1 We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst.
2 That such a slave as this should wear a sword, Who wears no honesty.
3 Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest.
4 Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides: Who covers faults, at last shame derides.
5 I know 'tis from Cordelia, Who hath most fortunately been inform'd Of my obscured course.'
6 A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows; Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, Am pregnant to good pity.
7 I have another daughter, Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable: When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails She'll flay thy wolvish visage.
8 Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i the town; Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers What we are come about, and by no means Will yield to see his daughter.
9 Who alone suffers, suffers most i the mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind: But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.
10 Sir, you have show'd today your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: you have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: I do require them of you, so to use them As we shall find their merits and our safety May equally determine.
11 My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence: Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, Are gone with him toward Dover: where they boast To have well-armed friends.
12 So we'll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too, Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out; And take upon's the mystery of things, As if we were God's spies.
13 There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover'd With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Who have, as who have not, that their great stars Throne'd and set high; servants, who seem no less, Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state.'