I bar it in the interest of my wife; If none appear to prove upon thy person, There is my pledge. [Throwing down a glove.] I'll make3 Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Regan. it on thy heart, Sick! O, sick!4 Gon. [Aside.] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine. Edmund. There 's my exchange: [Throwing down a glove.] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies. Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho! a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. 1. Sub-contracted, contracted after a former contract; i. e. she is betrothed to this lord, being previously married. 2. An interlude, a farce. Goneril says this ironically. 3. To make is still used in this sense, as we say at billiards to make a ball, meaning, to pocket it or generally to execute fully what we intend ed; it is analogous to one meaning of to tell, as: That blow told! i. e. it went home. See note 2, page 31. 4. Regan feels the poison beginning to work which her sister has administered. 5. i. e. on whom shall I not. 6. i. e. thy own valour alone. A Roman sense of the word. "If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence." Edmund. Sound! [1 Trumpet. 12 Trumpet. Her. Again. [3 Trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Albany. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name? your quality? and why you answer Edgar. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit : I come to cope.1 Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What 's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him? Gloster? Draw thy sword, That if my speech offend a noble heart, 4 Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, 1. To cope, to encounter; it is usually followed by with, as synonimous with contend, struggle. 2. i. e. to draw my sword is the privilege, &c. 3. The privilege of this oath means the privilege gained by taking the oath administered in the regular initiation of a knight. 4. Maugre, in spite of, notwithstanding. Not in use. 5. Fire-new, fresh from the fire, just forged. Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor : Thou liest. Edmund. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn.3 [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls. Albany. O, save him! save him!6 Goneril. Alb. 9 1. To prove that upon thy heart, to which purpose I speak, namely, that Thou liest. 2. Some 'say, some assay sample, or taste. = in order to stay Edward's arm, it not being his desire that Edmund should meet instant death, and thus escape the punishment due to all his heinous crimes. 3. I disdain and scorn to do what, 7. Practice, stratagem, machination, according to the strict rules of knight- i. e. of Gloster's enemies. See note 1, hood, I might do without reproach, avoid this encounter. 4. For, because. page 33. 8. i. e. opponent. See note 6, page 102. 5. Meaning, his sword shall make 9. Hold, was formerly commonly said when any one presented anything to another, as we should now say here. a way into Edgar's heart, by which the treasons can enter, and where they shall rest for ever. 6. Albany utters this exclamation Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil : [Gives the letter1 to EDMUND. Goneril. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine: Who can arraign me for 't? Albany. Know'st thou this paper? Most monstrous! Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL. Alb. Go after her: she 's desperate; govern her. [Exit an Officer. Edmund. What you have charg'd me with, that have And more, much more; the time will bring it out: Edgar. Let's exchange charity. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, I done, Edmund. Thou hast spoken right, 't is true; The wheel is come full circle: I am here. Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness. I must embrace thee: Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee, or thy father. Edg. Worthy prince, I know 't. Alb. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father? Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List2 a brief tale; And, when 't is told, O, that my heart would burst! The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow'd me so near, (O, our lives' sweetness! 1. i. e. Goneril's letter found upon 2. To list, to listen to, to hearken to. Oswald. Into a madman's rags, t' assume a semblance Edmund. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, Albany. If there be more, more woful, hold it in, ' For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Edgar. This would have seem'd a period Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, As he 'd burst heaven; threw him on my father; |