes

Inne Expectatyonne o themme o dere Fatherre 1260

Tis forre thee forre thyе bufyneſſe thatt I goe
aboute

Therefore greate Fraunce mye mournynge ande
importund Teares

Hathe pittyedde Noe blowne ambytynne

Noe thyrſte of Conqueſte dothe oure Armyes
innevyte

## KYNGE LEARE.

111

Butte love deare gentle love ande anne agd Fa-
therres ryte

O maye I foone heare ande ſee hymme

### Reganne Stewarde

Reg Butte are mye brotherres Powerres ſette
forthe

S Yea Madame

Reg Ande hymſelfe inne Perſonne

Stew Yeffe Madame butte withe muche
adoe 1270

Youre Syfterre is farre the betterre Souldyerre

Reg Lorde Edmunde ſpake notte withe hymme
atte home

Stew Noe Mndamme

Reg Whatte dydde importe mye Syfterres Let-
teres toe hymme

Stew Thatte I knowe notte Ladye

Reg Hee is poſtedde hence onne ſeryouſe
Matterre

Twas greate Ignoraunce thatte Glofterre dydde live

Hys Eyes beynge oute Forre whereere hee arrives

Hee dothe move alle heartes agaynſte uſſe

Edmunde inne Pittye offe hys myſerye 1280

Is gone methynkes toe dyſpatch hys nygh tedde
life

Ande toe dyscrye the ſtrengthe othe Enemye

112

KYNGE LEARE.

Stew I muſte thenne afterre hymme withe thys
mye Letterre

Reg Oure Troopes ſette fourthe toe morrowe
The wayes are dangerouſe twere beſte you ſtaye
with uſſe

Stew I cannotte naye I maye notte Madame
Mye Ladye dydde charge mye dutye inne thys
bufyneſſe

Reg Wherefore ſhoud ſhe write toe Edmunde
Mygheſte you notte tranſporte herre Purpofes bye
Worde

I love thee muche me lette mee unneſſale the
Letterre

1290

Stew Madame I hadde ratherre
Reg I amme ſure naye I doe knowe
Youre Ladye lykes notte herre hufbande

She gave ſtraunge Elyadls ande ſtrykynge lookes
Toe noble Edmunde onne herre laſte beynge heere
I knowe you toe bee of herre Bofomme

Stew Aye Madame
Reg Thenne I doe adviſe you take backe thys
Note

MYE Lorde beynge deade Edmunde ande I ha
talkd

Ande hee dothe fynde mye hande more con-
venyente

1300

Whenne youre Myſtreſſe ſhalle have hearde thuffe
muche

KYNGE LEARE.

113

Defyre herre thatte ſhe doe calle herre wifdomme
toe herre

Soe Farewelle ſhoud you chaunce heare othe blynde
Traytorre

Preferremente falles onne hymme thatte cuttes
hymme offe

Stew Woud I coud meete hymme
Thenne woud I ſhowe the Partye I doe followe

Gloſterre ande Edgarre

Glos Whenne ſhalle I comme toe thatte fame
hylle

Edg You doe clymbe itte nowe looke howe wee
labourre

Glos Methynkes thee ſounde bee evenne

Edg Horryble ſteape harke doſte notte heare the
Sea

1310

Glos Noe trewelye

Edg Youre otherre Senneſes thenne doe growe
imperrefecte

The anguifhe o youre Eyes benumbes themme

Glos Itte maye bee ſoe innedeede forre nowe
methynkes

Thye Voyce is alterd and thou ſpeakſt betterre
phraſe

Thye matterre too is more conneſyſtente

Q

KYNGE LEARE.

