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Giving KENT Money Enter Fool: King Lear

This passage depicts a conversation between King Lear and his fool. The fool offers his coxcomb hat to Kent, saying it's best to side with those out of favor like Lear's daughters. The fool tells riddles and prophecies, advising Lear to show less than he knows, lend less than he owes, and learn more than he thinks. The fool says a time will come when the realm of Albion will fall into confusion.

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110 views4 pages

Giving KENT Money Enter Fool: King Lear

This passage depicts a conversation between King Lear and his fool. The fool offers his coxcomb hat to Kent, saying it's best to side with those out of favor like Lear's daughters. The fool tells riddles and prophecies, advising Lear to show less than he knows, lend less than he owes, and learn more than he thinks. The fool says a time will come when the realm of Albion will fall into confusion.

Uploaded by

j_winter2
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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KING LEAR Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service.

Giving KENT money Enter Fool Fool Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb. Offering KENT his cap KING LEAR How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou? Fool Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb. KENT Why, fool? Fool Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour: nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt catch cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow has banished two on's daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters! KING LEAR Why, my boy? Fool If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters. KING LEAR Take heed, sirrah; the whip. Fool Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink. KING LEAR A pestilent gall to me! Fool Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. KING LEAR Do. Fool Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou trowest, Set less than thou throwest; Leave thy drink and thy whore, And keep in-a-door, And thou shalt have more Than two tens to a score. KENT This is nothing, fool. Fool Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? KING LEAR Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. Fool [To KENT] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. KING LEAR A bitter fool! Fool Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool? KING LEAR No, lad; teach me. Fool That lord that counsell'd thee To give away thy land, Come place him here by me, Do thou for him stand: The sweet and bitter fool Will presently appear; The one in motley here, The other found out there. KING LEAR Dost thou call me fool, boy? Fool All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with. KENT This is not altogether fool, my lord. Fool

No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't: and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns. KING LEAR What two crowns shall they be? Fool Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. Singing Fools had ne'er less wit in a year; For wise men are grown foppish, They know not how their wits to wear, Their manners are so apish.

Fool

This is a brave night to cool a courtezan. I'll speak a prophecy ere I go: When priests are more in word than matter; When brewers mar their malt with water; When nobles are their tailors' tutors; No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors; When every case in law is right; No squire in debt, nor no poor knight; When slanders do not live in tongues; Nor cutpurses come not to throngs; When usurers tell their gold i' the field; And bawds and whores do churches build; Then shall the realm of Albion Come to great confusion: Then comes the time, who lives to see't, That going shall be used with feet. This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time.

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