Come, come, you froward and vnable wormes To bandie word for word, and frowne for frowne; Our strength as wcake, our weaknesse past compare, My hand is readie may it do him ease. Pet. Why ther's a wench: come on, and kiffe me Kate. We three are married, but you two are sped. Exit Petruchio. Hor. Now go thy wayes thou haft tam'd a curst shrow. Luc. 'Tis a wonder by your leaue, fhe will be tam'd fo. FINI S. His True Chronicle HISTORY OF THE LIFE and DEATH of King Lear, and his Three Daughters. WITH THE Vnfortunate Life of EDGAR, Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Glocefter, and his fullen and affumed Humour of Tom of Bedlam. As it was plaid Before the KING'S MAIESTY at White-Hall, vppon S. Stephens Night, in Christmas Hollidaies. By his MAIESTIES Seruants, playing vfually at the Globe on the Banck Side. Printed for NATHANIEL BUTTER, 1608. There is befides this Edition another of the fame Year, which (with that published by Jane Bell in 1655) is but a Copy from the First, and retains even the Printer's Errors. M. WILLIAM SHAKE-SPEARE, His HISTORY, of KING LEA R. I Enter Kent, Glocefter, and Baftard. Kent. Thought the king had more affected the duke of Albeney then Cornewall. Gloft. It did alwaies feeme fo to vs, but now in the diuifion of the kingdomes, it appeares not which of the dukes he values most, for equalities are fo weighed, that curiosity in neither, can make choife of eithers moytie. Kent. Is not this your fonne, my lord? Gloft. His breeding fir hath beene at my charge. I haue fo often blusht to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to it. Kent. I cannot conceiue you. Gloft. Sir, this young fellowes mother could, whereupon fhe grew round wombed, and had indeed fir a fonne for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed, do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wifh the fault vndone, the iffue of it being fo proper. Gloft. But I haue fir a fonne by order of law, fome yeare elder then this, who yet is no deerer in my account, thogh this knaue came fomething fawcely into the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother faire, there was good sport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowledged, do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Baft. No my lord, Gloft. Gloft. My lord of Kent, remember him heereafter as my honourable friend. Baft. My feruices to your lordship. Kent. I must loue you, and fue to know you better. Baft. Sir, I fhall study deferuing. Gloft. He hath beene out nine yeares, and away he shall again, the king is comming. Sound a fennet. Enter one bearing a coronet, then Lear, then the dukes of Albany and Cornwall, next Gonorill, Regan, Cordelia, with followers. Lear. Attend my lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter. Gloft. I fhall my liege. Lear. Meane time we will expreffe our darker purpofes, The map there; know we haue diuided In three our kingdome; and tis our first intent, To shake all cares and businesse of our state, Confirming them on younger yeares, The two great princes, France and Burgundy, Long in our court haue made their amorous foiourne, Which of you shall we fay doth loue vs most, Where merit doth most challenge it: Gonorill our eldeft borne, fpeake first. Gon. Sir, I do loue you more then words can wield the matter Dearer then eye-fight, fpace, or liberty, Beyond what can be valued rich or rare, No leffe then life; with grace, health, beauty, honour, As much a childe ere loued, or father friend, A loue that makes breath poore, and fpeech vnable, Cor. |