Storm still. Enter Kent in disguise, and a Gentleman,
severally. KENT Who’s there, besides foul weather? GENTLEMAN
One minded like the weather, most unquietly. KENT I know you. Where’s the King? GENTLEMAN
Contending with the fretful elements;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea 5
Or swell the curlèd waters ’bove the main,
That things might change or cease; tears his white
hair,
Which the impetuous blasts with eyeless rage
Catch in their fury and make nothing of; 10
Strives in his little world of man to outscorn
The to-and-fro conflicting wind and rain.
This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would
couch,
The lion and the belly-pinchèd wolf 15
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs
And bids what will take all. | Kent, still disguised as Caius, meets up with the Gentleman, who informs him that the King is still running about in a night so dreadful that even lions and bears have taken to their dens. |
KENT But who is with him? GENTLEMAN
None but the Fool, who labors to outjest
His heart-struck injuries. 20 | Only the Fool accompanies the King on his mad journey, trying to stave off Lear's madness with friendly jokes. |
KENT Sir, I do know you
And dare upon the warrant of my note
Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
Although as yet the face of it is covered
With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall, 25
Who have—as who have not, that their great stars
Throned and set high?—servants, who seem no less,
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state. From France there comes
a power 30
Into this scattered kingdom, who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports and are at point
To show their open banner. Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far 35
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow
The King hath cause to plain: what hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes, 40
Or the hard rein which both of them hath borne
Against the old kind king, or something deeper,
Whereof perchance these are but furnishings.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
And from some knowledge and assurance offer 45
This office to you. | Kent then gives the gentleman a political update: tension between Regan's husband (Cornwall) and Goneril's husband (Albany) may result in a civil war, though they're keeping it hush-hush. Aside from possibly having a war, both Albany and Cornwall may be united in one activity: plotting against the life of Lear, their father-in-law. This has all been discovered by spies placed strategically in their houses as servants, and France (which has likely sent the spies) is even now preparing to make a move against these divided houses. Kent reveals he's actually a gentleman himself, meaning that he's of noble breeding, and not just a random guy. But he doesn't go so far as to reveal that he's Kent. |
GENTLEMAN
I will talk further with you. KENT No, do not.
For confirmation that I am much more
Than my outwall, open this purse and take 50
What it contains.
Kent hands him a purse and a ring.
If you shall see Cordelia
(As fear not but you shall), show her this ring,
And she will tell you who that fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm! 55
I will go seek the King. GENTLEMAN
Give me your hand. Have you no more to say? | Kent asks the Gentleman to be a messenger for him. He instructs him to go to Dover (where Cordelia is) and report of Lear's recent ill-treatment. He then gives the Gentleman the his entire purse so the messenger will be inspired to actually do the job at hand. He also gives him a ring to give to Cordelia, who will know when she sees it that the message is from Kent. |
KENT
Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet:
That when we have found the King—in which your
pain 60
That way, I’ll this—he that first lights on him
Holla the other. They exit separately. | As they part, Kent says, "I'll go this way, and you go that way. Let me know if you find the King—I'll do the same." |