Fool. She that is maid now, and laughs at my

departure,

Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut

shorter.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A Court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloster.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edm. Save thee, Curan.

Cur. 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 to-night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing 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 then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit. Edm. 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 queazy question,*
Which I must act:-Briefness, and fortune, work!—

queazy question,] Queazy, means delicate, unsettled, what requires to be handled nicely.

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."

Edg.

I am sure on't, not a word. Edm. 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 GLOSTER, and Servants with Torches.

Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword

out

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand his auspicious mistress:

Glo.

But where is he?

Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo.

Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he

could

Advise yourself.] i. e. consider, recollect yourself.

Glo. Pursue him, ho!-Go after.-[Exit Serv.]
By no means,-what?

Edm. 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, lanc'd mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo.

Let him fly far:

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;

And found-Despatch.-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.

Edm. 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'd turn it all

· gasted-] Frighted.

arch-] i. e. Chief; a word now used only in composition, as arch-angel, arch-duke.

And found him pight to do it, with curst speech-] Pight is pitched, fixed, settled. Curst is severe, harsh, vehemently angry. My very character,-] i. e. my very handwriting.

To thy suggestion, 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 seek it.

Glo.
Strong and fasten'd villain!
Would he deny his letter?-I never got him.

[Trumpets 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 due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.1

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants.

Corn. How now, my noble friend? since I came

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 the offender. How dost, my

lord?

Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd!

Reg. What, did my father's godson 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

- of my land,

father?

To make thee capable.] i. e. capable of succeeding to my land.

Glo.

It is too bad, too bad.

Edm.

I know not, madam:

Yes, madam, he was.

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill af-
fected;

'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well inform'd of them; and with such cau

tions,

That, if they come to sojourn at my house,

I'll not be there.

Corn.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.Edmund, I hear that you have shown 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, he is. 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.-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.

Edm.

Truly, however else.

Glo.

I shall serve you, sir,

For him I thank your grace.

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

Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize,

2 He did bewray his practice;] i. e. Discover, betray. Practice is always used by Shakspeare for insidious mischief.

of some poize,] i. e. of some weight or moment.