Yield:-come before my father.-Light, ho,

here!

Fly, brother.-Torches, torches !-So, farewell.

[Exit EDGAR. Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen

drunkards

[Wounds his arm.

Do more than this in sport.-Father, father!

Stop, stop! No help?

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, conjuring the moon To stand auspicious mistress,--

Glo. Pursue him, ho!-Go after. [Exit Ser

vant.]-By no means—w
-what?

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of

your lord

ship;

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 preparéd sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced my arm :
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to th' encounter,
Or whether ghasted by the noise I made,

Full suddenly he fled.

Glo.

Let him fly far:

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;

And found despatch. The noble duke my

master,

My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward 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
I threatened to discover him; he replied,
'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal

Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee

Make thy words faithed? 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 damnéd 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.'

Glo.

Strong and fastened villain!

Would he deny his letter?—I never got him.

[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
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, my lord?

Glo. O, madam, my old heart is cracked-it's 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. Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights

That tend upon my father?

Glo. I know not, madam, 't is too bad, too

bad.

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

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected: "T is they have put him on the old man's death, To have th' expense and waste 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.

18-E

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

67

Edmund, I hear that

you have shown your father

A child-like office.

Edm.

"T was 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,

For him I thank your grace.

Corn. You know not why we came to visit

you,

Reg. Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed

night;

Occasions, noble Gloster, 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