O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper; I would not be mad. (Lear, lines 41–42)
King Lear, directed by Steven Pimlott, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2005
A courtyard in front of the Duke of Albany’s palace
Lear sends Kent to deliver a message to Regan, whose palace is in the city of Gloucester. The Fool tries to distract Lear and makes pointed jokes about his bad decisions, saying that Regan will treat him no better than Goneril did. He says that although Lear is old, he is far from wise. Lear calls on heaven to keep him from going mad. The horses are brought up, and Lear and his men leave for Regan’s palace.