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 favage, and unnatural !

Glo. Go to; say you nothing: There is division between the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have received a letter this night;—'tis dangerous to be spoken; - I have lock'd the letter in my closet : these injuries the king now bears will be revenged home; there is part of a power already footed : we must incline to the king. I will seek him, and privily relieve him: go you, and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him ‘perceived: If he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. If I die for it, as no less is threatenid me, the king my old master must be relieved. There is some strange thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.

[Exit. Edm. This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke Instantly know; and of that letter too :This fecnis a fuir deserving, and must draw me

That

That which my father loses; no less than all :
The younger rises, when the old doth fall.

SCENE IV.

A Part of the Heath, with a Hovel.

1

Enter LEAR, Kent, and Fool.
Kent. Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter :
The tyranny of the open night's too rough
For nature to endure.

[Storm fill. Lear.

Let me alone.
Kent. Good my lord, enter here.
Lear.

Wilt break my heart ?
Kent. I'd rather break mine own: Good my lord, enter,
Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much, that this contentious

storm
Invades us to the skin : fo 'tis to thee;
But where the greater malady is fix'd,
The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'dit shun a bear :
But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea,
Thou'dst meet the beari'the mouth. When the mind's free,
The body's delicate: the tempest in my

mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else,
Save what beats there.-Filial ingratitude !
Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand,
For lifting food to't ?—But I will punish home:
No, I will weep no more. In such a night
To shut me out!--Pour on; I will endure :-
In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril !
Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all, -
O, that way madness lies; let me shun that;
No more of that,
Kent.
Good my lord, enter here.

Lear.

Suthard RA du

Plall sc

King Sear

Page 60

Pubel May: 795 by Edw.ollarding 98. Pall Mall.

Lear. Proythee, go in thyself; seek thine own ease; This tempest will not give me leave to ponder On things would hurt me more.—But I'll go in : In, boy; go first.—[to the Fool.] You houseless poverty, — Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll Neep.

[Fool goes in. Poor naked wretches, wherefoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en Too little care of this! Take physick, pomp ; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel ; That thou may'st shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more just. Edg. [within.] Fathom and half, fathom and half! Poor

Tom ! [The Fool runs out from the hovel.
Fool. Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit.
Help me, help me!

Kent. Give me thy hand.-Who's there?
Fool. A spirit, a spirit; he says his name's poor Tom.

Kent. What art thou that doft grumble there i'the straw? Come forth.

Enter EDGAR, disguised as a Madman.
Edg. Away! the foul fiend follows me!-
Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind.-
Humph! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.

Lear. Hast thou given all to thy two daughters ?
And art thou come to this?

Edg. Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and whirlpool, over bog and quagmire ; that hath laid knives under his pillow, and halters in his