SCENE II.
Storm still. Enter Lear and Fool.
Lear.
Blow winds, and crack your cheeks; rage, blow!
You cataracts, and hurricanoes, spout
'Till you have drencht our steeples, drown'd the cocks!
You sulph'rous and * notethought-executing fires,
Vaunt couriers of oak-cleaving thunder-bolts,
Singe my white head. And thou all-shaking thunder,
-- 81 --
Strike flat the thick rotundity o'th' world,
6 note
Crack nature's mould, all germins spill at once
That make ingrateful man.
Fool.
O nuncle, court-holy-water in a dry house is
better than the rain-waters out o'door. Good nuncle, in,
and ask thy daughters blessing, here's a night that pities
neither wise men nor fools.
Lear.
Rumble thy belly full, spit fire, spout rain;
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters.
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness,
I never gave you kingdoms, call'd you children;
7 noteYou owe me no subscription; then let fall
Your horrible pleasure. 8 note
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. Oh! oh! * note'tis foul.
-- 82 --
Fool.
He that has a house to put's head in, has a
good head-piece.
The codpiece that will house,
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall lowse;
* noteSo beggars marry many.
That 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.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
