Reg. What need one?[3503] 260
Lear. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars[3504]
Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;[3505]
If only to go warm were gorgeous, 265
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,[3506]
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But for true need,—[3507]
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need![3508]
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,[3509]
As full of grief as age; wretched in both: 270
If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts[3510]
Against their father, fool me not so much[3511]
To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,[3512]
And let not women's weapons, water-drops,[3513]
Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags, 275
I will have such revenges on you both[3514]
That all the world shall—I will do such things,—[3515]
What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be
The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep;[3516]
No, I'll not weep:[3517] 280
I have full cause of weeping; but this heart[3517][3518]
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,[3517][3519]
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!
[Exeunt Lear, Gloucester, Kent, and Fool.[3520]
Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.
[Storm and tempest.[3521][3522]
Reg. This house is little: the old man and his people[3522][3523] 285
Cannot be well bestow'd.[3522][3524]
Gon. 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,[3522][3525]
And must needs taste his folly.[3522][3526]
Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
But not one follower.
Gon. So am I purposed.[3527][3528] 290
Where is my lord of Gloucester?[3528]