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76 

Glo. Here is better than the open air; take

it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with

what addition I can: I will not be long from

you.

Kent. All the power of his wits has given way

to his impatience. The gods reward your kind-

ness!

Edg. Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero

is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray,

innocent, and beware the foul fiend.

Fool. Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a

madman be a gentleman or a yeoman!

Lear. A king, a king!

Fool. No; he's a yeoman that has a gentle-

man to his son; for he's a mad yeoman that

sees his son a gentleman before him.

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits

Come hizzing in upon 'em,—

[Edg. The foul fiend bites my back.

Fool. He's mad that trusts in the tameness

of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a

whore's oath.

Lear. It shall be done; I will arraign them straight.

[To Edgar.] Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer;

[To the Fool.] Thou, sapient sir, sit here. Now, you she foxes!

 8 Frateretto; cf. n.

10 innocent: the Fool

