William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT III. 6. Scene VI. A Chamber in a Farmhouse adjoining the Castle.

[Enter Gloster, Lear, Kent, Fool, and Edgar.]

Glou.
Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I will
piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be
long from you.

Kent.
All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience:--
the gods reward your kindness!

[Exit Gloster.]

Edg.
Frateretto calls me; and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake
of darkness.--Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.

Fool.
Pr'ythee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a
yeoman.

Lear.
A king, a king!

Fool.
No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son; for he's a mad
yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him.

Lear.
To have a thousand with red burning spits
Come hissing in upon 'em,--

Edg.
The foul fiend bites my back.

Fool.
He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health,
a boy's love, or a whore's oath.

Lear.
It shall be done; I will arraign them straight.--
[To Edgar.] Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer--
[To the Fool.] Thou, sapient sir, sit here. Now, you she-foxes!--

Edg.
Look, where he stands and glares!--Want'st thou eyes at trial,
madam?
  Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me,--

Fool.
   Her boat hath a leak,
   And she must not speak
   Why she dares not come over to thee.

Edg.
The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale.
Hoppedance cries in Tom's belly for two white herring. Croak not,
black angel; I have no food for thee.