READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes iii–v |
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Act I, Scene v:
Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace.
Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace.
| [Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.] |
| Lear.: |
| Go you before to Gloster with these letters: acquaint my |
| daughter no further with anything you know than comes from her |
| demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I |
| shall be there afore you. |
| Kent.: |
| I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. |
| [Exit.] |
| Fool.: |
| If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of kibes? |
| Lear.: |
| Ay, boy. |
| Fool.: |
| Then I pr'ythee be merry; thy wit shall not go slipshod. |
| Lear.: |
| Ha, ha, ha! |
| Fool.: |
| Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though |
| she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell |
| what I can tell. |
| Lear.: |
| What canst tell, boy? |
| Fool.: |
| She'll taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou |
| canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face? |
| Lear.: |
| No. |
| Fool.: |
| Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose, that what a man |
| cannot smell out, he may spy into. |
| Lear.: |
| I did her wrong,— |
| Fool.: |
| Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? |
| Lear.: |
| No. |
| Fool.: |
| Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. |
| Lear.: |
| Why? |
| Fool.: |
| Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and |
| leave his horns without a case. |
| Lear.: |
| I will forget my nature. So kind a father!—Be my horses ready? |
| Fool.: |
| Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are |
| no more than seven is a pretty reason. |
| Lear.: |
| Because they are not eight? |
| Fool.: |
| Yes indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. |
| Lear.: |
| To tak't again perforce!—Monster ingratitude! |
| Fool.: |
| If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being |
| old before thy time. |
| Lear.: |
| How's that? |
| Fool.: |
| Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. |
| Lear.: |
| O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! |
| Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!— |
| [Enter Gentleman.] |
| How now? are the horses ready? |
| Gent.: |
| Ready, my lord. |
| Lear.: |
| Come, boy. |
| Fool.: |
| She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, |
| Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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