ACT I SCENE V

 Dramatis Personae 
 Act I   Scene I 
 Act I   Scene II 
 Act I   Scene III 
 Act I   Scene IV 
 Act I   Scene V 
 Act II  Scene I 
 Act II  Scene II
 Act II  Scene III 
 Act II  Scene IV 
 Act III Scene I
 Act III Scene II 
 Act III Scene III
 Act III Scene IV

 Act III Scene V 
 Act III Scene VI 
 Act III Scene VII 
 Act IV  Scene I  
 Act IV  Scene II 
 Act IV  Scene III 
 Act IV  Scene IV 
 Act IV  Scene V 
 Act IV  Scene VI 
 Act IV  Scene VII 
 Act V   Scene I 
 Act V   Scene II 
 Act V   Scene III 
 Complete play

Act I   ACT I: SCENE V Court before the same. Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool KING 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 afore 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? KING LEAR Ay, boy. Fool Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go slip-shod. KING LEAR Ha, ha, ha! Fool Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. KING LEAR Why, what canst thou tell, my 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? KING 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. KING LEAR I did her wrong-- Fool Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? KING LEAR No. Fool Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. KING LEAR Why? Fool Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. KING 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. KING LEAR Because they are not eight? Fool Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. KING LEAR To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude! Fool If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time. KING LEAR How's that? Fool Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. KING 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? Gentleman Ready, my lord. KING 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

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