_Fool._ If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in[3032] danger of kibes? _Lear._ Ay, boy. _Fool._ Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go[3033] 10 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's like an apple, yet I[3034] can tell what I can tell.[3035] 15 _Lear._ Why, what canst thou tell, boy?[3036] _Fool._ She will taste as like this as a crab does to a[3037] crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle[3038] on's face?[3039] _Lear._ No. 20 _Fool._ Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose,[3040] that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.[3041] _Lear._ I did her wrong--[3042] _Fool._ Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?[3043] _Lear._ No. 25 _Fool._ Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. _Lear._ Why? _Fool._ Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his[3044] daughters, and leave his horns without a case.[3045] 30 _Lear._ I will forget my nature.--So kind a father!--Be my horses ready? _Fool._ Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why[3046] the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.[3047] _Lear._ Because they are not eight?[3048] 35 _Fool._ Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.[3049] _Lear._ To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude![3050] _Fool._ If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten[3051] for being old before thy time. _Lear._ How's that? 40 _Fool._ Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst[3052] been wise. _Lear._ O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven![3053][3054] Keep me in temper: I would not be mad![3053] _Enter_ Gentleman.[3055] How now! are the horses ready?[3056] 45 _Gent._ Ready, my lord.[3057] _Lear._ Come, boy.[3058] _Fool._ She that's a maid now and laughs at my departure[3059] Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.[3060] [_Exeunt._ FOOTNOTES: [2424] ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. See note (I). King Lear's palace.] A Palace. Rowe. The King's Palace. Theobald. A State-room in King Lear's Palace. Capell. Edmund.] F₄. Edmond. F₁ F₂ F₃. Bastard. Qq. [2425] Kent. _I ... coming._] Spurious, according to Seymour. [2426] _I thought ... moiety._] Verse, S. Walker conj., ending the lines _Duke ... always ... division ... dukes ... pois'd ... choice ... moiety._ [2427] _so_] om. F₂ F₃ F₄. [2428] _of the ... of the_] _O' th' ... o' th'_ S. Walker conj.