Against the old kind king; or something deeper,
Whereof, perchance, these are but furnishings;*-
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? [yet; Kent. Few words, but, to effect, more than all 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 continues. Enter LEAR and Fool.

Enter KENT.

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

Kent. Alas, sir, are you here? things that love
Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies
Gallow ¶ the very wanderers of the dark, [man,
And make them keep their caves: Since I was
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
The affliction, nor the fear.
[carry
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, [hand;
Unwhipp'd of justice: Hide thee, thou bloody
Thou perjur'd, and thou simular** man of virtue
That art incestuous: Caitiff, to pieces shake,
That under covert and convenient seeming
Hast practis'd on man's life!-Close pent-up
Rive your concealing continents, and cry [guilts,
These dreadful summoners grace.++--I am a
More sinn'd against, than sinning.
[man,
Kent.
Alack, bare-headed 1
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
Their scanted courtesy.

Lear.

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. Onuncle, court holy-water? in a dry house, is better than this rain-water out o' door. Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughter's blessing; here's a night pities neither wise men nor fools. Lear. Rumble thy bellyfull! 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;|| 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 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.

fellow?

The art of our necessities is strange, [hovel, That can make vile things precious. Come, your 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.‡‡

Lear. True, my good boy.-Come, bring us to

this hovel. [Exeunt LEAR and KENT. Fool. I'll speak a prophecy ere I go : When priests are more in word than matter. When brewers mar their malt with water; 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; 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 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