King Lear -- IV. 6.

King Lear -- IV. 6.

Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,

For every pelting, petty officer

Would use his heaven for thunder: nothing but thunder--

Merciful heaven!

Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt,

Splitt'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak,

Than the soft myrtle!--O, but man, proud man!

Drest in a little brief authority --

Most ignorant of what he's most assured,

His glassy essence,--like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,

As make the angels weep.