Lear. My wits begin to turn.
Come on, my boy. How dost, my boy? Art cold? 68
I am cold myself. Where is this straw, my fellow?
The art of our necessities is strange,
That can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel.
Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart 72
That's sorry yet for thee.
Fool.
He that has a little tiny wit,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
Must make content with his fortunes fit, 76
Though the rain it raineth every day.
Lear. True, my good boy. Come, bring us to this hovel.
Fool. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.
I'll speak a prophecy ere I go: 80
When priests are more in word than matter;
When brewers mar their malt with water;
When nobles are their tailors' tutors;
No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors; 84
When every case in law is right;
No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;
When slanders do not live in tongues;
Nor cutpurses come not to throngs; 88
When usurers tell their gold i' the field;
And bawds and whores do churches build;
Then shall the realm of Albion
Come to great confusion: 92
Then comes the time, who lives to see 't,
That going shall be us'd with feet.
This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live
before his time. Exit.
84 suitors; cf. n.
92 confusion: destruction
95 Merlin; cf. n.
