875Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these Letters;

876acquaint my Daughter no further with any thing you

877know, then comes from her demand out of the Letter,

878if your Dilligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore

879you.

880Kent. I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered

881your Letter. Exit.

882Foole. If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not in

883danger of kybes?

884Lear. I Boy.

885Foole. Then I prythee be merry, thy wit shall not go

886slip-shod.

887Lear. Ha,ha,ha.

888Fool. Shalt see thy other Daughter will vse thee kind-

889ly, for though she's as like this, as a Crabbe's like an

890Apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

891Lear. What can'st tell Boy?

892Foole. She will taste as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a

893Crab: thou canst tell why ones nose stands i'th'middle

894on's face?

895Lear. No.

896Foole. Why to keepe ones eyes of either side's nose,

897that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

898Lear. I did her wrong.

899Foole. Can'st tell how an Oyster makes his shell?

900Lear. No.

901Foole. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snaile ha's

902a house.

903Lear. Why?

904Foole. Why to put's head in, not to giue it away to his

905daughters, and leaue his hornes without a case.

906Lear. I will forget my Nature, so kind a Father? Be

907my Horsses ready?

908Foole. Thy Asses are gone about 'em; the reason why

909the seuen Starres are no mo then seuen, is a pretty reason.

910Lear. Because they are not eight.

911Foole. Yes indeed, thou would'st make a good Foole.

912Lear. To tak't againe perforce; Monster Ingratitude!

913Foole. If thou wert my Foole Nunckle, Il'd haue thee

914beaten for being old before thy time.

915Lear. How's that?

916Foole. Thou shouldst not haue bin old, till thou hadst

917bin wise.

918Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad sweet Heauen:

919keepe me in temper, I would not be mad. How now are

920the Horses ready?

921Gent. Ready my Lord.

922Lear. Come Boy.

923Fool. She that's a Maid now, & laughs at my departure,

924Shall not be a Maid long, vnlesse things be cut shorter.