114

Edg Thou arte deceyvedde naughte iffe there
changd inne mee

Save thefe mye Garrementes

Glos Naye naye butte thou arte betterre
spokenne

Edg Comme onne Sir heres the place nowe
ftande ftylle

1320

Howe fearefulle tis toe cafte ones Eyes foe lowe

The Crowes ande Choughes thatte winge the Mid-
waye Ayre

Shewe ſcarce foe grooſe as beetles

Halfe waye downe hanges owne thatte gatherres
Samphyre

O dreadefulle Trade methynkes hes noe byggerre
thans heade

The fysſherremenne thatte walke uponne the
beache

Are butte as Myce ande yonne talle anchorynge
Barke

Dymynſhd toe a Cocke herre Cocke a Buoye

Allemofte too fmalle forre ſyghte the murmur-
ynge ſurge

Thatte onne thunnumberedde idle Peble chafes

Cannotte bee hearde thufle hygh Ile looke noe
more

Leaſte mye Brayne turne and the defycyente Syghe

Topple downe headelonge

Glos Sette mee thenne ene where thou ſtaundſt

KYNGE LEARE.

115

Edm Give mee youre hande ande nowe houlde
a lyttle

Forre you are witheinne oune foote othe extreme
Verge

Forre alle beneath the Moone Ide notte leape
uprygte

Glos Thenne here freynde is anotherre Purſe

Ande int a Jewelle welle worthe a Poore Mans
takynge

Lette goe mye hande Maye Faryes ande the
Godds

1340

Profperre itte with thee. Goe thou fartherre offe

Bydde mee farewelle forre I doe wayte thye goynge

Edg Thenne fare you welle goode Sir

Glos Thankes fare welle with alle mye hearte

Edg Whye ſhoud I thus tryſle withe hys dyſ-
payre

Glos Nowe O you myghtye Gods thys worlde
I renownce

Ande inne youre Sygħtes ſhake patyentelye

Thys mye greate afflyctyonne offe

Coud I butte beare itte longerre ande notte quarrelle

Withe youre myghtye and oppoſeſſe willes

Whye thenne mye Snuffe ande loathedde parte o
nature

ſhoud burne itteſelfe oute ifſe Edgarre live thenne
bleſſe hymme

Nowe thenne goode fellowe fare thee welle

Q7

116

KYNGE LEARE.

Edg Whatte gone Sir thenne farewelle

Hadde hee beene where hee thoughte thenne hadde
hee beene robd

O Mannes greate treasure life bye thys alle hadde
beenе paſtе

Hoa there Sir Speake Sir doe you heare yette hee
revives

Whatte are you Sir

Glos Awaye Awaye I prithee ande lette mee dye

Edg Had it beene aughte butte Gozemere Fea-
therres Ayre
1360

Soe manye fahomme downe precypytatynge

Thoudit ſhiverde lyke the bryttle ſubſtawnce of
anne Egge

Butte thou doſte breathe bleedſte notte haſte noe
ſubſtaunce

Canſt bee founde Tenne Maſtes make notee thys
Altytude

Thatte thou haſte perrepennedycularelye felle

O thyе lifes a Myracle ſpeake ſpeake agayne arte
ſonde

Glo Butte iſt foe have I fallenne or naye

Edg Aye fromme thys Cliffe thys wonderre o
Nature

Whofe Chalkye fydes garde thys oure facredde Iſle

Gaynſte the rude Sea thatte dothe inne Cholerre 1370

Rage foame ande ſpende itteſelfe tylle itte comme
toe nothynge.

KYNGE LEARE.

117

Yea fromme whoſe dreade fummyte the ſhrylle
gorgd Larke

Canne norre bee ſeene norre hearde doe butte
looke uppe

Glos Alacke kynde Sir mocke mee notte I ha
noe Eyes

Iſſe wretchedeneſſe thenne deprivd o thatte
benyfytte

Naye the comforte offe endynge itteſelfe bye deathe

Edg Give mee youre Arme uppe howe iſt feelſt
thou the Leggs

Glos too welle too welle

Edg Thys dothe evenne oute doe ſtraungenefſe
itteſelfe

Whatte thynge waſte dydde leave thee onne thys
fummyte
1380

Glos Oune poore ande unneforretunate Baggarre

Edg As I dydde ſtaunde heare belowe

Hys Eyes were twoe fulle moones withe a thou-
fande noſes

Hornes tooe thatte wealkd ande wavd as the
ragynge Sea

Therefore bee happye goode fatherre twas fome
feynde

Sente bye the Gods too cleare the who make
themme honors

Offe mennes impoffybylytyes tis theye have pre-
fervd thee

118

KYNGE LEARE.

*Glos* Yea nowe I doe rememberre
I nowe wille beare afflyctyonne tylle ittefelfe doe
crye

Enough Enough thenne dye The thynge thou
fpeakft offe
1390
I dydde take forre manne butte twoude oftymes crye
The feynde The feynde

*Edg* Beare free ande bee patyente who comes here
The faferre fenfe wille notte accomodate
Its Mafterre thuffe

Leare

*Leare* Touche mee notte forre cryinge I amme
the Kynge

*Edg* O fyde percynge fyghte

*Leare* Nature dothe oute doe Arte I thatte respecte
Thers youre preffe Moneye thou handlft thee
Bowe

Lyke Crowe Keeperre drawe a Cloathyerres
Yarde
1400

A Moufe a Moufe Looke looke softlelye softelye
Heere heere thys peeece o toaftedde Cheefe wille dot
Theres mye Gauntelette Ile prove itte onne a
gyawnte

O Welle flowne Byrde the calle the calle hewgh
hewgh

*Edg* O fweete O goode Kynge evenne foe
thenne withe thee

119

KYNGE LEARE.

*Leare* Paffe Paffe coudft notte fee the Moufe
O Foole

*Glos* I fhoud knowe thatte Voyce

*Leare* Ha Gonerylle whatte flatterre thys white
Bearde

Ande whenne thee poore dogge dydde fawne ande
lycke thee

Dydft beate hymme oute a doere buftle buftle hygh
heavenne

1410

Thenne faye aye toe mye Aye Noe to mye noe
Whenne Rayne dydde wette and Winde made mee
chatterre

Whenne woud notte peace atte mye byddynge

Twas thenne I fmelte umme thenne I founde
umme oute

Goe toe theyre notte Menne o theyre Wordes

Theye tolde mee I was alle I was everye thynge

Theye lye Theye I amme notte ague proofe

*Glos* The trycke o thatte Voyce I doe rememberre
Ift notte the Kynges

*Leare* Aye Boye ande everye Inche a Kynge
1420
Whenne I doe ftare fee howe mye Subjecte quakes
Whatte was hys caufe I pardonne thatte mans life
Naughte fave Adulleterye thou fhalte notte dye
Noe noe the Wrenne goes toote ande the fmalle
gyldedde flye

Dos Letcherre onne mye Syghte Lette Copula-
tyonne thrive

120

KYNGE LEARE.

Forre was notte Glofterres Baftarde Kynderre tos
fatherre

Thanne mye twoe Serrepentes gotte twixte law-
fulle Sheets

Thenne tot pelle Melle forre I doe lacke Soul-
dyerres

Looke atte yonne Ladye thatte dos shake atte
Pleafures Name

Noe neytherre Fytchewe noe norre fpoyledde
horfe

1430

Goes toot withe moure ryatoufe Appetyte

Downe toe waſte alle Cennetaures butte Womenne
above

O fye fye give mee owne ounce o fweete Cyvette

Ande mye Apothecarye thers Moneye forre thee

Glos O Lette mee Kysſe thye hande

Leare Fyrſte Ile wipe itte forre itte ſmelles o
Mortalytye

Glos O thou ruinedde peyce o Nature

O thatte thys greate worlde ſhalle foe weare oute
toe naughte

Doſt thou notte knowe mee

Leare I doe rememberre thyne Eyes whye doſt
foe ſquinye atte mee

Noe doe the worſte blynde Cupydde I le notte
love

1440

Reade thys Challenge marke butte the pennynge
offe itte

121

KYNGE LEARE.

Glos Were are butte I cannotne fee

Edg Ide notte take thys fromme Reporte butte
itte is

And myne hearte breakes atte itte

Leare Reade Reade

Glos Whatte withe theſe cafes o Eyes

Leare Hoa Hoa you are there noe Eyes I youre
heade

Norre noe Moneye inne Purſe

Youre Eyes thenne are inne heavye Cafe youre
Purſe lyhte

1450

Butte thou ſeeſt howe goes thys worlde

Glos Yea ande Mouſte feelyngelye

Leare Thenne arte Madde Oune maye fee howe
the Worlde waggs

Openne wide thyne Eares thenne thoulte fee enoughe

See yond Juſtyce rayle agaynſt yond fymple theſſe

Change Places ande nowe whiche is juſtyce whiche
theſſe

Thou hafte ſeene farmerres dogge barke atte
Beggarre

Glos Evenne foe Sir

Leare Ande thatte ſelfe fame Beggarre runne
fromme the Curre

There thenne doſte beholde the Image offe
Authorſtye

1460

Forre Dogges whenne inne Offyce myte bee obſervd

Thou Raſcalle Beadle houlde the bloodye hande

R

122

KYNGE LEARE.

Wherefore lafhe foethatte ftryppethyne owne backe
Thoult ftrayghte toe herre ande the cryme
commytte

Forre the whiche thou nowe dofte whyppe herre

Through tatteredde Cloathes greate Vices doe
appeare

Butte gilte Robes ande furrd Gownes doe hyde alle

Withe Goulde thou mayft breake the ftronge Cane
o Juſtyce

Butte armd inne Ragges a Pygmyes Strawe does
peyrce itte

None doe offende noe nonne I le able emme 1470

Goe thou mye freynde ande Seale the accuferres
Lyppes

Goe ande withe Glaſſe Eyes lyke ſcurvye Poly-
tycyanne

Seeme toe ſee thoſe thynges thou doſte notte ſee

Nowe Nowe pulle offe theſe Bootes harderre
harderre

Edg O Matterre ande Reaſonne withe madneſſe
myxte

Leare Naye an thoulte weepe mye forretunes
thenne take mye Eyes

I knowe thee welle enoughe thy names Glofterre

Thou muſte bee patyente wee came cryinge
hytherre

Evenne the fyſſte tyme wee ſmelle othe Ayre

Wee mewld ande cryd Ile preache toe thee
Marke

1480

123

KYNGE LEARE.

Glos Alacke Alacke the daye

Leare Whenne wee are borne we crye wee are
comme

Toe thys fayde Stage toe thys fayde Shyppe o fooles

O twere delycate Stratagemme toe ſhoo

A Troope o horſe inne Felte Ile putte itte inne
proofe

Ande whenne I ha ſtolenne oune theſe Sonne in
Lawes

Thenne Kylle Kylle Kylle

Owne Gennetellemanne

Gent Oh here he is laye hande uponne hymme Sir

O Sir youre mouſte deare Daughterre

Leare Whatte a Pryſonnerre I amme eene
Forretunes foole

1490

Butte uſe mee welle ande ye ſhalle ha ranneſomme

Naye give mee oune Surgeonne forre Ime cutte
t the Braynes

Gent Naye goode Sir you ſhalle ha anye thynge

Noe Secondes alle myeſelfe thys woud make a
Manne

Aye aye a manne o Salte toe uſe hys eyes

Forre Gardenne warterre Potts Ile dye bravelye

Nowe Ile bee royalle Comme Comme Ime a Kynge

Knowe you thatte Knowe you thatte mye goode
Maſterres

R 2

124

KYNGE LEARE.

Gent Aye ande a Royalle owne ande wee obeye
you

Leare Nowe thenne theres life int

Comme ande ye fhalle gette itte bye runnynge Sa,
Sa fa

Gent Thys fyghte were pyteoufe inne the
meafnefte Wretche

Butte tis paſte ſpeekynge offe inne a Kynge

Butte thou hafte oune daughterre thatte redeemes
alle nature

Fromme thatte generalle Curſe Whyche twayne
ha broughte

Edg Hayle gentle Sir forre foe youre Speeche
byddes mee calle you

Gent Sir ſpeede you what's you're wille

Edg Doe you heare oughte of a Battelle towarde

Gent Mouſte ſure eache owne heares thatte
canne dyſtynguifh Sounde

Edg Butte bye you're favourre howe neares
thotherre Armye

1510

Gent Neere ande onne ſpeedye foote

The mayne deſcrye ſtaundes inne houelye thoughte

Edg Thankes kynde Sir that's alle

Gent Though oure Queene onne ſpecyalle Caufe
bee here

Herre Armye is movd onne

Edg I thanke you Sir

Glos O you merrecyfulle ande everre Gentle Gods

125

KYNGE LEARE.

