Near the battlefield at Dover, Edgar is with his father. Edgar is still in disguise and still has not revealed his true identity yet to Gloucester – although he calls Gloucester father because that was also a term of respect of any elderly man.
Edgar tells his father the bad news that France has lost the battle against England and that Lear and Cordelia have been taken prisoner. Gloucester himself feels defeated and wants to die, but Edgar urges him to stay alive. The time is not yet right (or ripe) for him to die.