King Lear

If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,
So may it come, thy master, whom thou lov'st,
Shall find thee full of labours.

[Horns within. Enter King Lear, Knights, and Attendants.]

Lear.
Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.

[Exit an Attendant.]

How now! what art thou?

Kent.
A man, sir.

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'st as poor for a subject as he's for a king, thou art
poor enough. What wouldst thou?

Kent.
Service.

Lear.
Who wouldst thou serve?

Kent.
You.

Lear.
Dost thou know me, fellow?

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