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That can my fpeech diffufe, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full iffue

For which I raz'd my likeness.-Now, banish'd Kent, If thou canst ferve where thou doft stand condemn'd, (So may it come!) thy mafter, whom thou lov'st, Shall find thee full of labours.

Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and Attendants. Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go, get it How now, what art thou?

Kent. A man, fir.

[ready.

Lear. What doft thou profefs? What would'st thou with us?

Kent. I do profefs to be no less than I feem; to ferve him truly, that will put me in truft; to love him that is honeft; to converse with him that is wife, and fays little; to fear judgment; to fight, when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a fubject, as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What would'st thou?

Kent. Service.

Lear. Whom would'ft thou ferve?

Kent. You.

Lear. Doft thou know me, fellow?

Kent. No, fir; but you have that in your countenance, which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What fervices canft thou do?

Kent. I can keep honeft counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain mef

fage,

fage bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualify'd in; and the best of me is diligence. Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not fo young, fir, to love a woman for finging; nor fo old, to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou fhalt ferve me: if I like thee no worfe after dinner, I will not part from thee yet.. -Dinner, ho, dinner!--Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and call my fool hither.

-

Enter Steward.

You, you, firrah, where's my daughter? Stew. So please you— [Exit. Lear. What fays the fellow there? Call the clotpole back. -Where's my fool, ho?--I think the world's afleep.-How now? where is that mungrel? Knight. He fays, my lord, your daughter is not well.

Lear. Why came not the flave back to me, when I call'd him.

Knight. Sir, he answer'd me in the roundest manner, he would not.

Lear. He would not!

Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not entertain'd with that ceremonious affection as you were wont: there's a great abatement of kindness appears, as well in the general dependants, as in the duke himfelf alfo, and your daughter.

Lear. Ha! fay'st thou so?

Knight. I befeech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be filent, when I think your highnefs is wrong'd.

Lear.

Lear. Thou but remember'ft me of mine own conception: I have perceiv'd a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiofity, than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into't.- -But where's my fool? I have not feen him thefe two days. Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, fir, the fool hath much pin'd away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well.Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her.-Go you, call hither my fool.

Re-enter Steward.

O, you fir, you fir, come you hither: Who am I, fir? Stew. My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whorefon dog! you flave! you cur!

Stew. I am none of thefe, my lord; I beseech you, pardon me.

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rafcal? [Striking him.

Stew. I'll not be ftruck, my lord. Kent. Nor tript neither; you bafe foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou ferv'it me, and I'll love thee.

you

Kent. Come, fir, arife, away; I'll teach you dif ferences; away, away: If will measure your lubber's length again, tarry: but away: go to; Have you wifdom? fo. [Pushes the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's carneft of thy fervice. [Giving KENT money.

Enter

Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too;-Here's my coxcomb. [Giving KENT his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave? how doft thou?

Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb. Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. Why? For taking one's part that is out of favour: : Nay, an thou canst not fmile as the wind fits, thou'lt catch cold fhortly: There, take my coxcomb: Why, this fellow has banish'd two of his daughters, and did the third a bleffing against his will: if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.-How now, nuncle? Would I had two coxcombs, and two daughters!

Lear. Why, my boy?

Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'd keep my coxcombs myself: There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Lear. Take heed, firrah; the whip.

Fool. Truth's a dog that must to kennel; he must be whipp'd out, when the lady brach may stand by the fire and stink.

Lear. A peftilent gall to me!

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. [To KENT. Lear. Do.

Fool. Mark it, nuncle :

Have more than thou fhowest,

Speak lefs than thou knoweft,
Lend less than thou oweft,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou troweft,

Set

Set lefs than thou throweft;

Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,

And thou fhalt have more

Than two tens to a score.

Kent. This is nothing, fool.

Fool. Then it is like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for't:--Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.

Fool. Pr'ythee, tell him, fo much the rent of his land comes to; he will not believe a fool.

Lear. A bitter fool!

[TO KENT.

Fool. Doft thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool, and a sweet fool?

Lear. No, lad, teach me.

Fool. That lord that counsel'd thee

To give away thy land,
Come place him here by me-

Or do thou for him ftand:

The sweet and bitter fool

Will presently appear;

The one in motly here,

The other found out there.

Lear. Doft thou call me fool, boy?

Fool. All thy other titles thou haft given away that thou waft born with.

Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord.

Fool. No, 'faith, lords and great men will not C

let.

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