Then fhall the realm of Albion

Come to great confusion.

Then comes the time, who lives to fee 't,

That going fhall be us'd with feet.

This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his

time.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Room in GLOSTER'S Caftle.

Enter GLOSTER and EDMUND.

Glo. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing: When I defired 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. Moft favage, and unnatural!

Glo. Go to; fay you nothing: There is divifion 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 feek 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 lefs is threaten'd 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, fhall the duke Inftantly know; and of that letter too:

This feems a fair deferving, and must draw me

That

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

SCENE IV.

A Part of the Heath, with a Hovel.

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

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

ftorm

Invades us to the skin: fo 'tis to thee;

But where the greater malady is fix'd,

The leffer is fcarce felt. Thou'dft fhun a bear:

But if thy flight lay toward the raging fea,

Thou'dft meet the bear i' 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 fuch a night
To shut me out!-Pour on; I will endure :-
In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril!—
Your old kind father, whofe frank heart gave all,-
O, that way madness lies; let me shun that;

No more of that,

Kent.

Good my lord, enter here.

Lear.

Lear. Pr'ythee, go in thyfelf; seek thine own ease; This tempeft 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 sleep.-
[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 fides,
Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you
From seasons fuch as these? O, I have ta'en
Too little care of this! Take phyfick, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel;
That thou may'st shake the superflux to them,
And show the heavens more juft.

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 fpirit, 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 fharp hawthorn blows the cold wind.-
Humph! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.

Lear. Haft 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