Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/51

King Lear, I. v

Fool. She will 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 his 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 take it again perforce! Monster in-

gratitude!

Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have

thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear. How's that?

Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old before

thou hadst been wise.

