| [Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him] | |
| EDMUND | Save thee, Curan. |
| CURAN | And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him this night. |
| EDMUND | How comes that? |
| CURAN | Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments? |
| EDMUND | Not I pray you, what are they? |
| CURAN | Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? |
| EDMUND | Not a word. |
| CURAN | You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir. |
| [Exit] | |
| EDMUND | The duke be here to-night? The better! best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work! Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say! |
| [Enter EDGAR] | |
| My father watches: O sir, fly this place; Intelligence is given where you are hid; You have now the good advantage of the night: Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall? He's coming hither: now, i' the night, i' the haste, And Regan with him: have you nothing said Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany? Advise yourself. |
|
| EDGAR | I am sure on't, not a word. |
| EDMUND | I hear my father coming: pardon me: In cunning I must draw my sword upon you Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well. Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here! Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell. |
| [Exit EDGAR] | |
| Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion. | |
| [Wounds his arm] | |
| Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards Do more than this in sport. Father, father! Stop, stop! No help? |
|
| [Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches] | |
| GLOUCESTER | Now, Edmund, where's the villain? |
| EDMUND | Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand auspicious mistress,-- |
| GLOUCESTER | But where is he? |
| EDMUND | Look, sir, I bleed. |
| GLOUCESTER | Where is the villain, Edmund? |
| EDMUND | Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could-- |
| GLOUCESTER | Pursue him, ho! Go after. |
| [Exeunt some Servants] | |
| By no means what? | |
| EDMUND | Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him, the revenging gods 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend; Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine, Seeing how loathly opposite I stood To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion, With his prepared sword, he charges home My unprovided body, lanced mine arm: But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits, Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter, Or whether gasted by the noise I made, Full suddenly he fled. |
| GLOUCESTER | Let him fly far: Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; And found--dispatch. The noble duke my master, My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night: By his authority I will proclaim it, That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, Bringing the murderous coward to the stake; He that conceals him, death. |
| EDMUND | When I dissuaded him from his intent, And found him pight to do it, with curst speech I threaten'd to discover him: he replied, 'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think, If I would stand against thee, would the reposal Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,-- As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce My very character,--I'ld turn it all To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise: 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 seek it.' |
| GLOUCESTER | Strong and fasten'd villain Would he deny his letter? I never got him. |
| [Tucket within] | |
| 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 send far and near, that all the kingdom May have the due note of him; and of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means To make thee capable. |
|
| [Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants] | |
| CORNWALL | How now, my noble friend! since I came hither, Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news. |
| REGAN | If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord? |
| GLOUCESTER | O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd! |
| REGAN | What, did my father's godson seek your life? He whom my father named? your Edgar? |
| GLOUCESTER | O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid! |
| REGAN | Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? |
| GLOUCESTER | I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad. |
| EDMUND | Yes, madam, he was of that consort. |
| REGAN | No marvel, then, though he were ill affected: 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have the expense and waste of his revenues. I have this present evening from my sister Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions, That if they come to sojourn at my house, I'll not be there. |
| CORNWALL | Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father A child-like office. |
| EDMUND | 'Twas my duty, sir. |
| GLOUCESTER | He did bewray his practise; and received This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. |
| CORNWALL | Is he pursued? |
| GLOUCESTER | Ay, my good lord. |
| CORNWALL | If he be taken, he shall never more Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose, How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund, Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant So much commend itself, you shall be ours: Natures of such deep trust we shall much need; You we first seize on. |
| EDMUND | I shall serve you, sir, Truly, however else. |
| GLOUCESTER | For him I thank your grace. |
| CORNWALL | You know not why we came to visit you,-- |
| REGAN | Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night: Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise, Wherein we must have use of your advice: Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister, Of differences, which I least thought it fit To answer from our home; the several messengers From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow Your needful counsel to our business, Which craves the instant use. |
| GLOUCESTER | I serve you, madam: Your graces are right welcome. |
| [Exeunt] |