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Speeches (Lines) for Fool
in "King Lear"

Total: 58

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# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,4,625

Let me hire him too. Here's my coxcomb.

2

I,4,628

Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

3

I,4,630

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....

4

I,4,637

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

5

I,4,640

Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipp'd out, when
Lady the brach may stand by th' fire and stink.

6

I,4,643

Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

7

I,4,645

Mark it, nuncle.
Have more than thou showest,...

8

I,4,657

Then 'tis like the breath of an unfeed lawyer- you gave me
nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

9

I,4,660

[to Kent] Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land
comes to. He will not believe a fool.

10

I,4,663

Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter
fool and a sweet fool?

11

I,4,666

That lord that counsell'd thee
To give away thy land,...

12

I,4,675

All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast
born with.

13

I,4,678

No, faith; lords and great men will not let me. If I had a
monopoly out, they would have part on't. And ladies too, they...

14

I,4,684

Why, after I have cut the egg i' th' middle and eat up the
meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i'...

15

I,4,695

I have us'd it, nuncle, ever since thou mad'st thy daughters
thy mother; for when thou gav'st them the rod, and put'st down...

16

I,4,705

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They'll have me
whipp'd for speaking true; thou'lt have me whipp'd for lying;...

17

I,4,714

Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for
her frowning. Now thou art an O without a figure. I am better...

18

I,4,736

For you know, nuncle,
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long...

19

I,4,746

May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?
Whoop, Jug, I love thee!

20

I,4,753

Lear's shadow.

21

I,4,757

Which they will make an obedient father.

22

I,4,846

Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry! Take the fool with thee.
A fox when one has caught her,...

23

I,5,886

If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of
kibes?

24

I,5,889

Then I prithee be merry. Thy wit shall ne'er go slip-shod.

25

I,5,891

Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though
she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell...

26

I,5,895

She'll taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou
canst tell why one's nose stands i' th' middle on's face?

27

I,5,898

Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose, that what a
man cannot smell out, 'a may spy into.

28

I,5,901

Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

29

I,5,903

Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

30

I,5,905

Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his daughters,
and leave his horns without a case.

31

I,5,909

Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars
are no moe than seven is a pretty reason.

32

I,5,912

Yes indeed. Thou wouldst make a good fool.

33

I,5,914

If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being
old before thy time.

34

I,5,917

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

35

I,5,923

She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure,
Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter

36

II,4,1283

Ha, ha! look! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the
head, dogs and bears by th' neck, monkeys by th' loins, and men...

37

II,4,1324

Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
Fathers that wear rags...

38

II,4,1342

An thou hadst been set i' th' stocks for that question,
thou'dst well deserv'd it.

39

II,4,1345

We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no
labouring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by...

40

II,4,1362

Not i' th' stocks, fool.
Enter Lear and Gloucester

41

II,4,1399

Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels when she
put 'em i' th' paste alive. She knapp'd 'em o' th' coxcombs with...

42

III,2,1687

O nuncle, court holy water in a dry house is better than this
rain water out o' door. Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughters...

43

III,2,1701

He that has a house to put 's head in has a good head-piece.
The codpiece that will house...

44

III,2,1716

Marry, here's grace and a codpiece; that's a wise man and a
fool.

45

III,2,1753

[sings]
He that has and a little tiny wit-...

46

III,2,1760

This is a brave night to cool a courtesan. I'll speak a
prophecy ere I go:...

47

III,4,1842

Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit. Help me, help me!

48

III,4,1844

A spirit, a spirit! He says his name's poor Tom.

49

III,4,1865

Nay, he reserv'd a blanket, else we had been all sham'd.

50

III,4,1876

This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.

51

III,4,1905

Prithee, nuncle, be contented! 'Tis a naughty night to swim
in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lecher's...

52

III,6,2015

Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a
yeoman.

53

III,6,2018

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.

54

III,6,2023

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

55

III,6,2031

Her boat hath a leak,
And she must not speak...

56

III,6,2052

Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?

57

III,6,2054

Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.

58

III,6,2085

And I'll go to bed at noon.

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