Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad! Enter Gentleman. How now! are the horses ready? Gent. Ready, my lord. Lear. Come, boy. Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE 1. 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 this 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 do, 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; Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work! descend: --- brother, I say! My father watches: Enter EDGAR. O sir, fly this place; Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall? Edg. pardon me; In cunning I must draw my sword upon you: Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion So, farewell. [Exit Edgar. [Wounds his arm. Father, father! Of my more fierce endeavour: I've seen drunkards 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, cónjuring the moon To stand auspicious mistress, Glo. Edm. Look, sir, I bleed. Edm. Fled this way, sir. But where is he? Where is the villain, Edmund? When by no means he couldGo after. [Exeunt some Servants.] 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, Full suddenly he fled. Glo. 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: That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent, Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny, I'd turn it all To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice: Glo. [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 Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither, Which I can call but now, I've heard strange news. Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue th' offender. How dost, my lord? Glo. O madam, my old heart is crack'd, - it's 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 father? Glo. I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad. Reg. No marvel, then, though he were ill affected: Corn. Glo. He did bewray his practice: and receiv'd Glo. Ay, my good lord. 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, So much commend itself, you shall be ours: 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, Wherein we must have use of your advice: - Of differences, which I best thought it fit To answer from our home; the several messengers Your needful counsel to our business, Which craves the instant use. Glo. Your graces are right welcome. I serve you, madam: [Exeunt. SCENE II. Before GLOSTER's castle. Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally. Osw. Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house? Kent. Ay. Osw. Where may we set our horses? Kent. I' the mire. Osw. Prithee, if thou lovest me, Kent. I love thee not. tell me. Osw. Why, then, I care not for thee. Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me. Osw. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. Osw. What dost thou know me for? Kent. A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, |