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 I. A Court within the Castle of the Earl of GLOUCESTER.

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

Albany?

Edm. Not a word.

and

Cur. You may do then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit. Edm. The duke be here tonight! 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 queasy question,

Which I must act. Briefness and fortune, work!

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.