The Tragedy of King Lear: ACT III
Introduction ACT I ACT II ACT III SCENE I. A heath. SCENE II. Another part of the heath. Storm still. SCENE III. Gloucester's castle. SCENE IV. The heath. Before a hovel. SCENE V. Gloucester's castle. SCENE VI. A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle. SCENE VII. Gloucester's castle. ACT IV ACT V About the Play Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: SCENE I. A heath. Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting 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 element: 5     Bids the winds blow the earth into the sea,       Or swell the curled water '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 out-scorn       The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain.       This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch,       The lion and the belly-pinched wolf       Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs, 15    And bids what will take all. KENT       But who is with him? Gentleman       None but the fool; who labours to out-jest       His heart-struck injuries. KENT       Sir, I do know you; 20    And dare, upon the warrant of my note,       Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,       Although as yet the face of it be cover'd       With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;       Who have--as who have not, that their great stars 25    Throned and set high?--servants, who seem no less,       Which are to France the spies and speculations       Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen,       Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,       Or the hard rein which both of them have borne 30    Against the old kind king; or something deeper,       Whereof perchance these are but furnishings;       But, true it is, from France there comes a power       Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already,       Wise in our negligence, have secret feet 35    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       To make your speed to Dover, you shall find       Some that will thank you, making just report 40    Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow       The king hath cause to plain.       I am a gentleman of blood and breeding;       And, from some knowledge and assurance, offer       This office to you. Gentleman 45    I will talk further with you. KENT       No, do not.       For confirmation that I am much more       Than my out-wall, open this purse, and take       What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia,-- 50    As fear not but you shall,--show her this ring;       And she will tell you who your fellow is       That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!       I will go seek the king. Gentleman       Give me your hand: have you no more to say? KENT 55    Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet;       That, when we have found the king,--in which your pain       That way, I'll this,--he that first lights on him       Holla the other. Exeunt severally Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene