King Lear (Modern, Folio) :: Internet Shakespeare Editions

[Scene 9 in Quarto]
2.0.116543.2
2.0.21655Storm still. Enter Lear and Fool.
2.11656Lear
 Blow winds and crack your cheeks. Rage, blow
2.21657You cataracts, and hurricanoes spout,
2.31658Till you have drenched 1436our steeples, drowned the cocks.
2.41659You sulfurous and 1437thought-executing fires,
2.51660Vaunt-couriers of 1438oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
2.61661Singe my white head, 1439and thou all-shaking thunder,
2.71662Strike flat 1440the thick rotundity o'th'world,
2.81663Crack nature's 1441molds; all germens spill at once
2.91664That makes ingrateful man.
2.1016651443Fool
 O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is 16661444better than this rainwater out o'door. 1445Good nuncle, 1667in; ask thy daughters' blessing. 1446Here's a night pities 1668neither wise men, nor fools.
2.1116691447Lear
 Rumble thy bellyful. Spit fire, spout rain.
2.121670Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters.
2.131671I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness.
2.141672I never gave you kingdom, called you children.
2.151673You owe me no subscription. Then let fall
2.161674Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand your slave,
2.171675A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man.
2.181676But yet I call you servile ministers,
2.191677That will with two pernicious daughters join
2.201678Your high-engendered battles 'gainst a head
2.211679So old and white as this. Oh ho, 'tis foul.
2.221680Fool
 He that has a house to put's head in, has a good 1681headpiece.
2.22.1[Sings]
2.231682The codpiece that will house
2.24 Before the head has any,
2.251683The head and he shall louse,
2.26 So beggars marry many.
2.271684The man that makes his toe
2.28 What he his heart should make,
2.291685Shall of a corn cry woe,
2.30 And turn his sleep to wake.
2.311686For there was never yet fair woman but she made 1687mouths in a glass.
2.321688Enter Kent [disguised].
2.331689Lear
 No, I will be the pattern of all patience;
2.341690I will say nothing.
2.34.1[He sits.]
2.351691Kent
 Who's there?
2.361692Fool
 Marry here's grace, and a codpiece, that's a 1693wise man and a fool.
2.3716941469Kent
 Alas, sir, are you here? 1470Things that love night
2.381695Love not such nights as these. 1471The wrathful skies
2.391696Gallow the very wanderers of the 1472dark
2.401697And make them keep their caves. 1473Since I was man
2.411698Such sheets of fire, 1474such bursts of horrid thunder,
2.421699Such groans of 1475roaring wind and rain I never
2.431700Remember 1476to have heard. Man's nature cannot carry
2.4417011477Th'affliction, nor the fear.
 1702Lear
 Th'affliction, nor the fear.  Let the great gods
2.451703That keep this dreadful pudder o'er our heads
2.461704Find out their enemies now. Tremble thou wretch
2.471705That hast within thee undivulgèd crimes
2.481706Unwhipped of justice. Hide thee, thou bloody hand,
2.491707Thou perjured, and thou simular of virtue
2.501708That art incestuous; caitiff, to pieces shake,
2.511709That under covert and convenient seeming
2.521710Has practised on man's life; 1486close pent-up guilts,
2.531711Rive your concealing continents 1487and cry
2.541712These dreadful summoners grace. 1488I am a man
2.551713More sinned against than sinning.
 17141489Kent
 More sinned against than sinning.  Alack, bare-headed?
2.561715Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel.
2.571716Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest.
2.581717Repose you there while I to this hard house--
2.591718More harder than the stones whereof 'tis raised--
2.601719Which even but now, demanding after you,
2.611720Denied me to come in, return and force
2.621721Their scanted courtesy.
 1722Lear
 Their scanted courtesy.  My wits begin to turn.
2.631723[To the Fool] Come on my boy. How dost my boy? Art cold?
2.641724I am cold myself. [To Kent] Where is this straw, my fellow?
2.6517251498The art of our necessities is strange,
2.661726And can 1499make vile things precious. Come, your hovel.
2.671727Poor 1500fool and knave, I have one part in my heart
2.6817281501That's sorry yet for thee.
2.691729Fool
2.69.1[Sings.]
2.70He that has and a little tiny wit,
2.711730 With heigh, ho, the wind and the rain,
2.721731Must make content with his fortunes fit,
2.731732 Though the rain it raineth every day.
2.741733Lear
 True, boy. [To Kent] Come bring us to this hovel.
2.70.1Exeunt [28all but the Fool].28.1
2.751734Fool
 This is a brave night to cool a courtesan. 1735I'll speak a prophecy ere I go.
2.761736When priests are more in word than matter,
2.771737When brewers mar their malt with water,
2.781738When nobles are their tailors' tutors,
2.791739No heretics burned but wenches' suitors;
2.801740When every case in law is right,
2.811741No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;
2.821742When slanders do not live in tongues,
2.831743Nor cut-purses come not to throngs;
2.841744When usurers tell their gold i'th'field,
2.851745And bawds and whores do churches build;
2.861746Then shall the realm of Albion
2.87Come to great confusion.
2.881747Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
2.891748That going shall be used with feet.
2.901749This prophecy Merlin shall make, for I live before his time.
2.90.11750Exit.