Stew. I am none of thefe, my lord; I befeech your pardon. Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? Stew. I'll not be ftruck, my lord. Lear. I thank thee, fellow. I'll love thee. [Striking him. base foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Thou ferv'ft me, and Kent. Come, Sir, arife, away; I'll teach you differences away, away; if you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry again; but away, go to: have you wifdom? fo. [Pufhes the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee; there's earnest of thy service. SCENE XIII. To them, Enter Fool. Fool. L ET me hire him too, here's my coxcomb. Giving his cap. how doft thou? Fool. Sirrah, you were beft take my coxcomb. Kent. Why, my boy? Lear. How now, my pretty knave? * Fool. Why? for taking one's part, that is out of favour; nay, as thou canst not fmile as the wind fits, thou'lt catch cold fhortly. There, take my coxcomb; why, this fellow has banifh'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, uncle? would, I had two coxcombs, and two daughters. Lear. Why, my boy? Fool. If I give them all my living, I'll keep my take my coxcomb.] Meaning his Cap, called so, because on the Top of the Fool or Jefter's Cap was fewed a Piece of red Cloth, refembling the Comb of a Cock. The Word, afterwards, ufed, to denote a vain conceited meddling Fellow. coxcomb coxcomb myself; there's mine, beg another of thy daughters. Lear. Take heed, Sirrah, the whip Fool. Truth's a dog muft to kennel; he must be whipp'd out, when the lady brach may ftand by th' fire and ftink. Lear. A peftilent gall to me. Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a fpeech. [To Kent. Lear. Do. Fool. Mark it, nuncle ; Have more than thou showeft, 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 ufe of nothing, nuncle? Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. Fool. Pr'ythee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. [To Kent. Lear. A bitter fool! Fool. Doft thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet one? Lear. No, lad, teach me. Fool. That Lord, that counsel'd thee to give away thy Land, Come, place him here by me! do Thou for him ftand; The fweet and bitter Fool will presently appear, The One in motely here; the Other found out there. Lear. Doft thou call me fool, boy? Fool. 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 let me; if I had a monopoly on't, they would have part on't: nay, the Ladies too, they'll not let me have all fool to myself, they'll be fnatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns. Lear. What two crowns fhall they be? Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i'th' middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the eggi when thou cloveft thy Crown i'th' middle and gav'ft away both parts, thou bor'ft thine afs on thy back o'er the dirt; thou hadft little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gav'ft thy golden one away: if I fpeak like myself in this, let him be whipp'd that first finds it footh. Fools ne'er had lefs grace [Singing. Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, firrah? Fool. I have used it, nuncle, e'er fince thou mad'ft thy daughters thy mothers; for when thou gav'st them the rod, and put'ft down thy own breeches, Then they for fudden joy did weep, That fuch a King should play bo-peep, And go the fools among. [Singing. Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a school-mafter that can teach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie. Lear. If you lie, firrah, we'll have you whipt. Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipt for speaking true, thou'lt have me whipt for lying; and, fometimes, I am whipt for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o'thing than a fool, and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou haft pared thy wit o'both fides, and left nothing i'th' middle: here comes one o'th' parings. To them, Enter Gonerill. Lear. frontlet on? you are too much of late OW now, daughter, what makes that ith' frown. Fool. Thou waft a pretty fellow, when thou hadft no need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a figure; I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing.- Yes, forfooth, I will hold my tongue; [To Gonerill.] fo your face bids me, though you fay nothing. Mum, mum, he that keeps nor cruft nor crum, [Singing. Weary of all, fhall want fome. Thou art a fheal'd peascod. [Speaking to Lear. Gon. Not only, Sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your infolent retinue, Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth I thought, by making this well known unto you, Fool. For you know, nuncle, G.2 The The hedge-fparrow fed the Cuckoo fo long, So out went the candle, and we were left darkling. Gon. I would, you would make use of your good wisdom, Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away Fool. May not an Afs know when the cart draws the horse? whoop, Jug, I love thee. Lear. Does any here know me? this is not Lear: Does Lear walk thus ? fpeak thus? where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his difcernings Are lethargied-Ha! waking- 'tis not fo; Gon. This admiration, Sir, is much o'th' favour You, as you're old and reverend, fhould be wife. By her, that else will take the thing she begs, And the remainders, that fhall ftill depend, Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle |