e Who have (as who have not, &c.] This and the seven following lines are omitted in the quartos, and the remainder of the speech commercing, "But, true it 18," is left out of the folio, Which are to France the spies and speculations I am a gentleman of blood and breeding; GENT. I will talk further with you. C 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.-Fie on this storm! I will go seck the king. GENT. Give me your hand: have you no more to say? KENT. Few words, but, to effect, more than all (*) First folio, that. (+) First folio, drown. Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state;} For "speculations" we should perhaps, read speculators, which formerly meant watchers, overlookers, observers, &c. Johnson proposed speculators, and Mr. Singer found the correction in a marginal note of his copy of the second folio. b Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes:] "Snuffs" mean petty dissentions, liffs: and "packings" signify plots, intrigues, &c. c-furnishings;-] That is, according to Steevens, samples; but You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, Strike flat the thick rotundity o'the world! FOOL. O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o' door. Good nuncle, in, and † ask thy daughters' blessing; here's a night pities neither wise men nor fools. LEAR. Rumble thy bellyfull! Spit, fire! spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters: The cod-piece that will house, So beggars marry many. What he his heart should make, And turn his sleep to wake. -For there was never yet fair woman, but she made mouths in a glass. LEAR. No, I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing. (*) First folio, of. (†) First folio omits, and. the illustration he cites from the Epistle prefixed to Greene's "Groats-worth of Witte,"-" For to lend the world a furnish of witte, she lays her owne to pawne," is not conclusive. dcourt holy-water-] Glozing speeches. Florio translates, Dare l'allodola, "To cog, to foist, to flatter, to give one Court-hollie water," &c. and Mantellizzare, "To court one with faire words or give court-holy-wa'er" e That have with two pernicious daughters join'd-] The folio reads, That will with two pernicious daughters join," &c. That art incestuous !-caitiff, to pieces shake, Rive your concealing continents, and cry KENT. Repose you there, while I to this hard house, My wits begin to turn. LEAR. Come on, my boy: how dost, my boy? art cold? I am cold myself. Where is this straw, my fellow? The art of our necessities is strange, And can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel.- Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart He that has and a little tiny wit,- LEAR. True, boy.-Come, bring us to this hovel.a [Exeunt LEAR and Kent. FOOL. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.I'll speak a prophecy ere I go : When priests are more in word than matter; And bawds and whores do churches build ;- Come to great confusion: Then comes the time, who lives to see 't, This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before SCENE III.-A Room in Gloucester's Castle. Enter GLOUCESTER 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 savage 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 locked 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 threatened me, the king my old master must be relieved. There is strange things toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful. |