See better, Lear, and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye.
– William Shakespeare
King Lear, Act 1, Scene 1. After told to get out of his sight by Lear for standing up for Cordelia and speaking the truth, Kent urges Lear to see better, since the King has been blinded by stubborness and pride. The loyal Kent also appeals to Lear to allow him to remain where he can look to him for honest advice. Kent’s metaphor of a "blank" – meaning the center of a target – asks us to imagine a weapon aimed at an eye, so this is foreshadowing of Gloucester’s blinding.