Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, We could control them: If you will come to me Lear. I gave you all Reg. With such a number: What, must I come to you Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look wellfavour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, [To Goneril. Gon. Reg. What need one? Lear. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life is cheap as beast's: thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall-I will do such things,— I have full cause of weeping; but this heart, [Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. [Storm heard at a distance. Reg. Gon. Gon. Where is my lord of Gloster? So am I purpos'd. Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth:-he is return'd. Glo. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither. Corn. 'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself. Gon. My lord, entreat him by no means to stay. Glo. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush. Reg. Must be their schoolmasters: Shut up your doors; And what they may incense him to, being apt [Exeunt. A Storm is heard, with Thunder and Lightning. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting. Kent. Who's here, beside foul weather? Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly. 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: Strives in his little world of man, to out-scorn The to-and-fro conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinched wolf Keep their fur dry, unbonnetted he runs, And bids what will take all. Kent. But who is with him? Gent. None but the fool; who labours to out-jest ITis heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you; And dare, upon the warrant of my art, With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; I am a gentleman of blood and breeding; Gent. I will talk further with you. 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, [Exeunt severally. Holla the other. D SCENE 11. Another Part of the Heath. Storm continues. Enter LEAR and Fool. Lear. Blow, wind, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts, and hurricanoes, spout Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks! 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-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 bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain! That have with two pernicious daughters join'd 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 woe, And turn his sleep to wake. -for there was never yet fair woman, but she made mouths in a glass. |