Clot. (5) To leave you in your madness, 'twere my fin.

I will not.

Imo. Fools cure not mad folks.

Clot. Do you call me fool?

Imo. As I am mad, I do :

If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much forry, Sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners
By being (6) fo verbal and learn now for all,
That I, who know my heart, do here pronounce
By th' very truth of it, I care not for

And am fo near the lack of charity

you:

T'accufe myself, I hate you: which I had rather
You felt, than make my boast.

Clot. You fin against

Obedience, which you owe your father; for

(7) The contract you pretend with that base wretch,

(5) To leave you in your madness, 'twere my fin,

I will not.

Imo. Fools ARE not mad folks.

Clot. Do you call me fool?

One,

Imo. As I am mad, I do:] But does the really call him fool? The acuteft critic would be puzzled to find it out, as the text ftands. The reafoning is perplexed by a flight corruption; and we must restore it thus,

Fools CURE not mad folks,

You are mad, fays he, and it would be a crime in me to leave you to yourself. Nay, fays the, why fhould you ftay? A fool never cur'd madnefs. Do you call me fool? replies he, &c. All this is eafy and natural. And that cure was certainly the poet's word, I think, is very evident from what Imogen immediately fubjoins:

If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;

That cures us both.

ie. if you'll ceafe to torture me with your foolish folicitations, I'll ceafe to fhew towards you any thing like madnefs; fo a double cure will be effected, of your folly, and my fuppofed frenzy.

-fo verbal: -] Is, fo verbofe, fo full of talk.

WARB.

(6) (7) The contract, &c.] Here Shakespeare has not preferved, with his common nicety, the uniformity of character. The fpeech of Cloten is rough and harsh, but certainly not the talk of