William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT I. 4. Scene IV. A Hall in Albany's Palace. (continued)

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! say'st 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.