Osav. Very well, madam. Gon. And let his knights have colder looks among you; [Exeunt. Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow, For which I razed my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent, Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and Attendants. Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready. [Exit an Attendant.] How now! what art thou? Lear. What dost thou profess? what wouldst thou with us? Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise, and says little; to fear judgement; to fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish. Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king. 20 Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a king thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou? Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow? Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master. Lear. What's that? Kent. Authority. Lear. What services canst thou do? 30 Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence. Lear. How old are thou? Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty eight. 39 Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and [Exit an Attendant. call my fool hither. Enter OSWALD. You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter? Os. So please you,― [Exit. Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back. [Exit a Knight.] Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's asleep. Re-enter Knight. How now! where's that mongrel? Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well. 56 Lear. Why came not the slave back to me when I called him? Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would not. Lear. He would not! Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgement, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependants as in the duke himself also and your daughter. Lear. Ha! sayest thou so? 60 Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged. Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception : I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into 't. But where's my fool? I have not seen him this two days. 70 Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool hath much pined away. Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. and tell my daughter I would speak with her. Attendant.] Go you, call hither my fool. Re-enter OSWALD. Go you, [Exit an [Exit an Attendant.] O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir? Lear. 'My lady's father'! my lord's knave: you dog! you slave! you cur! Osw. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon. Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord. 81 [Striking him. Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll love thee... Kent. Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences: away, away! If you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry but away! go to; have you wisdom? so. 89 [Pushes Oswald out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service. [Giving Kent money. Enter Fool. *Fool. Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb. [Offering Kent his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou ? Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.. Kent. Why, fool? Fool. Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour: nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou 'lt catch cold shortly there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow has banished two on 's daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters! 103 Lear. Why, my boy? Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters. Lear. Take heed, sirrah; the whip. Fool. Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink. Lear. A pestilent gall to me! Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. Lear. Do. 110 Fool. Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest, Than two tens to a score. Kent. This is nothing, fool. 120 Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for 't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. Fool. [To Kent] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. Lear. A bitter fool! Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool? 131 140 Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with. Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord. Fool. No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if I |