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King Lear - Act 3, scene 1
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King Lear - Act 3, scene 1Act 3, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
Kent, searching for Lear, meets a Gentleman and learns that Lear and the Fool are alone in the storm. Kent tells the Gentleman that French forces are on their way to England.
Storm still. Enter Kent ⌜in disguise,⌝ and a Gentleman,severally.
KENT 1714 Who’s there, besides foul weather?
GENTLEMAN
1715 One minded like the weather, most unquietly.
KENT 1716 I know you. Where’s the King?
GENTLEMAN
1717 Contending with the fretful elements;
1718 5 Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea
1719 Or swell the curlèd waters ’bove the main,
1720 That things might change or cease; ⟨tears his white
1721 hair,
1722 Which the impetuous blasts with eyeless rage
1723 10 Catch in their fury and make nothing of;
1724 Strives in his little world of man to outscorn
1725 The to-and-fro conflicting wind and rain.
1726 This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would
1727 couch,
1728 15 The lion and the belly-pinchèd wolf
1729 Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs
1730 And bids what will take all.⟩
KENT 1731 But who is with him?
GENTLEMAN
1732 None but the Fool, who labors to outjest
1733 20 His heart-struck injuries.
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125
KENT
1734
Sir, I do know you1735 And dare upon the warrant of my note
1736 Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
1737 Although as yet the face of it is covered
1738 25 With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall,
1739 [Who have—as who have not, that their great stars
1740 Throned and set high?—servants, who seem no less,
1741 Which are to France the spies and speculations
1742 Intelligent of our state.] ⟨From France there comes
1743 30 a power
1744 Into this scattered kingdom, who already,
1745 Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
1746 In some of our best ports and are at point
1747 To show their open banner. Now to you:
1748 35 If on my credit you dare build so far
1749 To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
1750 Some that will thank you, making just report
1751 Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow
1752 The King hath cause to plain:⟩ [what hath been seen,
1753 40 Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,
1754 Or the hard rein which both of them hath borne
1755 Against the old kind king, or something deeper,
1756 Whereof perchance these are but furnishings.]
1757 ⟨I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
1758 45 And from some knowledge and assurance offer
1759 This office to you.⟩
GENTLEMAN
1760 I will talk further with you.
KENT 1761 No, do not.
1762 For confirmation that I am much more
1763 50 Than my outwall, open this purse and take
1764 What it contains.
⌜Kent hands him a purse and a ring.⌝
1765 If you shall see Cordelia
1766 (As fear not but you shall), show her this ring,
1767 And she will tell you who that fellow is
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127
1768
55 That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!1769 I will go seek the King.
GENTLEMAN
1770 Give me your hand. Have you no more to say?
KENT
1771 Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet:
1772 That when we have found the King—in which your
1773 60 pain
1774 That way, I’ll this—he that first lights on him
1775 Holla the other.
They exit ⌜separately.⌝