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King Lear (Modern, Folio)
[To Kent] Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. 876Acquaint my daughter no further with anything you 877know than comes from her demand out of the letter. 878If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore 879you.
I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered 881your letter.
1.5.2.1Exit.
If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in 883danger of kibes?
Ay, boy.
Then I prithee be merry. Thy wit shall not go 886slipshod.
Ha ha ha.
Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly, 889for though she's as like this as a crab's like an 890apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
What can'st tell, boy?
She will taste as like this as a crab does to a 893crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i'th'middle 894on's face?
No.
Why to keep one's eyes of either side 's nose, 897that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.
I did her wrong.
Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
No.
Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has 902a house.
Why?
Why to put 's head in, not to give it away to his 905daughters and leave his horns without a case.
I will forget my nature. So kind a father. Be 907my horses ready?
Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why 909the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.
Because they are not eight?
Yes indeed. Thou wouldst make a good fool.
To tak't again perforce. Monster ingratitude!
If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee 914beaten for being old before thy time.
How's that?
Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst 917been wise.
O let me not be mad; not mad, sweet heaven. 919Keep me in temper. I would not be mad.
1.5.30.1[Enter a Gentleman.]
Ready, my lord.
Come, boy.
She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure,