1618Kent. I know you: Where's the King?

1619Gent. Contending with the fretfull Elements;

1620Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea,

1621Or swell the curled Waters 'boue the Maine,

1622That things might change, or cease.

1623Kent. But who is with him?

1624Gent. None but the Foole, who labours to out-iest

1625His heart-strooke iniuries.

1626Kent. Sir, I do know you,

1627And dare vpon the warrant of my note

1628Commend a deere thing to you. There is diuision

1629(Although as yet the face of it is couer'd

1630With mutuall cunning) 'twixt Albany , and Cornwall:

1631Who haue, as who haue not, that their great Starres

1632Thron'd and set high; Seruants, who seeme no lesse,

1633Which are to France the Spies and Speculations

1634Intelligent of our State. What hath bin seene,

1635Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes,

1636Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne

1637Against the old kinde King; or something deeper,

1638Whereof (perchance) these are but furnishings.

1639Gent. I will talke further with you.

1640Kent. No, do not:

1641For confirmation that I am much more

1642Then my out-wall; open this Purse, and take

1643What it containes. If you shall see Cordelia,

1644(As feare not but you shall) shew her this Ring,

1645And she will tell you who that Fellow is

1646That yet you do not know. Fye on this Storme,

1647I will go seeke the King.

1648Gent. Giue me your hand,

1649Haue you no more to say?

1650Kent. Few words, but to effect more then all yet;

1651That when we haue found the King, in which your pain

1652That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him,

1653Holla the other. Exeunt.

1656Lear. Blow windes, & crack your cheeks; Rage, blow

1657You Cataracts, and Hyrricano's spout,

1658Till you haue drench'd our Steeples, drown the Cockes.

1659You Sulph'rous and Thought-executing Fires,

1660Vaunt-curriors of Oake-cleauing Thunder-bolts,

1661Sindge my white head. And thou all-shaking Thunder,

1662Strike flat the thicke Rotundity o'th'world,

1663Cracke Natures moulds, all germaines spill at once

1664That makes ingratefull Man.

1665Foole. O Nunkle, Court holy-water in a dry house, is

1666better then this Rain-water out o' doore. Good Nunkle,

1667in, aske thy Daughters blessing, heere's a night pitties

1668neither Wisemen, nor Fooles.

1669Lear. Rumble thy belly full: spit Fire, spowt Raine:

1670Nor Raine, Winde, Thunder, Fire are my Daughters;

1671I taxe not you, you Elements with vnkindnesse.

1672I neuer gaue you Kingdome, call'd you Children;

1673You owe me no subscription. Then let fall

1674Your horrible pleasure. Heere I stand your Slaue,

1675A poore, infirme, weake, and dispis'd old man:

1676But yet I call you Seruile Ministers,

1677Thar will with two pernicious Daughters ioyne

1678Your high-engender'd Battailes, 'gainst a head

1679So old, and white as this. O, ho! 'tis foule.

1680Foole. He that has a house to put's head in, has a good

1681Head-peece:

1686For there was neuer yet faire woman, but shee made

1687mouthes in a glasse.

1689Lear. No, I will be the patterne of all patience,

1690I will say nothing.

1691Kent. Who's there?

1692Foole. Marry here's Grace, and a Codpiece, that's a

1693Wiseman, and a Foole.

1694Kent. Alas Sir are you here? Things that loue night,

1695Loue not such nights as these: The wrathfull Skies

1696Gallow the very wanderers of the darke

1697And make them keepe their Caues: Since I was man,

1698Such sheets of Fire, such bursts of horrid Thunder,

1699Such groanes of roaring Winde, and Raine, I neuer

1700Remember to haue heard. Mans Nature cannot carry

1701Th'affliction, nor the feare.

1702Lear. Let the great Goddes

1703That keepe this dreadfull pudder o're our heads,

1704Finde out their enemies now. Tremble thou Wretch,

1705That hast within thee vndivulged Crimes

1706Vnwhipt of Iustice. Hide thee, thou Bloudy hand;

1707Thou Periur'd, and thou Simular of Vertue

1708That art Incestuous. Caytiffe, to peeces shake

1709That vnder couert, and conuenient seeming

1710Ha's practis'd on mans life. Close pent-vp guilts,

1711Riue your concealing Continents, and cry

1712These dreadfull Summoners grace. I am a man,

1713More sinn'd against, then sinning.

1714Kent. Alacke, bare-headed?

1715Gracious my Lord, hard by heere is a Houell,

1716Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the Tempest:

1717Repose you there, while I to this hard house,

1718(More harder then the stones whereof 'tis rais'd,

1719Which euen but now, demanding after you,

1720Deny'd me to come in) returne, and force

1721Their scanted curtesie.

1722Lear. My wits begin to turne.

1723Come on my boy. How dost my boy? Art cold?

1724I am cold my selfe. Where is this straw, my Fellow?

1725The Art of our Necessities is strange,

1726And can make vilde things precious. Come, your Houel;

1727Poore Foole, and Knaue,I haue one part in my heart

1728That's sorry yet for thee.

1733Le. True Boy: Come bring vs to this Houell. Exit.

1734Foole. This is a braue night to coole a Curtizan:

1735Ile speake a Prophesie ere I go:

1736When Priests are more in word, then matter;

1737When Brewers marre their Malt with water;

1738When Nobles are their Taylors Tutors,

1739No Heretiques burn'd, but wenches Sutors;

1740When euery Case in Law, is right;

1741No Squire in debt, nor no poore Knight;

1742When Slanders do not liue in Tongues;

1743Nor Cut-purses come not to throngs;

1744When Vsurers tell their Gold i'th'Field,