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ACT II.

SCENE I

A Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glo'fter.

Enter Edmund and Curan, feverally.

EDMUND.

AVE thee, Curan.

SAV

Cur. And you,

Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Dutchefs, 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.

SCENE

II.

[Exit.

Edm.THE 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 queftion
Which I must act: briefnefs, and fortune work!
Brother, a word; descend; Brother, I fay;-

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 fpoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

He's

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

Edg. I'm fure on't, not a word.

Edm. I hear my father coming.

Pardon me

In cunning, I muft draw my fword upon you-
Draw, 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 Do more than this in sport. Father father! Stop, ftop, no help?

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

Glo.

Now,

Edm. Here ftood he in the dark, his fharpfword out,

Mumbling of wicked Charms, conj'ring the moon To ftand 's aufpicious 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. Purfue 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 'Gainft 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 oppofite I ftood

G 6.

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 beft alarmed fpirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to th' encounter,
Or whether gafted by the noise I made,
Full fuddenly he fled.

Glo. Let him fly far;

Not in this land fhall he remain uncaught;
And found, dispatch'd.-The noble Duke my mafler,
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night;

By his authority I will proclaim it,

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

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

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

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

Glo. O ftrange, faflen'd villain!

[Trumpets within.

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 fhall not 'fcape;
The Duke muft grant me that; befides, 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

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Enter Cornwall, Regan, and attendants.

Corn.HOW now, my noble friend? fince I came

hither,

Which I can call but now, I have heard ftrange 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 feek 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 prefent evening from my fifter 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, 1 hear, that you have thewn your father A child-like office.

Edm. 'Twas my duty, Sir.

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

Glo. Ay, my good lord.

Corn. If he be taken, he fhall never more

Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
How in my ftrength you pleafe. As for you, Edmund,
Whofe virtue and obedience in this inftance
So much commends itfelf, you fhall be ours;

Natures

Natures of fuch deep Truft we shall much need:
You we first feize on.

Edm. I fhall ferve you, Sir,
Truly, however else.

Glo. I thank your Grace.

Corn. You know not why we came to vifit youReg. Thus out of feafon threading dark-ey'd night; Occafions, noble Glo'fter, of fome poife, Wherein we must have ufe of your advice. Our father he hath writ, fo hath our fifter, Of diff'rences, which I beft thought it fit To answer from our home: the fev'ral meffengers From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, Lay Comforts to your bofom; and bestow

Your needful counsel to our businesses,

Which crave the instant use.

Glo. I ferve you, Madam:

Your Graces are right welcome.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

V.

Enter Kent, and Steward, feverally.

Stew.

Go

OOD downing to thee, friend; art of this house?

Kent. Ay.

Stew. Where may we fet our horses?

Kent. I'th' mire.

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

Kent. I love thee not.

Stew. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipfbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me.

Stew. Why doft thou ufe me thus? I know thee

not.

Kent. Fellow, I know thee.

Stew. What dost thou know me for?

Kent. A knave, a rafcal, an eater of broken meats, a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-fuited, hun

dred

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