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painter could not have made him so ill, though

they had been but two hours o' the trade.

Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?

Osw. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I

have spar'd at suit of his grey beard,—

Kent. Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary

letter! My lord, if you will give me leave, I will

tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and

daub the wall of a jakes with him. Spare my

grey beard, you wagtail?

Corn. Peace, sirrah!

You beastly knave, know you no reverence?

Kent. Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.

Corn. Why art thou angry?

Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword,

Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,

Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain

Which are too intrinse t' unloose; smooth every passion

That in the natures of their lords rebel;

Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;

Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks

With every gale and vary of their masters,

Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.

A plague upon your epileptic visage!

Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?

Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,

I'd drive ye cackling home to Camelot.

Corn. What! art thou mad, old fellow?

Glo. How fell you out? say that.

 68 zed; cf. n.

70 unbolted: unrefined

71 a jakes: a privy

79, 80 holy cords too intrinse; cf. n.

83 Renege: deny

halcyon; cf. n.

84 gale: breeze

vary: variation

88 Sarum: Salisbury

89 Camelot; cf. n.

