Act 1 — Scene V. Court before the same.
Reading edition
Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.[3029]
Lear. Go you before to Gloucester with these letters.[3030] 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.[3031] Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered 5 your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in[3032] danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go[3033] 10 slip-shod. 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[3034] can tell what I can tell.[3035] 15 Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, boy?[3036] Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a[3037] crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle[3038] on's face?[3039] Lear. No. 20 Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose,[3040] that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.[3041] Lear. I did her wrong—[3042] Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?[3043] Lear. No. 25 Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his[3044] daughters, and leave his horns without a case.[3045] 30 Lear. I will forget my nature.—So kind a father!—Be my horses ready? Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why[3046] the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.[3047] Lear. Because they are not eight?[3048] 35 Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.[3049] Lear. To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude![3050] Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten[3051] for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? 40 Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst[3052] been wise. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven![3053][3054] Keep me in temper: I would not be mad![3053]
Enter Gentleman.[3055]
How now! are the horses ready?[3056] 45 Gent. Ready, my lord.[3057] Lear. Come, boy.[3058] Fool. She that's a maid now and laughs at my departure[3059] Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.[3060]
[Exeunt.