Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/80

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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 man nor fool.

Lear. Rumble thy bellyful! 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! 'tis foul.

Fool. He that has a house to put his 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.

 10 court holy-water: flattery

18 subscription: allegiance

27 cod-piece: part of man's dress between the legs

