Act II · Scene I
The Earl of Gloucester's castle
Enter Edmund and Curan, meeting.[3061]
Edm. Save thee, Curan.[3062]
Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and[3063][3064]
given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his[3063][3065]
duchess will be here with him this night.[3063][3066]
given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his[3063][3065]
duchess will be here with him this night.[3063][3066]
Edm. How comes that?[3062] 5
Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news
abroad, I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but[3067]
ear-kissing arguments?[3068]
abroad, I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but[3067]
ear-kissing arguments?[3068]
Edm. Not I: pray you, what are they?[3069]
Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt[3070][3071][3072] 10
the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?[3070][3071][3073]
the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?[3070][3071][3073]
Edm. Not a word.[3070]
Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, sir. [Exit.[3074]
Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! best![3075][3076][3077]
This weaves itself perforce into my business.[3076] 15
My father hath set guard to take my brother;[3076]
And I have one thing, of a queasy question,[3076][3078]
Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work![3076][3079]
Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say![3076]
This weaves itself perforce into my business.[3076] 15
My father hath set guard to take my brother;[3076]
And I have one thing, of a queasy question,[3076][3078]
Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work![3076][3079]
Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say![3076]
Enter Edgar.[3080]
My father watches: O sir, fly this place;[3076][3081] 20
Intelligence is given where you are hid;[3076]
You have now the good advantage of the night:[3076][3082]
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?[3076][3083]
He's coming hither, now, i' the night, i' the haste,[3076][3084]
And Regan with him: have you nothing said[3076] 25
Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?[3076][3085]
Advise yourself.[3076][3086]
Intelligence is given where you are hid;[3076]
You have now the good advantage of the night:[3076][3082]
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?[3076][3083]
He's coming hither, now, i' the night, i' the haste,[3076][3084]
And Regan with him: have you nothing said[3076] 25
Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?[3076][3085]
Advise yourself.[3076][3086]
Edg. I am sure on't, not a word.[3076]
Edm. I hear my father coming: pardon me:[3076][3087]
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:[3076][3087]
Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.[3076][3088] 30
Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here![3076][3089]
Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So farewell.
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:[3076][3087]
Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.[3076][3088] 30
Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here![3076][3089]
Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So farewell.
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards[3076][3092]
Do more than this in sport. Father, father![3076][3093] 35
Stop, stop! No help?[3076]
Do more than this in sport. Father, father![3076][3093] 35
Stop, stop! No help?[3076]
Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches.[3094]
Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,[3076]
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon[3076][3096]
To stand 's auspicious mistress.[3076]
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon[3076][3096]
To stand 's auspicious mistress.[3076]
Glou. But where is he?[3076] 40
Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.[3076]
Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;[3076]
But that I told him the revenging gods[3076][3100] 45
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend,[3076][3101]
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond[3076]
The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,[3076][3102]
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood[3076]
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion[3076][3103] 50
With his prepared sword he charges home[3076]
My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:[3076][3104]
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits[3076][3105]
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,[3076][3106]
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,[3076][3107] 55
Full suddenly he fled.[3076][3108]
But that I told him the revenging gods[3076][3100] 45
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend,[3076][3101]
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond[3076]
The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,[3076][3102]
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood[3076]
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion[3076][3103] 50
With his prepared sword he charges home[3076]
My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:[3076][3104]
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits[3076][3105]
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,[3076][3106]
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,[3076][3107] 55
Full suddenly he fled.[3076][3108]
Glou. Let him fly far:[3076]
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;[3076]
And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,[3076][3109]
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:[3076][3110]
By his authority I will proclaim it,[3076] 60
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,[3076][3111]
Bringing the murderous caitiff to the stake;[3076][3112]
He that conceals him, death.[3076][3113]
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;[3076]
And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,[3076][3109]
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:[3076][3110]
By his authority I will proclaim it,[3076] 60
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,[3076][3111]
Bringing the murderous caitiff to the stake;[3076][3112]
He that conceals him, death.[3076][3113]
Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent[3076]
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech[3076] 65
I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,[3076]
'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,[3076]
If I would stand against thee, could the reposure[3076][3114][3115]
Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee[3076][3114]
Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny—[3076][3114][3116] 70
As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce[3076][3117]
My very character—I'ld turn it all[3076][3118]
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:[3076][3119]
And thou must make a dullard of the world,[3076][3120]
If they not thought the profits of my death[3076] 75
Were very pregnant and potential spurs[3076][3121]
To make thee seek it.'[3076]
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech[3076] 65
I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,[3076]
'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,[3076]
If I would stand against thee, could the reposure[3076][3114][3115]
Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee[3076][3114]
Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny—[3076][3114][3116] 70
As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce[3076][3117]
My very character—I'ld turn it all[3076][3118]
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:[3076][3119]
And thou must make a dullard of the world,[3076][3120]
If they not thought the profits of my death[3076] 75
Were very pregnant and potential spurs[3076][3121]
To make thee seek it.'[3076]
Glou. Strong and fasten'd villain![3076][3122]
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.[3076][3123]
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.[3076][3123]
[Tucket within.
Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes.[3076][3124]
All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;[3076] 80
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture[3076]
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom[3076]
May have due note of him; and of my land,[3076][3125]
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means[3076]
To make thee capable.[3076] 85
All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;[3076] 80
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture[3076]
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom[3076]
May have due note of him; and of my land,[3076][3125]
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means[3076]
To make thee capable.[3076] 85
Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.[3126]
Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,[3076][3127]
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.[3076][3128]
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.[3076][3128]
Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short[3076]
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?[3076][3129]
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?[3076][3129]
Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life?[3076]
He whom my father named? your Edgar?[3076][3131]
He whom my father named? your Edgar?[3076][3131]
Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights[3076][3133]
That tend upon my father?[3076][3134] 95
That tend upon my father?[3076][3134] 95
Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected:
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.[3137] 100
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,[3138]
I'll not be there.[3138]
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.[3137] 100
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,[3138]
I'll not be there.[3138]
Corn. Nor I, assure thee, Regan.[3139][3140]
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father[3139][3141] 105
A child-like office.[3139]
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father[3139][3141] 105
A child-like office.[3139]
Edm. 'Twas my duty, sir.[3142]
Glou. He did bewray his practice, and received[3143]
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
Corn. Is he pursued?
Glou. Ay, my good lord.[3144]
Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more[3145] 110
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,[3145]
How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,[3145][3146]
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant[3145][3147]
So much commend itself, you shall be ours:[3145][3148]
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need:[3145][3149] 115
You we first seize on.[3145][3149]
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,[3145]
How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,[3145][3146]
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant[3145][3147]
So much commend itself, you shall be ours:[3145][3148]
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need:[3145][3149] 115
You we first seize on.[3145][3149]
Glou. For him I thank your grace.[3152]
Corn. You know not why we came to visit you,—[3153]
Reg. Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:[3154]
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,[3155] 120
Wherein we must have use of your advice:[3156]
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I least thought it fit[3157]
To answer from our home; the several messengers[3158]
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, 125
Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow[3159]
Your needful counsel to our business,[3159][3160]
Which craves the instant use.[3159][3161]
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,[3155] 120
Wherein we must have use of your advice:[3156]
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I least thought it fit[3157]
To answer from our home; the several messengers[3158]
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, 125
Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow[3159]
Your needful counsel to our business,[3159][3160]
Which craves the instant use.[3159][3161]
We’ll remember where you stopped. All chapters