Page 1797 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Who would’st thou serve?

KENT
You. [25]

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. [30]

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. [35]

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 [40] 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.)