Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedy of King Lear/Act 3 Scene 1
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Storme still. Enter Kent, and a Gentleman, seuerally.
Kent.
Who's there besides foule weather?
Gen.
One minded like the weather, most vnquietly.
Kent.
I know you: Where's the King?
Gent.
Contending with the fretfull Elements;
Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea,
Or swell the curled Waters 'boue the Maine,
That things might change, or cease.
Kent.
But who is with him?
Gent.
None but the Foole, who labours to out‐iest
His heart‐strooke iniuries.
Kent.
Sir, I do know you,
And dare vpon the warrant of my note
Commend a deere thing to you. There is diuision
(Although as yet the face of it is couer'd
With mutuall cunning) 'twixt Albany, and Cornwall:
Who haue, as who haue not, that their great Starres
Thron'd and set high; Seruants, who seeme no lesse,
Which are to France the Spies and Speculations
Intelligent of our State. What hath bin seene,
Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes,
Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne
Against the old kinde King; or something deeper,
Whereof (perchance) these are but furnishings.
Gent.
I will talke further with you.
Kent.
No, do not:
For confirmation that I am much more
Then my out‐wall; open this Purse, and take
What it containes. If you shall see Cordelia,
(As feare not but you shall) shew her this Ring,
And she will tell you who that Fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fye on this Storme,
I will go seeke the King.
Gent.
Giue me your hand,
Haue you no more to say?
Kent.
Few words, but to effect more then all yet;
That when we haue found the King, in which your pain
That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him,
Holla the other.Exeunt.