Take mye breathe fromme mee leafe mye wor-
ferre Spiritte

Tempte me agayne toe dye before you pleafe

Edg Welle praye you fatherre

2520

Glos Nowe goode Sir whatte are you

Edg Oune mouſte poore Manne made tame bye
forretunes blowes

Who bye arte o knowinge ande feelynge Sorrowes

Amm pregnawnte toe goode Pittye Give mee youre
hande

Ande lette mee leade you toe fome byddynge

Glos Heartye Thankes heavennes bountye ande
Benyzonne

Toe boote ande Toe boote

Stewarde

Stew Owne mouſte happye ande proclaymedde
Pryze

Thatte Eyeleſſe heade o thyne was framd toe rayſe
mye forretunes

Thou oulde ande hardnedde Traytorre breeſelye
thyſelfe ſurrennederre

The ſworde is oute thatte muſte deſtroye thee 2530

Glos Thenne lette thy e freyndelye hande putte
ſtrengthe enough toot

Stew Wherefore boulde Pefante darſt thou
fupporte

126

KYNGE LEARE.

Hence leafte the innefectyonne offe hys Forretunes

Take holde onne lette goe hys Arme I faye

Edg Ize notte lette goe Zir withoute vurtherre
cayfyonne

Stew Vile slave lette goe orre thou dyefte

Edg Gange youre Gayte goode Gennetlemanne
ande lette poore Volke paffe

I bee notte yette zwaggeredde oute a mye life

Forre thatte woulde take thee zoe longe as a
Vortenyghte 2540

Naye comme notte neere thoulde Manne keepe
oute of waye

Orre Ils trye anne youre Coſtarde orre mye Ballowe
bee the harderre

Stew Oute thou vile dunghylle

Edg Ile fycke youre teethe Sir noe matterre vor
youre foynes

Stew Slave I amme Slayne O Villayne take my
Purſe

Iſſe thoult thrive burye mee ande give the Letterres

Whiche thou fyndſt aboute toe Edmunde O Gloſ-
terre

Seeke hymme ithe Englyſhe partye o unnetymelye
deathe

Edg I knowe thee welle oune ferrevyceable
Villayne

Aſſe duteouſe toe the Vices o youre Myſtreſſe 2550

Aſſe baddeneſſe coud deſyre

KYNGE LEARE.

127

Glos Whatte is hee deade

Edg Goode fatherre fytte ye downe ande reſte
ye awhile

Theſe Letterres hee ſpeakes offe maye bee mye
ſreyndes

Ile ſearche theſe Pockettes hees deade Ime onlye
forrye

Hee hadde none otherre deathes manne lets ſee

Leave gentle waxe toe knowe oure Enemyes myndes

Wee ryppe theyre heartes theyre paperres are more
lawefulle

## Reades Letterre

Lette oure recyprocalle Vowes bee remmeberedde
You maye

withe eafe dyſpatche hymme anne youre wille
wante 2560

notte tyme ande place is yours Anne hee bee
Conquerorre

naughte canne bee done ande Ime the Pry-
ſonerre hys Bedde

mye Goale fromme whoſe loathedde warmthe
delyverre mee

ande ſupplye the Place forre youre labourre

Youre anne ſoe I woude faye

Gonerylle

128

KYNGE LEARE.

Oh vafte ande dyre fpace O Womannes blacke
Wille

Thuffe toe plotte onne Verretuoufe hufbandes life

Ande forre Exchange mye owne noe leffe qual-
tyedde Brotherre

Here Ile rake uppe the Murtheroufe Lettcherres
Pofte

Ande inne tyme withe thys unnegracyoufe Pa-
perre

2570

Stryke the Syghe o thys fayde deathe prae tyfed
Duke

Ande tis welle forre hymme thatte o thye deathe
I canne telle

Glos The Kynge is madde howe ftiffe is mye
vile fenfe

Thatte itte ftande uppe ande ha innegenuoufe
feelynge

Betterre I were dyftraete foe fhoud mye thoughtes

Bee feverd fromme mye Greefes ande loofe mye
woes

Bye wronge Imagynatyonnes o themme

Edg Give mee youre farre offe I heare the beate
o Drumme

Comme fatherre Ile beſtowe you withe a
freynde

2580

KYNGE LEARE.

129

*Corredelya Kente Gennetellemannè*

Cor O thou goode Kente howe fhalle I live
ande worke

Thatte I maye matche the goodneſſe mye lifes too
ſhorte

Ande everye meaſure wille fayle mee

Kente Thuffe toe bee acknowledgedde is to bee
thryce oere payde

Alle mye Reporrts are modefte truthe notte clypte
butte foe

Cor Bee betterre fuitedde theſe Weedes are
Memoryes

O worferre houres I prithee putte themme offe

Kente Pardonne Madame toe bee knowne
ſhorretennes myne intente

Mye boone I make itte thatte you knowe mee notte

Tylle tyme ande I thynke meete
2590

Cor Thenne beet foe goode Lorde howe dos the
Kynge

Gent Madame ſleepes ſtylle

Cor O you Gods cure thys greate breach ins
abufedde Nature

The untund ande jarrynge Senneſſes O winde uppe

O thys mye deare mye Chylde changedde fatherre

Gent Wilte pleafe youre Majeſtye wee wake the
Kynge

s

301

KYNGE LEARE.

*Cor* Bee youre knowledge ande ſkylle youre
Goverrenorres
Telle mee is he arrayedde

*Leare withe Serrevauntes*

*Gent* I the heavyneſſe o fleepe wee dydde attyre
hymme
Bee you bye goode madamme whenne wee doe
wake hymme

Forre yette I doe muche doubte hys temmepe-
raunce
2600

*Cor* O mye deere fatherre lette reſtauratyonne
hange

Herre medycyne onne theſe lyppes ande maye thys
Kyſſe

Repayre thoſe harmes mye Syſterres have inne thye
Reveraunce made

*Kente* O Kynde o deare Prynceſſe
*Cor* Hadde you notte beene theyre Fatherre
theſe white flakes

Dydde challenge theyre Pyttye Was thys a Face
Toe bee oppoſd agaynſte the jarrynge Windes
A Dogge though hee hadde bytte mee ſhoud nere
a ſtoode

Thatte fame Nyghte ande dydſte thou mye deere
fatherre
2610

Ande toe hovelle too withe Swine ande Rogues
forlorne

KYNGE LEARE.

131

Couchd too inne ſhorte ande muſtye ſtrawe Alacke
Alacke

Tis wonderre thye life ande wittes hadde notte atte
ounce

Concludedde alle hee wakes howe ſpeake toe
hymme

*Gent* Madame doe you forre tis fyttedſte

*Cor* Howe does mye Royalle Lorde howe fares
youre Majeſtye

*Leare* Doe notte thatte wronge toe take mee
oute othe Grave

Thou arte a Soule inne blyſſe butte I amme bounde
Fyxt onne a Weele o fyre thatte myne owne teares

Doe ſadlye ſcalde aye aye enne lyke moltenne Leade

*Cor* Doe you knowe mee Sir
2620

*Leare* You are a Spiritte I knowe where dydde
you dye

*Cor* Stylle Stylle farre wyde

*Gent* Hes ſcarſe awake leave hymme quiette
awhile

*Leare* Where iſt I ha beene where amm I fayre
daye lyghte

I amme ſadlye abuſd I ſhoud eene dye withe Pyttye
Toe fee anotherre foe I knowe notte whatte toe faye
I wille notte ſweare theſe bee mye handes lette
mee fee

Dothe thys Pynne prycke woud I were affurd o
mye Eſtate

S 2

132

KYNGE LEARE.

