I. i. 280 290 300 Cor. The Iewels of our Father, with wash'd eies And like a Sifter am moft loth to call Your faults as they are named. Loue well our Father: But yet alas, stood I within his Grace, I would prefer him to a better place, So farewell to you both. Regn. Prefcribe not vs our dutie. Gon. Let your study Be to content your Lord, who hath receiu'd you And well are worth the want that you haue wanted: Well may you prosper. Fra. Come my faire Cordelia. Exit France and Cor. Gon. Sifter, it is not little I haue to fay, (with vs. Reg. That's most certaine, and with you: next moneth Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is, the obferuation we haue made of it hath beene little; he alwaies lou'd our Sifter most, and with what poore iudgement he hath now caft her off, appeares too groffely. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath euer but flenderly knowne himselfe. Gon. The beft and foundest of his time hath bin but rash, then must we looke from his age, to receiue not alone the imperfections of long ingraffed condition, but therewithall the vnruly way-wardneffe, that infirme and cholericke yeares bring with them. Reg. Such vnconstant starts are we like to haue from him, as this of Kents banifhment. Gon. There is further complement of leaue-taking betweene France and him, pray you let vs fit together, if our Father carry authority with fuch difpofition as he beares, 310 this laft furrender of his will but offend vs. Reg. We fhall further thinke of it. Gon. We must do something, and i'th' heate. Exeunt. I. ii. Enter Baftard Solus. Baft. Thou Nature art my Goddeffe, to thy law my feruices are bound, wherefore should I stand in the plague of custome, and permit the curiofitie of nations to depriue me, for that I am fome twelue or 14. mooneshines lag of a brother, why bastard? wherfore bafe, when my dementions are as well compact, my mind as generous, and my fhape as true as honeft madams iffue, 10 why brand they vs with base, base bastardie? who in the lufty stealth of nature, take more compofition and feirce quality, then doth within a stale dull lyed bed, goe to the creating of a whole tribe of fops got tweene a fleepe and wake; well the legitimate Edgar, I muft haue your land, our Fathers loue is to the bastard Edmund, as to the legitimate, well my legitimate, if this letter 20 fpeede, and my inuention thriue, Edmund the bafe fhall tooth'legitimate: I grow, I profper, now Gods ftand vp for Bastards. 30 Enter Glofter. Gloft. Kent banifht thus, and France in choller parted, and the King gone to night, fubfcribd his power, confined to exhibition, all this donne vpon the gadde; Edmund how now what newes? Bast. So please your Lordship, none. Gloft. Why fo earnestly feeke you to put vp that letter? Baft. I know no newes my Lord. Gloft. What paper were you reading? Baft. Nothing my Lord, Gloft. No, what needes then that terribe dispatch of it into [12 your pocket, the qualitie of nothing hath not fuch need to hide it felfe, lets fee, come if it bee nothing I shall not neede fpectacles. Ba. I beseech you Sir pardon me, it is a letter from my brother, 40 that I haue not all ore read, for fo much as I haue perufed, I find it not fit for your liking. I. ii. 10 20 30 Scena Secunda. Enter Bastard. Baft. Thou Nature art my Goddeffe, to thy Law Stand in the plague of custome, and permit The curiofity of Nations, to depriue me? For that I am fome twelue, or fourteene Moonshines My minde as generous, and my shape as true As honeft Madams iffue? Why brand they vs With Bafe? With bafenes Barftadie? Bafe, Bafe? More compofition, and fierce qualitie, Enter Gloucefter. Glo. Kent banifh'd thus? and France in choller parted? Vpon the gad? Edmond, how now? What newes? Baft. So please your Lordship, none. Glou. Why fo earnestly seeke you to put vp y Letter? Glou. What Paper were you reading? Glou. No? what needed then that terrible dispatch of Baft. I beseech you Sir, pardon mee; it is a Letter from my Brother, that I haue not all ore-read; and for fo 40 much as I haue perus'd, I finde it not fit for your ore-loo king. [286a I. ii. Gloft. Giue me the letter fir. Baft, I fhall offend either to detaine or giue it, the contents as in part I vnderstand them, are too blame. Gloft. Lets fee, lets fee? Baft. I hope for my brothers iuftification, he wrot this but Gloft. This policie of age makes the world bitter to the best 50 of our times, keepes our fortunes from vs till our oldnes cannot relish them, I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppreffion of aged tyranny, who fwaies not as it hath power, but as it is fuffered, come to me, that of this I may speake more, if our father would fleepe till I wakt him, you should inioy halfe his reuenew for euer, and liue the beloued of your brother Edgar. Hum, confpiracie, flept till I wakt him, you should enioy halfe 60 his reuenew, my fonne Edgar, had hee a hand to write this, а hart, and braine to breed it in, when came this to you, who brought it? Baft. It was not brought me my Lord, ther's the cunning of it, I found it throwne in at the cafement of my closet. Gloft. You know the Caractar to be your brothers? Glost. It is his? Baft. It is his hand my Lord, but I hope his heart is not in the contents. Gloft. Hath he neuer heretofore fouded you in this bufines? Baft. Neuer my Lord, but I haue often heard him maintaine it to be fit, that fons at perfit age, & fathers declining, his father fhould be as ward to the fonne, and the fonne mannage the re uenew. Gloft. O villaine, villaine, his very opinion in the letter, abhorred villaine, vnnaturall detefted brutifh villaine, worse then brutish, go fir feeke him, I apprehend him, abhominable villaine where is he? Baft. I doe not well know my Lord, if it shall please you to fufpend your indignation against my brother, til you can deriue from him better teftimony of this intent: you should run a certaine course, where if you violently proceed against him, miftaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your owne [13 I. ii. Glou. Giue me the Letter, Sir. Baft. I fhall offend, either to detaine, or giue it: Are too blame. Glou. Let's fee, let's fee. Baft. I hope for my Brothers iuftification, hee wrote this but as an essay, or taste of my Vertue. Glou. reads. This policie, and reuerence of Age, makes the 50 world bitter to the best of our times: keepes our Fortunes from vs, till our oldnesse cannot rellish them. I begin to finde an idle and fond bondage, in the oppression of aged tyranny, who swayes not as it hath power, but as it is fuffer'd. Come to me, that of this I may Speake more. If our Father would fleepe till I wak'd him, you should enioy halfe his Reuennew for euer, and liue the beloued of your Brother. Edgar. Hum? Confpiracy? Sleepe till I wake him, you should 60 enioy halfe his Reuennew: my Sonne Edgar, had hee a hand to write this? A heart and braine to breede it in? When came you to this? Who brought it? 70 80 90 Baft. It was not brought mee, my Lord; there's the cunning of it. I found it throwne in at the Cafement of my Cloffet. Glou. You know the character to be your Brothers? Baft. If the matter were good my Lord, I durft fwear. it were his: but in respect of that, I would faine thinke it were not. Glou. It is his. Baft. It is his hand, my Lord: but I hope his heart is not in the Contents. L Glo. Has he neuer before founded you in this busines? Baft. Neuer my Lord. But I haue heard him oft maintaine it to be fit, that Sonnes at perfect age, and Fathers declin'd, the Father fhould bee as Ward to the Son, and the Sonne manage his Reuennew. Glou. O Villain, villain: his very opinion in the Letter. Abhorred Villaine, vnnaturall, detefted, brutish Villaine; worse then brutifh: Go firrah, feeke him: Ile apprehend him. Abhominable Villaine, where is he? Baft. I do not well know my L. If it fhall please you to fufpend your indignation against my Brother, til you can deriue from him better testimony of his intent, you shold run a certaine courfe: where, if you violently proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great |