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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, lanced mine arm :
And when he saw my best alarum'd spirits

Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

GLO.

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught:

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55

Let him fly far;

And found-d patch. The noble duke my master,
My worthy arch a patron, comes to-night:

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By his authority Iill proclaim it,

That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous caitiff 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

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I threatened to discover him he replied,

"Dost thou think,

If I would stand against thee, would the reposure

Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

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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

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."

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GLO.

O 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.

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,

y lord?

GLO. O, madam, my old heart is cracked, is cracked!
REG. What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father named? your Edgar?
GLO. O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

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85

90

REG. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father?

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GLO. I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.

EDM. Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

REG. No marvel then, though he were ill affected;

'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,

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To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.

I have this present evening from my sister

Been well informed of them, and with such cautions

That if they come to sojourn at my house

I'll not be there.

CORN. Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

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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 received

This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
CORN. Is he pursued?

GLO.

Ay, my good lord.

CORN. If he be taken, he shall never more

Be feared 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,

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For him I thank your grace.

CORN. You know not why we came to visit you—

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REG. Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:

Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,

Wherein we must have use of your advice:

Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

Of differences, which I best thought it fit

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To answer from our home; the several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.

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 lov'st me, tell me.

KENT. I love thee not.

Osw. Why then I care not for thee.

KENT. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make

thee care for me.

5

Osw. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. 10 KENT. Fellow, I know thee.

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, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking, 15 glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one that art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward; onetrunk-inheriting slave; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition.

Osw. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail 20 on one who is neither known of thee nor knows thee!

KENT. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou know'st me! Is it two days since I tripped up thy heels and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I'll make a sop o' 25 the moonshine of you, you cullionly barber-monger. Draw. [Drawing his sword.

Osw. Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

KENT. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the king, and take vanity the puppet's part, against the royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado 30 your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.

Osw. Help, ho! murder! help!

KENT. Strike, you slave; stand, rogue; stand, you neat slave, strike!

Osw. Help, ho, murder! murder!

[Beating him.

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KENT. Strike, you slave; stand, rogue; stand, you neat

slave, strike!