Cor O looke onne mee Sir ande houlde youre
hande
Inne benydyctyonne oere mee you muſte notte
Kneele 2630

Leare y doe notte mocke mee
Forre I amme a verye Foolyſhe oulde manne
Foreſcore ande upwarde notte oune houre more or
leſſe

Ande toe bee playne I feare I amme notte inne
perfecte mynde

Methynkes I ſhoud knowe you ande thatte manne

Yette amme I dubteſſulle Forre I amme maynelye
ignoraunte

Whatte place thys is ande alle the poore ſkylle I have

Dothe notte rememberre theſe Garrementes norre
doe I knowe

Where I dydde ſleepe laſte nyghte O doe laugh
atte mee

Forre anne I bee a Manne I doe bethynke 2640

Thys fweete Ladye toe bee mye Chylde Corredelya
Cor I amme I amme O tis ſhe youre daughterre

Leare Bee theſe teares wette I praye praye you
weepe notte

Anne thou hafte poyſonne forre mee I wille drynke
itte

I knowe you doe notte love mee forre youre
Syſterres

Have as I doe rememberre done mee wronge

KYNGE LEARE.

133

Thou hadſt goode cauſe forre hate butte theye
hadde none

Cor O breake notte thee poore daughterres hearte
Caufe Caufe o noe noe I ha none I ha none 2650

Leare Whatte amme I thenne inne Fraunce

Kente Inne youre owne Kyngdomme Sir

Leare O doe notte abuſe mee

Gent Ha Commeforte madamme hys Rage you
fees kylld

Defyre hee goe inne ande trouble hymme noe fur-
therre

Cor Wilte pleafe youre hyghneſſe walke

Leare Beare mee thenne O praye you forregette
ande forregive

I amme oulde ande foolyſhe youre bleſſynge I praye

Edmunde Reganne Gentlemanne Souledyerres

Edm Afke othe Duke ifs purpofe ſtylle houlde
Orre iſſe oure Advyces willes hymme toe change
hys Courſe 2660

Thenne brynge hytherre hys pleafure

Reg Oure Syſterres manne muſte ſure ha myſ-
carryedde

d Tis toe bee doubtedde Madame

g Nowe fweete Lorde you knowe the goode-
neſſe I innetende you

Saye thenne mouſte truelye doe notte you love mye
ſyſterre

134

KYNGE LEARE.

Inne honourd Love naughte more

Butte hafte nere founde waye toe the forefennededde
place

Noe bye mye honourre

I fhalle nere enndure herre fondle herre notte I
praye

Feare mee notte

2670

### Albanye Gonerylle Souldyerres

elle bee mette oure verye lovynge Syfterre

he Kynge is wihe hys daughterre ande otherres too
home the rygourre offe oure State forced toe crye oute

Reg Whye is thys reafonnd

Gon Combyne uffe toegetherre gaynfte the
Enemye

Forre thefe domeftyce broyles are notte the Quef-
tyonne here

Alb Lets detyrmyne thenne onne whatte pro-
cedynge

Reg Syfterre youle goe withe uffe

Gon Noe

Reg Soe tis convenyente praye goe withe uffe 2680

Gon Ho ho I knowe the Ryddelle Ile goe Ile goe

### Edgarre

Ed Anne youre grace canne fpeake withe oune
foe poore heare mee

135

KYNGE LEARE.

Alb Speake thenne

Edg Before the battayle bee foughte ope thys
Letterre

Iffe you ha Victorye thenne lette the trumpette
founde

Forre though I feeme poore I canne produce

A Champyonne thatte wille vouche thatte whiche
is there

Anne you myſt carrye foe dothe youre bufyneſſe ende

lb Staye tylle I ha reade the Letterre

g Twas forrebydde butte tyme ſervynge lette
the heralde crye

2690

Thenne Ile appeare agayne

Fare thee welle I wille oerelooke thee Paperre

### Edmunde

The Enemyes inne Viewe drawe uppe youre
Powerres

e is the gueſſe o theyre ſtrengthe ande forces

e dylygente forre youre hafte is urgedde onne you

Alb Thenne wee wille greete the tyme

Edm Toe bothe theſe Syfterres have I fworne
mye Love

Eache jealouſe othe otherre as thofe ſtunge of
Adderre

Whiche thenne ſhalle I take bothe oune orre
neytherre

136

KYNGE LEARE.

