For a time Lear's mind has been beguiled by the Fool; but now his passion again rises as is evidenced by the fretful impatience of line 125.

The Fool, as a kind of external conscience, keeps Lear in mind of his error that, if possible, he may regain a wise self-mastery; but he serves also as a physician of the disordered mind, drawing it away from dangerous passion by provoking to a lighter and safer level of thought and feeling.

It is in itself an act of folly to seek clear rationality in all the utterances of the Fool, especially in such as are expressed in jingle; and yet what may be called an atmosphere of meaning emanates from them. These lines, with their reiterated rhymes, suggest certain bits of common-sense advice, of worldly wisdom, with the closing implication that the wise man who follows them is more than human, is a kind of unnatural freak as are more than two tens in a score. The lines are addressed to Kent, though Lear when he interrupts is told that he may listen; and, whatever the Fool may intend, imply that Kent with his rash foolishness is a man of truly human heart, no mere selfish follower of worldly wisdom.

132. Go not to the limit of strength or ambition.

133. Believe not all you hear.

134. Stake or wager less than thou hast won by the last throw. (Schmidt.)

135. Exercise temperance and self-control.

Kent. This is nothing, Fool.

Fool. Then 't is like the breath of an unfee'd 140

lawyer; you gave me nothing for 't.

of nothing, nuncle ?

Can you make no use

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. Lear. A bitter Fool!

Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy,

between a bitter fool and a sweet one?

Lear. No, lad; teach me.

140. breath, etc.: the words, the counsel. The lawyer will give

no valuable counsel unless he is paid. Free advice is valueless.

145

150

The Fool is indeed bitter, for he is jesting upon facts. Those facts are bitter in their growing consequences of which Lear is just beginning to taste. The words are bitter; but the Fool is not bitter at heart.

If the text of the Quarto Edition, as given in Appendix VI, is the original text as written by Shakespeare, a reason for the omission in the Folio may be found in this very appearance of bitterness which is unnatural to the Fool and contrary to his spirit here. His is a tonic bitterness, but one that must not be allowed to seem venomous,

Fool. Nuncle, give me an egg, and I'll give thee

two crowns.

Lear. What two crowns shall they be?

Fool.

Why, after I have cut the egg i' the 155 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 160 one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so.

Fools had ne'er less grace in a year;

For wise men are grown foppish,

And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.

165

156. two crowns, etc.: the egg shells.

158, 159. borest thy ass, etc.: acted like a fool.

160. bald crown: bald head.

161, 162. If in this I speak not insanely but raticnally (like myself), let not me be whipped but him who through sad experience first realizes the truth of my words, that they are so.

163-166. There never was a time when fools were less in favour; and the reason is that they were never so little wanted, for wise men now supply their place. (Johnson.)

165.

how their wits, etc.: how to conduct themselves sensibly.

1

Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou madest thy daughters thy mothers; for when thou 170

gavest them the rod and puttest down thine own breeches,

Then they for sudden joy did weep,

And I for sorrow sung,

That such a king should play bo-peep,

And go the fools among.

Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach

thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.

Lear. And you lie, sirrah, we whipped.

'll have you

175

180

Fool. I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are; they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou 'It have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o' thing than a fool; and yet I would 185 not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing i' the middle.

comes one o' the parings.

169. used: I have been accustomed to.

Here

170, 171. When you put your daughters in place and power over

you and submitted to discipline at their hands.