Act 1. Scene V

395 Words
Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool KING LEAR Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you. KENT I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. Fool If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of kibes? KING LEAR Ay, boy. Fool Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go slip-shod. KING LEAR Ha, ha, ha! Fool Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. KING LEAR Why, what canst thou tell, my boy? Fool She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face? KING LEAR No. Fool Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. KING LEAR I did her wrong-- Fool Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? KING LEAR No. Fool Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. KING LEAR Why? Fool Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. KING LEAR I will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my horses ready? Fool Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason. KING LEAR Because they are not eight? Fool Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. KING LEAR To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude! Fool If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time. KING LEAR How's that? Fool Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. KING LEAR O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven Keep me in temper: I would not be mad! Enter Gentleman How now! are the horses ready? Gentleman Ready, my lord. KING LEAR Come, boy. Fool She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.
Free reading for new users
Scan code to download app
Facebookexpand_more
  • author-avatar
    Writer
  • chap_listContents
  • likeADD