In his chambers at Gloucester castle, the earl said to Edmund, "I do not like taking orders from Lear’s daughters and their husbands. But they are our rulers now. They tell me I must not help the king."
"How cruel!" exclaimed Edmund, pretending to be shocked.
"But there is more. I have a letter from Cordelia, now the queen of France. She has learned of her father’s troubles, and the French army is on its way to defend the king. Now I shall go look for him. If Cornwall asks for me, tell him I have gone to bed. Do not say a word to him of these matters." And Gloucester went out into the storm.
Edmund could not believe his luck. "I shall tell Cornwall everything immediately," he said to himself. "When he hears that my father has disobeyed him, Cornwall will surely reward me."
Meanwhile, Lear was wandering on the heath, accompanied by the faithful Kent. "Blow winds, blow!" roared Lear. "Lightning, burn my white head! You will still be kinder than my daughters!"
A few days earlier, Kent had also received a letter from Cordelia. "I am coming to England with an army," she wrote. "We shall land at Dover."
"If we can get the king to Dover," Kent thought, "he might be safe."
"My lord," he said to Lear, "we must get away from here."
But Lear continued to rage. "The gods are punishing the wicked with this storm. But I am a man more sinned against than sinning."
"I see an old shack in the distance," said Kent. "It will give you some shelter."
Lear stared at Kent. "Good Caius, I fear I am losing my mind. This storm seems horrible to you, but to me, it seems like nothing. When one experiences greater suffering, one barely notices the lesser."
When they got to the shack, Lear looked inside and then jumped back. "What is that strange creature?" he said fearfully. Kent peered in and saw a man curled up in the corner. He had mud on his face, and his hair was dirty and tangled. He was muttering nonsense.
"Who are you?" said Kent.
The man stood up. "I am Poor Tom," he cackled. "Wicked spirits have chased me through fire and flame and put poison in my porridge. I beg of you some charity." He held out his hand.
"He’s just a harmless madman and a beggar," said Kent to Lear. Neither man realized that Poor Tom was actually Edgar, Gloucester’s son. Knowing his father wanted him dead, he was hiding in the countryside in disguise.
"Did his cruel daughters make him crazy?" Lear ranted. "Why, he has only a thin blanket to protect him from the storm. Is man no more than this: a poor, bare, pitiful animal? Then I too am just like this beggar!" Lear began to tear off his own clothes as Kent tried to calm him.
"Beware of the evil spirit! Obey your parents! Poor Tom is cold. Look!" cried Edgar, "here comes a walking fire."
Gloucester appeared, carrying a torch. He did not recognize Edgar, his own son, either.
"My lord," the earl said to Lear, "your daughters and the Duke of Cornwall have forbidden me to help you. But I cannot obey such heartless orders. Let me take you to a warmer shelter."
"I must speak more with Poor Tom," muttered Lear. "He is very wise."
"I fear his grief has made him lose his mind," whispered Kent to Gloucester.
"I understand his grief too well," replied the earl. "I have a son I loved dearly, who also has betrayed me." He turned to Lear. "Come, my lord."
Gloucester led Lear, Kent, and Edgar to a farmhouse. Then he left to find some food for the king.
By now, Lear was acting as crazy as Edgar pretended to be. "Look," he babbled, pointing at two stools, "it’s Goneril and Regan! We will put them on trial, and Poor Tom will be the judge! But first, I must rest." Exhausted, he lay down and fell asleep.
Gloucester soon returned, very upset. "I just heard about a plot to kill the king," he told Kent. "You must take him to Dover, where he will be safe. Quick—I have a stretcher waiting outside. Lay the king on it and go now!"
Back at Gloucester Castle, Edmund approached Cornwall and told him about the letter his father had received from Cordelia. "My lord," said Edmund, "it grieves me that my own father is a traitor. He supports Lear and Cordelia instead of you."
Cornwall’s eyes narrowed. "You have done well. I appoint you Earl of Gloucester in place of your father. He must be caught and punished." Cornwall then summoned his wife and Goneril.
To Goneril, he said, "Spies say the French have landed. Ride to your castle and tell your husband to prepare for war. And seek out the traitor Gloucester."
"He should hang," Regan declared.
"Leave him to me," said Cornwall. "Edmund, accompany Goneril. You do not want to see what I shall do to your father when he is found."
Shortly after Edmund and Goneril’s departure, Gloucester returned to the castle.
"Why, it’s the traitor," Regan snarled. "Seize him," she ordered the servants.
"What do you mean by this?" asked Gloucester, trembling. "You are my guests!"
"Tie him to a chair," Cornwall commanded.
"Where have you sent the king?" demanded Regan.
"To Dover, to escape you and your sister," said Gloucester. "I will see the king in his rightful place again!"
"You shall see nothing," hissed Cornwall. He leaned forward and gouged out Gloucester’s right eye. Gloucester howled in pain.
But when Cornwall moved to gouge out the left eye, a servant loyal to Gloucester shouted, "Stop, my lord!" He was waving a sword.
"How dare you!" shouted Cornwall. He drew his sword, and they fought. The servant managed to strike Cornwall once, hard, before Regan grabbed a knife. Running up behind the servant, she stabbed him dead.
"And now the other one!" Cornwall said, turning back to Gloucester. And he put out Gloucester’s left eye.
"Help! Where is Edmund?" groaned Gloucester.
"You are calling for the wrong son," Regan told the old man. "It was Edmund who told us you betrayed us!"
In a flash, Gloucester realized Edmund’s plot. "Then I have done Edgar wrong," he sobbed. "May he forgive me!"
"Throw him out," said Regan to the servants. "Let him smell his way to Dover."
"Come, Regan, help me," moaned Cornwall. "I’m bleeding."
Gloucester was thrown out of the castle and began to stumble down the road. He didn’t get far before Edgar, still disguised, saw him.
"My poor father," he thought, horrified.
"Is someone there?" called out Gloucester.
"It’s Poor Tom," said Edgar.
"The mad beggar?"
"Yes, my lord. Bless you."
"Do you know the road to Dover?" asked the earl. "I will pay you to take me there."
"Here’s my arm," said Edgar. "Poor Tom will lead you."
Leaning on Edgar’s arm, Gloucester said, "These are strange times, when madmen lead the blind." Together, they set off.