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? 21
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. 25
Lear. I did her wrong,—
Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his
shell? 28
Lear. No.
Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a
snail has a house.
Lear. Why? 32
Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give
it away to his daughters, and leave his horns
without a case.
Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a
father! Be my horses ready? 37
Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The
reason why the seven stars are no more than
seven is a pretty reason. 40
Lear. Because they are not eight?
Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good
fool.
Lear. To take it again perforce! Monster in-
gratitude! 45
Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have
thee beaten for being old before thy time.
Lear. How's that? 48
Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old before
thou hadst been wise.
