| |
[The open country near Gloucester’s castle]
Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, severally
Kent. Who’s there, besides foul weather? | |
| Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly. | |
| Kent. I know you. Where’s the King? | |
| Gent. Contending with the fretful elements; | 4 |
| Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, | |
| Or swell the curled waters ’bove the main, 1 | |
| That things might change or cease; [tears his white hair, | |
| Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, | 8 |
| Catch in their fury, and make nothing of; | |
| Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn | |
| The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. | |
| This night, wherein the cub-drawn 2 bear would couch, | 12 |
| The lion and the belly-pinched wolf | |
| Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs, | |
| And bids what will take all.] | |
| Kent. But who is with him? | 16 |
| Gent. None but the Fool; who labours to outjest | |
| His heart-struck injuries. | |
| Kent. Sir, I do know you; | |
| And dare, upon the warrant of my note, 3 | 20 |
| Commend a dear 4 thing to you. There is division, | |
| Although as yet the face of it is cover’d | |
| With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall; | |
| Who have—as who have not, that their great stars 5 | 24 |
| Thron’d and set high?—servants, who seem no less, | |
| Which are to France the spies and speculations 6 | |
| Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen, | |
| Either in snuffs 7 and packings 8 of the Dukes, | 28 |
| Or the hard rein which both of them have borne | |
| Against the old kind king, or something deeper, | |
| Whereof perchance these are but furnishings; 9 | |
| [But, true it is, from France there comes a power 10 | 32 |
| Into this scattered 11 kingdom; who already, | |
| Wise in our negligence, have secret feet | |
| In some of our best ports, and are at point 12 | |
| To show their open banner. Now to you: | 36 |
| 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 | |
| Of how unnatural and bemadding 13 sorrow | 40 |
| 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.] | 44 |
| Gent. I will talk further with you. | |
| Kent. No, do not. | |
| For confirmation that I am much more | |
| Than my out-wall, 14 open this purse, and take | 48 |
| What it contains. 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! | 52 |
| I will go seek the King. | |
| Gent. Give me your hand. Have you no more to say? | |
| Kent. Few words, but, to effect, 15 more than all yet; | |
| That, when we have found the King,—in which your pain 16 | 56 |
| That way, I’ll this,—he that first lights on him | |
| Holla the other. Exeunt [severally]. | |
