Scene V. Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace.
[Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.]
LEAR.
Go you before to Gloucester with these letters: acquaint my
daughter no further with anything 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?
LEAR.
Ay, boy.
FOOL.
Then I pr'ythee be merry; thy wit shall not go slipshod.
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.
LEAR.
What canst tell, boy?
FOOL.
She'll 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?
