Gent. One minded like the weather, most un

quietly.

Kent. I know you; where's the king?

Gent. Contending with the fretful element;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea,
Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,
That things might change, or cease: tears his white
hair;

Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
Catch 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 cub-drawn bear1 would couch,

The lion and the belly-pinched wolf

Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

Kent.

Gent. None but the fool; His heart-struck injuries. Kent.

But who is with him?

who labours to out-jest

Sir, I do know you;

And dare, upon the warrant of my art,2
Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
Although as yet the face of it be cover'd

With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have (as who have not, that their great stars
Thron'd and set high?) servants, who seem no less;
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes;
Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
Against the old kind king; or something deeper,
Whereof, perchance, these are but furnishings 4-

(1) Whose dugs are drawn dry by its young.

Which teaches us to find the mind's construction in the face.'

(3) Snuffs are dislikes, and packings, underhand contrivances.

(4) Samples.

[But, true it is, from France there comes a power
Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports, and are at point
To show their open banner.-Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far

To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow
The king hath cause to plain.

I am a gentleman of blood and breeding;
And, from some knowledge and assurance, offer
This office to you.]

Gent. I will talk further with you.

Kent. No, do not. For confirmation that I am much more Than my out wall, open this purse, and take What it contains: If you shall see Cordelia, (As fear not but you shall,) show her this ring; And she will tell you who your fellow! is That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm! I will go seek the king.

Gent. Give me your hand: Have you no more to say?

Kent. Few words, but, to effect, more than all

yet;

That, when we have found the king (in which your

pain

That way; I'll this;) he that first lights on him, Holla the other. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II-Another part of the heath. Storm Enter Lear and Fool.

continues.

Lear. Blow, wind, and crack your

blow!

You cataracts, and hurricanoes, spout

cheeks! rage!

Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks!

(1) Companion.

You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt couriers to oak-cleaving thunder-bolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking
thunder,

Strike flat the thick rotundity o'the world!
Crack nature's moulds, all germens spill at once,
That make ingrateful man

Fool. O nuncle, court holy-water3 in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o'door.-Good nuncle, in and ask thy daughters' blessing: here's a night pities neither wise men nor fools.

Lear. Rumble thy belly full! Spit, fire! spout,
rain !

Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters :
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness,
I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children,
You owe me no subscription;4 why then, let fall
Your horrible pleasure; here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despis'd old man :-
But yet I call you servile ministers,

That have with two pernicious daughters join'd
Your high-engender'd battles, 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O! O! 'tis foul!
Fool. He that has a house to put his head in, has
a good head-piece.

The cod-piece that will house,
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse ;-
So beggars marry many.

The man that makes his toe

What he his heart should make,

Shall of a corn cry wo,

And turn his sleep to wake.

-for there was never yet fair woman, but she

made mouths in a glass.

(1) Quick as thought. (2) Avant couriers, French, (3) A proverbial phrase for fair words.

(4) Obedience.

Enter Kent.

Lear. No, I will be the pattern of all patience, I will say nothing.

Kent. Who's there?

Fool. Marry, here's grace, and a cod-piece; that's a wise man, and a fool.

Kent. Alas, sir, are you here? things that love

night,

Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies Gallow the very wanderers of the dark,

And make them keep their caves: Since I was man, Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder, Such groans of roaring wind and rain, I never Remember to have heard: man's nature cannot

carry

The affliction, nor the fear.

Lear.

Let the great gods, That keep this dreadful pother2 o'er our heads, Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch, That hast within thee undivulged crimes,

Unwhipp'd of justice: Hide thee, thou bloody hand;
Thou perjur'd, and thou simular3 man of virtue,
That art incestuous: Caitiff, to pieces shake,
That under covert and convenient seeming4
Hast practis'd on man's life!-Close pent-up guilts,
Rive your concealing continents, and cry
These dreadful summoners grace.5-I am a man,
More sinn'd against, than sinning.

Kent.
Alack, bare-headed!
Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel;
Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest;
Repose you there: while I to this hard house
(More hard than is the stone whereof 'tis rais'd;
Which even but now, demanding after you,
Denied me to come in,) return, and force

(1) Scare or frighten. (2) Blustering noise. (3) Counterfeit. (4) Appearance. (5) Favour. (6) Inquiring.

Their scanted courtesy.

Lear. My wits begin to turn.Come on, my boy: How dost, my boy? Art cold? I am cold myself.-Where is this straw, my fellow? The art of our necessities is strange,

That can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel,

Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart That's sorry yet for thee.

Fool. He that has a little tiny wit,

With heigh, ho, the wind and the rain,-
Must make content with his fortunes fit;
For the rain it raineth every day.1

Lear. True, my good boy.-Come, bring us to this hovel. [Exeunt Lear and Kent. Fool. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.I'll speak a prophecy ere I go:

When priests are more in word than matter;
When brewers mar their malt with water;
When nobles are their tailors' tutors;
No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors:
When every case in law is right;
No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;
When slanders do not live in tongues;
Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;
When usurers tell their gold i'the field;
And bawds and whores do churches build;--
Then shall the realm of Albion

Come to great confusion.

Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
That going shall be us'd with feet.

This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time.

[Exit.

SCENE III-A room in Gloster's castle. Enter

Gloster and Edmund.

Glo. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this un

(1) Part of the Clown's song in Twelfth Night.