Keep their furr dry; unbonnetted he runs, Kent. But who is with him? : Gent. None but the fool, who labours to out-jeft His heart-ftruck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you, And dare, upon the warrnt of my note, Commend a dear thing to you. There's divifion (Although as yet the face of it is cover'd With mutual cunning) 'twixt Albany and Cornwall: I am a gentleman of blood and breeding, Gent. I'll talk further with you. Kent. No, do not: For confirmation that I am much more (13) Who bave, as who have not, -] The eight fubfequent Verfes were degraded by Mr. Pepe, as unintelligible, and to no pur pofe. For my part, I fee nothing in them but what is very eafy to be understood; and the Lines feem abfolutely neceifary to clear up the Motives, upon which France prepared his Invafion: nor without them is the Senfe of the Context compleat. Than Than my out-wall, open this purfe and take That yet you do not know. Fy on this ftorm! Gent. Give me your hand, have you no more to say ? Kent. Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet; That, when we have found the King, (in which you take That way, I this :) he that firft lights on him, Halloo the other. [Exeunt feverally. Lear. Blow winds, and crack your cheeks; rage, blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, fpout "Till you have drencht our fieeples, drown'd the cocks! Crack nature's mould, all germins fpill at once (14) Fool. O nuncle, court-holy-water in a dry houfe is better than the rain-waters out o' door. Good nuncle, in, and afk thy daughters bleffing: here's a night, that pities neither wife men nor fools. (14) Crack Nature's Mould, all Germains fill at once.] Thus all the Editions have given us this Paffage, and Mr. Pope has explained Germains to mean relations, or kindred Elements. Then it must have been germanes (from the Latin Adjective, germanus ;) a Word more than once used by our Author, tho' always falfe fpelt by his Editors. But the Poet means here, "Crack Nature's Mould, and fpill all the "Seeds of Matter, that are hoarded within it." To retrieve which Senfe, we muft write Germins; (a Subftantive derived from Germen, Oroga: as the old-Gloffaries expound it :) And to put this Emen dation beyond all Doubt, I'll produce one Paffage, where our Author not only uses the fame Thought again, but the Word that afcertains my Explication. In Winter's Tale; Let Nature crush the Sides o'th' Earth together, And marr the Seeds within." Lear. Rumble thy belly full, fpit fire, fpout 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 fubfcription. Then let fall Your horrible pleasure ;· here I ftand, your flave; A poor infirm, weak, and defpis'd old man! But yet I call you fervile minifters, That have with two pernicious daughters join'd Fool. He that has a houfe to put's head in, has a good head-piece : The codpiece that will houfe, before the head has any, The head and she fhall lowfe; fo beggars marry many. That man that makes his toe, what he his heart should make, Shall of a corn cry woe, and turn his fleep to wake. For there was never yet fair woman, but he made mouths in a glass. To them, Enter Kent. Lear. No, I will be the pattern of all patience, I ill fay nothing. Kent. Who's there? Fool. Marry here's grace, and a cod-piece, that's a wife man and a fool. Kent. Alas, Sir, are you here? things, that love night, Love not fuch nights as thefe: the wrathful skies Gallow the very wand'rers of the dark, And make them keep their caves: fince I was a man, Lear. Let the great Gods, That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads, Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch, That haft within thee undivulged crimes, Unwhipt of juftice. Hide thee, thou bloody hand, Thou Thou perjure, and thou fimular of virtue, -1 am a man, Gracious my Lord, hard by here is a hovel; Lear. My wits begin to turn. Come on, my boy. How doft, my boy art cold? That can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel, Fool. He that has an a little tyny wit, With heigh bo, the wind and the rain; Lear. True, my good boy: come, bring us to this hovel. Fool. "Tis a brave night to cool a courtefan. When priests are more in words than matter, No 'Squire in debt, nor no poor Knight; C 4 [Exit. When When ufurers tell their gold i'th' field, Come to great confufion : Then comes the time, who lives to fee't, This prophecy Merlin fhall make, for I do live before his time. Glo. [Exit. SCENE, An Apartment in Glo'fter's Cafile. Enter Glo'fter, and Edmund. tural dealing; when I defir'd their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the ufe of mine own houfe; charg'd me on pain of perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, or any way fuftain him. Edm. Moft favage and unnatural! Glo. Go to; fay you nothing. There is divifion between the Dukes, and a worfe matter than that: I have receiv'd a letter this night, 'tis dangerous to be fpoken; (I have lock'd the letter in my clofet :) thefe injuries, the King now bears, will be revenged home; there is part of a power already footed; and we must incline to the King; I will look for him, and privily relieve him; go you, and maintain talk with the Duke, that my charity be not of him perceiv'd; if he afk 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 mafter muft be relieved. There are ftrange things toward, Edmund; pray, you, be careful. [Exit. Edm. This curtefy, forbid thee, fhall the Duke Inftantly know, and of that letter too. This feems a fair deferving, and muft draw me !! D[Exit, SCENÉ |