Lear.

Go you before to Gloster 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 before you^{3 note}

Kent.

I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter.

Fool.

If a man's brains were in his heels, were't not in danger of kibes?

Lear.

Ay, boy.

Fool.

Then, I pr'ythee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod.

Lear.

Ha, ha, ha!

Fool.

Shalt see, thy other daughter will use thee kindly^{4 note}: for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. ^note.

Lear.

Why, what canst thou tell, my boy^{5 note}?

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 of his face?

Lear.

No.

Fool.

Why, to keep his eyes on either side his nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

Lear.

I did her wrong^{6 note}:—

Fool.

Can'st tell how an oyster makes his shell?

Lear.

No.

Fool.

Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

Lear.

Why?

Fool.

Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.

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.

Lear.

Because they are not eight?

Fool.

Yes, indeed: Thou wouldest make a good fool.

Lear.

To take it again perforce^{7 note}

Fool.

If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear.

How's that?

Fool.

Thou should'st not have been old, before thou hadst been wise.

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?

Gent.
Ready, my lord.

Lear.
Come, boy.

Fool.
She that is maid now, and laughs at my departure,
Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter^{8 note}

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