880747Kent. I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered 881your

748letter. Exit

882749Foole. If a mans braines where in his heeles, wert not in 883dan-

750ger of kibes?884 Lear. I boy.

885751Foole. Then I prethe be mery, thy wit shal nere goe 886slipshod.

887752Lear. Ha ha ha.

888753Foole. Shalt see thy other daughter will vse thee kind889ly, for

754though shees as like this, as a crab is like an 890apple, yet I con, what

755I can tel.

891756Lear. Why what canst thou tell my boy?

892757Foole. Sheel tast as like this, as a crab doth to a 893crab, thou

758canst not tell why ones nose stande in the middle 894of his face?

895759Lear. No.

896760Foole. Why, to keep his eyes on either side's nose, 897that what

761a man cannot smell out, a may spie into.

898762Lear. I did her wrong.

899763Foole. Canst tell how an Oyster makes his shell. 900Lear. No.

901764Foole. Nor I neither, but I can tell why a snayle has 902a house.

903765Lear. Why?

904766Foole. Why, to put his head in, not to giue it away to his

905767daughter, and leaue his hornes without a case.

906768Lear. I will forget my nature, so kind a father; be 907my horses

769readie?

908770Foole. Thy Asses are gone about them, the reason why 909the

771seuen starres are no more then seuen, is a prettie reason.

910772Lear. Because they are not eight.

911773Foole. Yes thou wouldst make a good foole.

912774Lear. To tak't againe perforce, Monster, ingratitude!

913775Fool. If thou wert my foole Nunckle, id'e haue thee 914beatẽ for

776being old before thy time.

915777Lear. Hows that?

916778Foole. Thou shouldst not haue beene old, before thou hadst

917779beene wise.

918780Lear. O let me not be mad sweet heauen! I would not be mad,

919781keepe me in temper, I would not be mad, are 920the horses readie?

921782Seruant. Readie my Lord. Lear. Come boy. Exit.

923783Foole. Shee that is maide now, and laughs at my departure,

924784Shall not be a maide long, except things be cut shorter. Exit