You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
You fen-sucked fogs drawn by the powerful sun
To fall and blister!
– William Shakespeare
King Lear, Act 2, Scene 4. An unforgiving King Lear calls on lightning to strike Goneril’s scornful eyes. He invokes the sun to draw up poisonous air from the swamp lands to harm her. While these may sound ferocious words from a once omnipotent ruler, Lear’s curses are rather empty now that he has no power.