QUARTO PASSAGES THAT DO
NOT APPEAR IN THE FOLIO
Lines are numbered continuously, for ease of reference.
Following 1.2.88:
EDMUND Nor is not, sure1.
GLOUCESTER To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.
Heaven and earth!
Following 1.2.130:
as of unnaturalness4 between the child and the parent,
death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities, divisions5 in
state, menaces and maledictions6 against king and nobles,
needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of7
cohorts, nuptial breaches8, and I know not what.
EDGAR How long have you been a sectary astronomical9?
EDMUND Come, come,
Following 1.3.16:
Not to be overruled. Idle11 old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away! Now by my life
Old fools are babes again, and must be used14
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused15.
Following 1.4.131:
FOOL That lord that counselled thee to give away thy land,
Come place him here by me, do thou for him stand17,
The sweet and bitter fool will presently18 appear:
The one in motley19 here, the other found out there.
LEAR Dost thou call me fool, boy?
FOOL All thy other titles thou hast given away, that thou
wast born with.
KENT This is not altogether fool23 my lord.
FOOL No, faith, lords and great men will not let me, if I
had a monopoly out, they would have part on’t25: and ladies
too, they will not let me have all the fool to myself, they’ll be
snatching27.
Following 1.4.204:
I would learn that, for by the marks28 of sovereignty,
knowledge, and reason, I should be false29 persuaded I had
daughters.
FOOL Which they will make an obedient father.
Following 2.2.137:
His fault is much, and the good king, his master,
Will check him for’t: your purposed low correction33
Is such as basest and ’temnest34 wretches
For pilf’rings and most common trespasses35
Are punished with.
Following 3.1.7:
tears his white hair,
Which the impetuous blasts with eyeless38 rage
Catch39 in their fury, and make nothing of,
Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn,
The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain:
This night wherein the cubdrawn bear would couch42,
The lion and the belly-pinchèd43 wolf
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted44 he runs,
And bids what will take all45.
Replaces 3.1.16–23:
But true it is, from France there comes a power46
Into this scattered47 kingdom, who already
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet48
In some of our best ports, and are at point49
To show their open banner.
Now to you:
If on my credit52 you dare build so far
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report54
Of how unnatural and bemadding55 sorrow
The king hath cause to ’plain56.
I am a gentleman of blood57 and breeding,
And from some knowledge and assurance58,
Offer this office59 to you.
Following 3.6.16:
EDGAR The foul fiend bites my back.
FOOL He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a
horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.
LEAR It shall be done, I will arraign them straight63,
To Edgar
Come sit thou here most learnèd justice64.—
To the Fool
Thou, sapient65 sir sit here.
No, you she foxes—
EDGAR Look where he stands and glares. Want’st thou eyes67
at trial, madam?
Come o’er the bourn69, Bessy, to me—
Sings
FOOL Her boat hath a leak70,
And she must not speak71
Why she dares not come over72 to thee.
EDGAR The foul73 fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a
nightingale, Hopdance74 cries in Tom’s belly for two white
herring,
Croak not black angel76, I have no food for thee.
KENT How do you sir? Stand you not so amazed77,
Will you lie down and rest upon the cushings78?
LEAR I’ll see their trial first, bring in their evidence.—
To Edgar
Thou robèd man of justice, take thy place—
To the Fool
And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity81,
To Kent
Bench by his side:— you are o’th’commission82,