Why, after I have cut the egg I’ the middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown I’ the middle and gavest away both parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back o’er the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds so.
– William Shakespeare
King Lear, Act 1, Scene 4. The Fool tells Lear to give him an egg in return for two crowns and when Lear asks what crowns he will return, the Fool makes this response. He is using the extended metaphor of the split crown and the egg to warn and scold Lear for his foolishness in granting his kingdom to his duplicitous daughters.