Lear. Why came not the slave 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 himself also, and your daughter, Lear. Ha! say'st thou so? Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent, when I think your highness is wrong'd. 6 Lear. Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception; I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity', than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into 't.But where's my fool? I have not seen him this two days. - Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir, 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 fool. - my Re-enter Steward. O, you sir, you sir, come you hither: Who am I, sir? Stew. My lady's father. Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you slave! you cur! Stew. I am none of this, my lord; I beseech you, pardon me. s Punctilious jealousy. 6 • Design. Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? [Striking him. Stew. I'll not be struck, my lord. Kent. Nor tripped neither; you base foot-ball [Tripping up his Heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll love thee. player. Kent. Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you dif ferences; away, away: If you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry: but away: go to: Have wisdom? so. you [Pushes the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service. [Giving KENT Money. Enter Fool. Fool. Let me hire him too; comb. Here's my cox[Giving KENT his Cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave? how dost 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 smile as the wind sits, thou 'It catch cold shortly: There, take my coxcomb: Why, this fellow has banish'd two of his daughters, and did the third a blessing 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, sirrah; the whip. Fool. Truth's a dog that must to kennel? he must be whipp'd out, when Lady, the brach', may stand by the fire. 7 Bitch hound. Lear. A pestilent gall to me! Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. Fool. Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest, Than two tens to a score. Lear. This is nothing, fool. Fool. Then 'tis 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'y thee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to; he will not believe a fool. Lear. A bitter fool! [TO KENT. Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool? Lear. No, lad; teach me. Fool. That lord, that counsell'd thee Come place him here by me, The other found out there. Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy? Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with. Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord. Fool. No, 'faith, lords and great men will not let Ownest, possessest. 9 Believest. me; if I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool to myself; they 'll be snatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns. Lear. What two crowns shall they be? Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back over the dirt: Thou had'st little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. IfI speak like myself in this, let him be whipp'd that first finds it so. Fools had ne'er less grace' in a year; [Singing. And know not how their wits to wear, Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah? Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy daughters thy mother. Then they for sudden joy did weep, [Singing. Pr'y thee, nuncle, keep a school-master that can teach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie. Lear. If you lie, sirrah, we 'll have you whipp'd. Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughters, are they'll have me whipp'd for speaking true, thou 'lt have me whipp'd for lying; and, sometimes, I am whipp'd for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind of thing, than a fool: and yet I would ' Favour. not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing in the middle: Here comes one o' the parings. 2 Enter GONERIL. Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on? Methinks, you are too much of late i' the frown. Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow, when thou had'st no need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O3 without a figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing. Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face [To GON.]bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum, He that keeps nor crust nor crum, That's a sheal'd peascod. [Pointing to LEar. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your insolent retinue, Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth Sir, I had thought, by making this well known unto you, Fool. For you trow, nuncle, 2 Part of a woman's head dress, to which Lear compares her frowning brow. A cypher. 4 A mere husk which contains nothing. Approbation. 6 Well governed state. |