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  • Title: The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)
  • Editor: Andrew Griffin

    • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Andrew Griffin
    Peer Reviewed

    The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)

    and his three daughters.
    Within the thicket two long houres and more.
    Rag.What houres? what thicket?
    2595Per. There, where you sent your seruant with your letters,
    Seald with your hand, to send vs both to heauen,
    Where, as I thinke, you neuer meane to come.
    Raga. Alas, you are growne a child agayne with age,
    Or else your sences dote for want of sleepe.
    2600Per. Indeed you made vs rise betimes, you know,
    Yet had a care we should sleepe where you bade vs stay,
    But neuer wake more till the latter day.
    Gon. Peace, peace, old fellow, thou art sleepy still.
    Mum. Fayth, and if you reason till to morrow,
    2605You get no other answere at their hands.
    Tis pitty two such good faces
    Should haue so little grace betweene them.
    Well, let vs see if their husbands with their hands,
    Can do as much, as they do with their toungs.
    2610Cam. I, with their swords they'l make your toung vnsay
    What they haue sayd, or else they'l cut them out.
    King. Too't, gallants, too't, let's not stand brawling thus.
    Exeunt both armyes.
    Sound alarum: excursions. Mumford must chase Cambria
    2615away : then cease. Enter Cornwall.
    Corn.The day is lost, our friends do all reuolt,
    And ioyne against vs with the aduerse part:
    There is meanes of safety but by flight,
    And therefore ile to Cornwall with my Queene. Exit.
    2620Enter Cambria.
    Cam.I thinke, there is a deuill in the Campe hath haunted
    me to day: he hath so tyred me, that in a maner I can fight no
    more. Enter Mumford.
    Zounds, here he comes, Ile take me to my horse. Exit.
    2625Mumford followes him to the dore, and returnes.
    Mum.Farewell (Welshman) giue thee but thy due,
    Thou hast a light and nimble payre of legs:
    Thou art more in debt to them then to thy hands:
    But if I meet thee once agayne to day,
    2630Ile cut them off, and set them to a better heart. Exit.
    I4 Alarums
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