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, So beggars marry many. The man that makes his toe What he his heart should make, Shall of a corn cry woe, And turn his sleep to wake. for there was never yet fair woman, but she made mouths in a glass. 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, 2 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 pother 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; Gallow] signifies to scare or frighten. Thou perjur'd, and thou simular man of virtue Hast practis'd on man's life! - Close pent-up guilts, Rive your concealing continents 3, and cry 3 These dreadful summoners grace *. Kent. Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest; 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, - Lear. True, my good boy. hovel. Come, bring us to this [Exeunt LEAR and KENT. Fool. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan. I'll speak a prophecy ere I go: 3 concealing continents,] Continent stands for that which contains or incloses. 4 These dreadful summoners grace.] Summoners are here the officers that summon offenders before a proper tribunal. When priests are more in word than matter; No squire in debt, nor no poor knight; Come to great confusion. Then comes the time, who lives to see't, This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time. SCENE III. [Exit. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter GLOSTER and EDMund. Glo. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing: When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain him. Edm. Most savage, and unnatural! Glo. Go to; say you nothing: There is division between the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have received a letter this night; - 'tis dangerous to be spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet: these injuries the king now bears will be revenged home; there is part of a power already footed: we must incline to the king. I will seek him, and privily relieve him: go you, and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived: If he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. If I die for it, as no less is threatened me, the king my old master must be relieved. There is some strange thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful. [Exit. Edm. This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke Instantly know; and of that letter too :This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me That which my father loses; no less than all : The younger rises, when the old doth fall. [Exit. SCENE IV. A part of the Heath, with a Hovel. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Kent. Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter: The tyranny of the open night's too rough For nature to endure. [Storm still. Wilt break my heart? Kent. Good my lord, enter here. Lear. Kent. I'd rather break mine own: Good my lord, enter. Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much, that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee; But where the greater malady is fix'd, The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'dst shun a bear: But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea, When the mind's free, The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else, But I will punish home:- For lifting food to't? Pour on; I will endure: In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril! No more of that, — Kent. Good my lord, enter here. Lear. Pr'ythee, go in thyself; seek thine own ease; This tempest will not give me leave to ponder On things would hurt me more. But I'll go in: In, boy; go first. [To the Fool.] You houseless po Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll sleep. [Fool goes in. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, Edg. [within.] Fathom and half, fathom and half! [The Fool runs out from the Hovel. Fool. Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit. Help me, help me! Kent. Give me thy hand. Who's there? Fool. A spirit, a spirit; he says his name's poor Tom. |