have part on 't, and ladies too: they will not let
me have all fool to myself; they'll be snatching.]
Nuncle, give me an egg, and I'll give thee two
crowns. 172
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
thine 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. 181
Fools had ne'er less grace in a year;
For wise men are grown foppish,
And know not how their wits to wear, 184
Their manners are so apish.
Lear. When were you wont to be so full of
songs, sirrah? 187
Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou
madest thy daughters thy mothers; for when
thou gavest them the rod and puttest down
thine own breeches,
Then they for sudden joy did weep, 192
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among. 195
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can
teach thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie.
Lear. An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you
whipped. 199
Fool. I marvel what kin thou and thy
daughters are: they'll have me whipped for
speaking true, thou'lt have me whipped for
