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The fool's air and prophecy

Set by Steven Ebel , "The fool's air and prophecy", 2007 [ tenor, flute, violin, cello, piano ] [Sung Text]

Note: this setting is made up of several separate texts.


He that has and a little tiny wit --
With heigh-ho, the wind and the rain, --
Must make content with his fortunes fit,
For the rain it raineth every day.

Text Authorship:

  • by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), no title, appears in King Lear, Act III, Scene 2

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Paavo Cajander)
  • FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo) , no title

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]



This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.
I'll speak a prophecy ere I go:
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;
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;
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:
Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
That going shall be used with feet.
This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time.

Text Authorship:

  • by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), no title, appears in King Lear, Act III, Scene 2

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo) , no title

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]


Author(s): William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
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