Act 2, Scene 7 Summary

Near Lear's wall, Lear and the Ghost encounter a Farmer, his Wife, and their Boy. Lear begs for some money but the family refuses, saying they're poor. The Farmer explains that after the king went mad, work stopped on the wall and farmers moved onto the land and began to make homes. Now that the government's changed, soldiers are turning farmers like him off their land, construction on the wall is continuing, and sons like his son are being turned into soldiers. Lear expresses fear that the boy will be killed, but the Farmer's Wife says they have to hope he won't.

As the Farmer and his family go out, Lear comments that he could endure anything but the death of another boy. He falls to his knees crying out in agony, saying he's the king, saying he built the wall...