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
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 bemadding 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.

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,
Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunder-bolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking
thunder,

Strike flat the thick rotundity o'the world!
Crack nature's moulds, all germens spill at once,
That make ingrateful man!

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:
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children,
You owe me no subscription; then let fall
Your horrible pleasure; here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despis'd old man :—
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That have with two pernicious daughters join'd
Your high-engender'd battles 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O! O! 't is foul!
FOOL. He that has a house to put's head in,
has a good head-piece.

The cod-piece that will house,
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse ;-

So beggars marry many.
The man that makes his toe

What he his heart should make,
Shall of a corn cry woe,

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,
That under covert and convenient seeming
Hast practis'd on man's life!-Close pent-up
guilts,

Rive your concealing continents, and cry
These dreadful summoners grace!—I am a man,
More sinn'd against than sinning.

KENT.
Alack, bare-headed!
Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel;
Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the
tempest:

Repose you there, while I to this hard house,
(More harder than the stones whereof 'tis rais'd;
Which even but now, demanding after you,
Denied me to come in) return, and force
Their scanted courtesy.

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
That's sorry yet for thee.
FOOL. [Singing.]

He that has and a little tiny wit,-
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,-
Must make content with his fortunes fit,
Though the rain it raineth every day.

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;
When brewers mar their malt with water;
When nobles are their tailors' tutors;
No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors:
When every case in law is right;
No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;
When slanders do not live in tongues;
Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;
When usurers tell their gold i' the field;

And bawds and whores do churches build ;-
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

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.