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,

1745And Baudes, and whores, do Churches build,

1746Then shal the Realme of Albion, come to great confusion:

1747Then comes the time, who liues to see't,

1748That going shal be vs'd with feet.

1749This prophecie Merlin shall make, for I liue before his (time.