Lear.
'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
And not send back my messenger.

Gent.
As I learn'd,
The night before there was no purpose in them
Of this remove.

Kent.
Hail to thee, noble master.

Lear.
Ha, mak'st thou shame thy pastime?

Kent.
No, my lord.

Fool.

Ha, ha, he wears cruel garters; horses are ty'd by the heads, dogs and bears by th' neck, monkeys by th' loins, and men by th' legs; when a man is over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether stocks.

Lear.
What's he, that hath so much thy place mistook,
To set thee here?

Kent.
It is both he and she,
Your son and daughter.

Lear.
No.

Kent.
Yes.

Lear.
No, I say.

Kent.
I say, yea.

Lear.
By Jupiter, I swear no.

Kent.
By Juno, I swear ay.

Lear.
They durst not do't.
They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murther;
To do upon respect such violent outrage:
Resolve me with all modest haste, which way
Thou might'st deserve or they impose this usage,
Coming from us?

Kent.
My lord, when at their home
I did commend your highness' letters to them,
Ere I was risen from the place, that shew'd
My duty kneeling, came a reeking post,
Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
From Gonerill his mistress, salutation;
Deliver'd letters spight of intermission,

Which presently they read: on those contents
They summon'd up their † ^notemeiny, strait took horse,
Commanded me to follow and attend
The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks;
And meeting here the other messenger,
Whose welcome I perceiv'd had poison'd mine,
Being the very fellow which of late
Display'd so sawcily against your highness,
Having more man than wit about me, I drew;
He rais'd the house with loud and coward cries:
Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
The shame which here it suffers.

Fool.
Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind,
But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne'er turns the key to th' poor.

But for all this thou shalt have as many dolours for thy dear daughters, as thou canst tell in a year.

Lear.
Oh how this mother swells up tow'rd my heart!
Hysterica passio, down thou climbing sorrow,
Thy element's below; where is this daughter?

Kent.
With the Earl, Sir, here within.

Lear.
Follow me not, stay here. [Exit.

Gen.
Made you no more offence
But what you speak of?

Kent.
None;
How chance the King comes with so small a number?

Fool.

An thou hadst been set i'th' stocks for that question, thou'dst well deserve it.

Kent.

Why, fool?

Fool.

We'll set thee to school to an Ant, to teach thee there's no lab'ring i'th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes, but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking—let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following; but the great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again; I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

Kent.
Where learn'd you this, fool?

Fool.
Not i'th' stocks, fool.

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