TI

S

ACT II. SCENE I.

A Castle belonging to the Earl of Glo'ster.

Enter Edmund and Curan, feverally.
EDMUND.

AVE thee, Curan.

Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Dutchess, will be here with him this night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whisper'd ones; for they are yet but ear-kiffing arguments.

Edm. Not I; pray you, what are they?

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm. Not a word.

Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, Sir.

Edm.

T

SCENE II.

[Exit.

HE Duke be here to-night! the better!
best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business;
My father hath fet guard to take my brother,
And I have one thing of a queazy question
Which I must act: briefness, and fortune work!
Brother, a word; defcend; Brother, I say;

To him, Enter Edgar.

My father watches; O, Sir, fly this place,
Intelligence is giv'n where you are hid;

You've now the good advantage of the night-
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

He's

e

1.

He's coming hither now i'th' night, i'th' hafte,
And Regan with him; have you nothing faid
Upon his Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany ?
Advise yourself.

Pardon me

Edg. I'm fure on't, not a word. Edm. I hear my father coming. In cunning, I must draw my sword upon youDraw, feem to defend yourself. Now quit you well

Yield-come before my father-light hoa, here! Fly, brother-Torches !-fo farewel- [Exit Edgar. Some blood, drawn on me, would beget opinion

[Wounds his arm.

Of my more fierce endeavour. I've seen drunkards

y Do more than this in sport. Father! father !

!

Stop, stop, no help?

SCENE III.

To him, Enter Glo'ster, and fervants with torches.
OW, Edmund, where's the villain?

Glo.

NOW

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp

fword out,

Mumbling of wicked Charms, conj'ring the moon

To stand 's auspicious mistress.

Glo. But where is he?

Edm. Look, Sir, I bleed.

Glo. Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he

could

Glo. Pursue him, ho! go after. By no means,

what?

Edm. Perfuade me to the murder of your lordship;

But that, I told him, the revenging Gods
'Gainst Parricides did all the thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to th' father. - Sir, in fine,

Seeing how lothly opposite I stood

G6

To

To his unnat'ral purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared fword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd my arm;
And when he faw my best alarmed spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to th' encounter,
Or whether gafled by the noise I made,
Full fuddenly he fled.

Glo. Let him fly far;

Not in this land shall he remain urcaught;

And found, dispatch'd. - The noble Duke my master, My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night;

By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he, who finds him, shall deferve our thanks,
Bringing the murd'rous coward to the stake:
He that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I diffuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him; he replied,
Thou unpoffeffing Bastard! doft thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any truft, virtue, or worth in thee

Make thy words faith'd? no; when I should deny.
(As this I would, although thou didst produce
My very character) I'd turn it all

To thy fuggestion, plot, and damned practice;
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee feek it.

[Trumpets within.

Glo. O ftrange, fasten'd villain! Would he deny his letter; I never got him. Hark, the Duke's trumpets! I know not why he

comes

All Ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The Duke must grant me that; besides, his picture
I will fend far and near, that all the Kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
(Loyal and natural Boy!) I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

SCENE

Enter Cornwall, Regan, and attendants.

Corn. H How now, my noble friend? fince I came

OW
hither,

Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue th' offender; how does my lord?
Glo. O Madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd.
Reg. What, did my father's godfon seek your life?
He whom my father nam'd? Your Edgar?

Glo. O lady, lady, Shame would have it hid.
Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous

Knights,

That tend upon my father?

Glo. I know not, Madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.
Edm. Yes, Madam, he was of that confort.

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected;

'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have th' expence and waste of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my fister
Been well inform'd of them; and with fuch cautions,
That if they come to fojourn at my house,
I'll not be there.

Corn. Nor I, I affure thee, Regan;
Edmund, I hear, that you have shewn your father
A child-like office.

Edm. 'Twas my duty, Sir.

Glo. He did bewray his practice, and receiv'd
This hurt you fee, striving to apprehend him.
Corn. Is he purfued?

Glo. Ay, my good lord.

Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
How in my strength you please. As for you, Edmund,
Whose virtue and obedience in this instance

So much commends itself, you shall be ours;

Natures

Natures of such deep Trust we shall much need:
You we first seize on.

Edm. I shall ferve you, Sir,

Truly, however else.

Glo. I thank your Grace.

Corn. You know not why we came to vifit you-
Reg. Thus out of season threading dark-ey'd night;

Occafions, noble Glo'fter, of fome poise,
Wherein we must have use of your advice.
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of diff'rences, which I best thought it fit
To answer from our home: the sev'ral messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay Comforts to your bosom; and bestow
Your needful counsel to our businesses,

Which crave the instant ufe.

Glo. I serve you, Madam: Your Graces are right welcome.

Stew.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

V.

Enter Kent, and Steward, feverally.

GooDdowning to thee, friend; art of this

Kent. Ay.

Stew. Where may we fet our horfes?

Kent. I'th' mire.

Stew. Pr'ythee, if thou lov'st me, tell me.

Kent. I love thee not.

Stew. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would

make thee care for me.

Stew. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee

not.

Kent. Fellow, I know thee.

Stew. What dost thou know me for?

Kent. A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats,

a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-fuited, hun