Neytherre canne bee enjoyd whilſte bothe doe
live 2700

Anne I doe take the Widdowe Gonerylle is madde
Ande hardelye ſhalle I carrye oute mye fyde

Herre huſbande beynge alive Nowe thenne wele uſe

Hys Countenaunce forre the Battayle thatte done
Lette herre thatte woud bee rydde devife hys ſpeedye
takynge offe

Aſſe forre the mercye he innetendes Leare ande
Corredelya

The Battayle done ande Theye withinne our
Powerre

Shalle neverre fee hys pardonne Forre mye ſtate

Standes withe mee toe defende ande notte debate

### Edgarre ande Gloſterre

Edg Heere Fatherre take the Shadowe o thys
Tree 2710

Forre youre goode hoaſte praye thatte the ryghte
maye thrive

Ande Iff I retturne agayne Ile brynge you comforte

Glos Grace goe withe you mouſte Kynde ande
gentle Sir

KYNGE LEARE.

137

### Edgarre

Edg Awaye awaye oulde Manne give mee thye
hande

Kynge Leare hathe loſte hee ands daughterre are
taene

Glos Thenne noe furtherre Sir forre owne maye
rotte eene here

Edg Whatte inne ille thoughtes agayne Menne
muſte ennedure

Theyre goynge hence ande comynge hytherre come
onne

Glos Trewe Trewe indeede thou fayſte welle

Edmunde Leare Cordelya Captayne ande Sould-
yerres 2720

Edm Some Offycerres withe ſpeede take themme
hence

Untylle thoſe thatte are greaterre pronounce theyre
wille

Cor Wee are notte othe fyſte thatte have in-
currd worſte

Withe beſte meanynge Butte tis forre thee oppref-
fedde Kynge

I amme elſe forre myeſelfe I woud oute frowne

Falſe Forretunes frowne ſhalle wee notte fee theſe
Syſterres

T

138 KYNGE LEARE.

*Leare* Nowe nowe letts toe Pryfonne there wee
towe wille fynge

Lyke Byrdes ithe Cage whenne thou dofte afke
mee bleffynge

Ile kneele downe ande afke o thee forregivenesse

Soe wele live ande praye ande fynge ande telle oulde
tales 2730

Ande laugh atte gildedde butterreflyes ande heere
poore Rogues

Talke o Courte Newes ande wele talke withe
themme too

Who loofes ande who winnes whofe inne ande
whos oute

Ande take uponne Us the mysterye o thynges

Affe iffe wee were Gods fpyes ande wele weare oute

Inne oure walld Pryfonne Packes ande feckes o
greate ounes

Thatte ebbe ande flowe bye lyghte othe pale facd
Moone

*Edm* Take themme awaye

*Leare* Uponne fuche facryfyces mye Corredelya

The Goddes themmefelves throwe innecenfe 2740

Ha have I thenne caughte thee hee thatte parts uſſe

Shalle brynge a Brande fromme heavenne ande fire
uſſe hence

Evenne lyke Sampfonnes Foxes o wipe thyne Eyes

The goode Yeares ſhalte devore themme fleſhe
ande felle

KYNGE LEARE.

139

Eere theye ſhalle make uſſe weepe weele fee em
ſtarvd fyrfte

*Edm* Cemme hytherre Captayne hearke take
thou thys Note

Followe themme toe Pryfonne ounne Steppe Ive
advauncd thee

Ande iſſe thou doſte as thys inneſtruſtes thou makſt
thee waye

Toe noblerre Fortune knowe thou thys Menne are
as the tyme is

Ande toe bee tenderre myndedde becomes notte a
Swordre

Thenne faye thoult dot orre thrive bye otherre
meanes

*Cap* Mye Lorde Ile dot

*Bas* Aboute itte ande write theeſelſe happye
whenne tis done

Marde I faye inneſtauntelye as I ha fette itte downe

Albanye Gonerylle Reganne

*Alb* Sir you have ſhowne thys daye youre Va-
lyaunte ſtrayne

Ande Forretune ledde you welle you ha the Captives

Ande I doe require themme offe you toe uſe themme

As theyre Meryttes ande oure ſafetye maye beſte
deterremyne

T 2