The Tragedy Of King Lear

1 Enter Edmund and Curan, meeting.
2 EDMUND.
3 Save thee, Curan.
4 CURAN.
5 And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him
6 notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his Duchess will be
7 here with him this night.
8 EDMUND.
9 How comes that?
10 CURAN.
11 Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the
12 whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?
13 EDMUND.
14 Not I: pray you, what are they?
15 CURAN.
16 Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the two dukes
17 of Cornwall and Albany?
18 EDMUND.
19 Not a word.
20 CURAN.
21 You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
22 [_Exit._]
23 EDMUND.
24 The Duke be here tonight? The better! best!
25 This weaves itself perforce into my business.
26 My father hath set guard to take my brother;
27 And I have one thing, of a queasy question,
28 Which I must act. Briefness and fortune work!
29 Brother, a word, descend, brother, I say!
30 Enter Edgar.
31 My father watches: O sir, fly this place;
32 Intelligence is given where you are hid;
33 You have now the good advantage of the night.
34 Have you not spoken ’gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
35 He’s coming hither; now, i’ the night, i’ the haste,
36 And Regan with him: have you nothing said
37 Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany?
38 Advise yourself.
39 EDGAR.
40 I am sure on’t, not a word.
41 EDMUND.
42 I hear my father coming:—pardon me;
43 In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:
44 Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.
45 Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here!
46 Fly, brother. Torches, torches!—So farewell.
47 [_Exit Edgar._]
48 Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
49 Of my more fierce endeavour: [_Wounds his arm._]
50 I have seen drunkards
51 Do more than this in sport. Father, father!
52 Stop, stop! No help?
53 Enter Gloucester and
54 Servants with torches.
55 GLOUCESTER.
56 Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?
57 EDMUND.
58 Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
59 Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
60 To stand auspicious mistress.
61 GLOUCESTER.
62 But where is he?
63 EDMUND.
64 Look, sir, I bleed.
65 GLOUCESTER.
66 Where is the villain, Edmund?
67 EDMUND.
68 Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,—
69 GLOUCESTER.
70 Pursue him, ho! Go after.
71 [_Exeunt Servants._]
72 —By no means what?
73 EDMUND.
74 Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
75 But that I told him the revenging gods
76 ’Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
77 Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
78 The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,
79 Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
80 To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion
81 With his prepared sword, he charges home
82 My unprovided body, latch’d mine arm;
83 But when he saw my best alarum’d spirits,
84 Bold in the quarrel’s right, rous’d to th’encounter,
85 Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
86 Full suddenly he fled.
87 GLOUCESTER.
88 Let him fly far;
89 Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
90 And found—dispatch’d. The noble Duke my master,
91 My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight:
92 By his authority I will proclaim it,
93 That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
94 Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
95 He that conceals him, death.
96 EDMUND.
97 When I dissuaded him from his intent,
98 And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
99 I threaten’d to discover him: he replied,
100 ‘Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
101 If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
102 Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
103 Make thy words faith’d? No: what I should deny
104 As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce
105 My very character, I’d turn it all
106 To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
107 And thou must make a dullard of the world,
108 If they not thought the profits of my death
109 Were very pregnant and potential spurs
110 To make thee seek it.
111 GLOUCESTER.
112 O strange and fast’ned villain!
113 Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him.
114 [_Tucket within._]
115 Hark, the Duke’s trumpets! I know not why he comes.
116 All ports I’ll bar; the villain shall not scape;
117 The Duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
118 I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
119 May have due note of him; and of my land,
120 Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means
121 To make thee capable.
122 Enter Cornwall, Regan and
123 Attendants.
124 CORNWALL.
125 How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
126 Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
127 REGAN.
128 If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
129 Which can pursue th’offender. How dost, my lord?
130 GLOUCESTER.
131 O madam, my old heart is crack’d, it’s crack’d!
132 REGAN.
133 What, did my father’s godson seek your life?
134 He whom my father nam’d? your Edgar?
135 GLOUCESTER.
136 O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
137 REGAN.
138 Was he not companion with the riotous knights
139 That tend upon my father?
140 GLOUCESTER.
141 I know not, madam; ’tis too bad, too bad.
142 EDMUND.
143 Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
144 REGAN.
145 No marvel then though he were ill affected:
146 ’Tis they have put him on the old man’s death,
147 To have the expense and waste of his revenues.
148 I have this present evening from my sister
149 Been well inform’d of them; and with such cautions
150 That if they come to sojourn at my house,
151 I’ll not be there.
152 CORNWALL.
153 Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
154 Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
155 A childlike office.
156 EDMUND.
157 It was my duty, sir.
158 GLOUCESTER.
159 He did bewray his practice; and receiv’d
160 This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
161 CORNWALL.
162 Is he pursued?
163 GLOUCESTER.
164 Ay, my good lord.
165 CORNWALL.
166 If he be taken, he shall never more
167 Be fear’d of doing harm: make your own purpose,
168 How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,
169 Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
170 So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
171 Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
172 You we first seize on.
173 EDMUND.
174 I shall serve you, sir, truly, however else.
175 GLOUCESTER.
176 For him I thank your grace.
177 CORNWALL.
178 You know not why we came to visit you?
179 REGAN.
180 Thus out of season, threading dark-ey’d night:
181 Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
182 Wherein we must have use of your advice.
183 Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
184 Of differences, which I best thought it fit
185 To answer from our home; the several messengers
186 From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
187 Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
188 Your needful counsel to our business,
189 Which craves the instant use.
190 GLOUCESTER.
191 I serve you, madam:
192 Your graces are right welcome.
193 [_Exeunt. Flourish._]