Reg. I dare avouch it, sir : What, fifty followers ? Is it not well ? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many sith that both charge and danger Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house, Should many people, under two commands, Hold amity ? 'Tis hard ; almost impossible.

Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attend

ance

From those that she calls servants, or from mine?

Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to

slack you,

We could controul them : If you will come to me,
(For now I spy a danger,) I entreat you
To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more
Will I give place, or notice.

Lear. I gave you all
Reg. And in good time you gave it.

Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries;
But kept a reservation to be follow'd
With such a number: What, must I come to you
With five-and-twenty, Regan? said you so?

Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me,
Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well-fa-

vour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Stands in some rank of praise : -I'll go with thee;

[To GONERIL. Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, And thou art twice her love.

Gon. Hear me, my lord;
What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five,
To follow in a house, where twice so many

Have a command to tend you?

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, Which scarcely keeps thee warm.-But, for true need, You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both ! If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger! 0, let not women's weapons, water-drops, Stain my man's cheeks "No, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall—I will do such things,What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be The terrors of the earth. You think, I'll weep; No, I'll not weep: I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or ere I'll weep :-0, fool, I shall go mad !

[Exeunt LEAR, GLOSTER, Kent, and Fool, Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm.

[Storm heard at a distance. Reg. This house Is little; the old man and his people cannot Be well bestow'd.

Gon. 'Tis his own blame; he hath put

Himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly.

Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower.

Gon. So am I purpos'd. Where is

my

lord of Gloster ?

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. O, sir, to wilful men,
The injuries, that they themselves procure,
Must be their schoolmasters : Shut up your doors;
He is attended with a desperate train;
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abus'd, wisdom bids fear.

Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; ’tis a wild night; My Regan counsels well: come out o'the storm.

[Exeunt. ACT III.

SCENE I.-A Heath.

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 ;

Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
Catch in their fury, and make nothing of:
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, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

Kent. But who is with him ?

Gent. None but the fool; who labours to outjest
His heart-struck injuries.

Kent. Sir, I do know you;
And dare, upon the warrant of my art,

Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
Although as yet the face of it be cover'd
With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have (as who have not, that their great stars
Thron’d and set high ?) servants, who seem no less;
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state ; what hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes ;
Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
Against the old kind king; or something deeper,
Whereof, perchance, these are but furnishings ;-
But, true it is, from France there comes a power
Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports, and are at point
To show their open banner.—Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and be-madding sorrow
The king hath cause to plain.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding;
And, from some knowledge and assurance, offer
This office to you.
Gent. I will talk further with

you.
Kent. No, do not.
For confirmation that I am much more
Than my out wall, open this purse, and take
What it contains : If you shall see Cordelia,
(As fear not but you shall,) show her this ring;
And she will tell you who your fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fye on this storm!