Lear. What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem ; to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject, as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. thou?

Kent. Service.

Lear. Whom wouldst thou serve?

Kent. You.

Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?

What wouldst

Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your counte

nance which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services canst thou do?

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit

for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is

diligence.

Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing; nor so old, to dote on her for anything: I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet.-Dinner, ho, dinner!-Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and call my fool hither. [Exit an Attendant.

Enter OSWALD

You, you, sirrah, where 's my daughter?

Osw. So please you,—

[Exit.

Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the

clotpoll back. [Exit a Knight.]-Where's my fool, ho?—I think the world's asleep.

Re-enter Knight

How now! where 's that mongrel ?

Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

Lear. Why came not the slave back to me, when I called him?

Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundest

manner, he would not.

Lear. He would not?

Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness appears, as well in the general dependants as in the duke himself also and your daughter.

Lear. Ha! sayest thou so?

Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent, when I think your highness wronged.

Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception. I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness; I will look further into ’t.But where's my fool? I have not seen him this two days.

Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool hath much pined away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.]—Go you, call hither my fool. [Exit an Attendant.

Re-enter OSWALD

O! you sir, you, come you hither, sir:

I, sir?

Osw. My lady's father.

Who am

Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!

Osw. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal ?

[Striking him.

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord. Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base football [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll love thee.

player.

Kent. Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences away, away! If you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry; but away! Go to have you wisdom? so. [Pushes OSWALD out.

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 cox

comb.

[Giving KENT his cap.

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!

Lear. Why, my boy?

Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'd keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Lear. Take heed, sirrah,-the whip.

Fool. Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when the lady brach may stand by the fire and stink.

Lear. A pestilent gall to me!

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Lear. Do.

Fool. Mark it, nuncle:

Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest,