King Lear by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 1
A heath. Storm still.
Earl of Kent : Who's there, besides foul weather?
Gentleman : One minded like the weather, most unquietly.
Earl of Kent : I know you. Where's the King?
Gentleman : Contending with the fretful elements;
[p]Bids the wind blow the earth
into the sea,
[p]Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,
[p]That
things might change or cease; tears his white hair,
[p]Which the
impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
[p]Catch in their fury and make
nothing of;
[p]Strives in his little world of man to outscorn
[p]The
to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain.
[p]This night, wherein the
cub-drawn bear would couch,
[p]The lion and the belly-pinched
wolf
[p]Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
[p]And bids what will
take all.
Earl of Kent : But who is with him?
Gentleman : None but the fool, who labours to outjest
[p]His heart-struck
injuries.
Earl of Kent : Sir, I do know you,
[p]And dare upon the warrant of my note
[p]Commend
a dear thing to you. There is division
[p](Although as yet the face of
it be cover'd
[p]With mutual cunning) 'twixt Albany and
Cornwall;
[p]Who have (as who have not, that their great
stars
[p]Thron'd and set high?) servants, who seem no less,
[p]Which
are to France the spies and speculations
[p]Intelligent of our state.
What hath been seen,
[p]Either in snuffs and packings of the
Dukes,
[p]Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
[p]Against
the old kind King, or something deeper,
[p]Whereof, perchance, these
are but furnishings-
[p]But, true it is, from France there comes a
power
[p]Into this scattered kingdom, who already,
[p]Wise in our
negligence, have secret feet
[p]In some of our best ports and are at
point
[p]To show their open banner. Now to you:
[p]If on my credit you
dare build so far
[p]To make your speed to Dover, you shall
find
[p]Some that will thank you, making just report
[p]Of how
unnatural and bemadding sorrow
[p]The King hath cause to plain.
[p]I
am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
[p]And from some knowledge and
assurance offer
[p]This office to you.
Gentleman : I will talk further with you.
Earl of Kent : No, do not.
[p]For confirmation that I am much more
[p]Than my
out-wall, open this purse and take
[p]What it contains. If you shall
see Cordelia
[p](As fear not but you shall), show her this
ring,
[p]And she will tell you who your fellow is
[p]That yet you do
not know. Fie on this storm!
[p]I will go seek the King.
Gentleman : Give me your hand. Have you no more to say?
Earl of Kent : Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet:
[p]That, when we have
found the King (in which your pain
[p]That way, I'll this), he that
first lights on him
[p]Holla the other.
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Next: Act 3 - Scene 2
