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• King Lear: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: A Room of State Inking Lear’spalace.
• Scene II.—: A Hall In Theearl of Gloucester’scastle.
• Scene III.—: A Room In Theduke of Albany’spalace.
• Scene IV.—: A Hall In the Same.
• Scene V.—: Court Before the Same.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: A Court Within the Castle of Theearl of Gloucester.
• Scene II.—: Beforegloucester’scastle.
• Scene III.—: A Part of the Heath.
• Scene IV.—: Beforegloucester’scastle.kentin the Stocks.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: A Heath.
• Scene II.—: Another Part of the Heath. Storm Still.
• Scene III.—: A Room Ingloucester’scastle.
• Scene IV.—: The Heath. Before a Hovel.
• Scene V.—: A Room Ingloucester’scastle.
• Scene VI.—: A Chamber In a Farmhouse Adjoining the Castle.
• Scene VII.—: A Room Ingloucester’scastle.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: The Heath.
• Scene II.—: Before Theduke of Albany’spalace.
• Scene III.—: The French Camp, Near Dover.
• Scene IV.—: The Same. a Tent.
• Scene V.—: A Room Ingloucester’scastle.
• Scene VI.—: The Country Near Dover.
• Scene VII.—: A Tent In the French Camp.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: The British Camp Near Dover.
• Scene II.—: A Field Between the Two Camps.
• Scene III.—: The British Camp, Near Dover.

Scene V.—

Court before the Same.

EnterLear, Kent,and Fool.

Lear.

Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy I shall be there before 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 prithee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod.

Lear.

Ha, ha, ha!

Fool.

Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she’s as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

Lear.

What canst tell, boy?

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 ingratitude!

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.

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.

ACT II.