Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?

Edm. Not I. Pray you, what are they?

10

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

sir.

Edm. Not a word.

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

[Exit. 15 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; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, Which I must act. Briefness and fortune, work!

Enter EDGAR.

Brother, a word; descend. Brother, I say!
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,

20

24

30

9. ear-kissing=whispered. arguments=topics; cf. I, i,

28. Upon his party on his side. Edmund confuses Edgar by asking first if he has spoken against Cornwall, and then if he has not spoken on Cornwall's side.

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 35

[Wounds his arm.] Of my more fierce endeavour. I have seen drunkards Do more than this in sport. Father, father! Stop, stop! — No help?

Enter GLOUCESTER and Servants, with torches. Glou. Now, Edmund, where's the villain ?

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon 41
To stand auspicious mistress, -
Glou.

But where is he?
Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.
Glou.

Where is the villain, Edmund ? Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he

could — Glou. Pursue him, ho! Go after. [Exeunt some Servants.] By no means what?

45 Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him, the revenging gods 'Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend; Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond The child was bound to the father ; sir, in fine, 50 Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

37. Do more than this in sport: to inflict slight wounds was sometimes viewed as a piece of gallantry by Elizabethan revellers.

51. how loathly opposite I stood: with what abhorrence I opposed.

61

To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, latch'd mine arm;
And when he saw my best alarum'd spirits, 55
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.
Glou.

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.
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.

65 Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent, And found him pight to do it, with curst speech I threaten'd to discover him; he replied, “Thou unpossessing bastard ! dost thou think, If I would stand against thee, would the reposal 70 Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee Make thy words faith'd ? No! what I should deny, As this I would ; ay, though thou didst produce

52. motion=attack, thrust, a term in fencing. 54. latch'd : Qs. have lancht=lanced.

55. best alarum'd=thoroughly aroused. Shakespeare mixes his constructions here : “And when he saw ... or whether gasted.”

57. gasted=frightened. 63. he which : which for who was not uncommon in Eliza

bethan usage.

67. pight=fixed.

69. unpossessing : incapable of possessing property because of his illegitimacy.

My very character, - I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice; 75
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."
Glou.

O strange and fast'ned villain! Would he deny his letter? [I never got him.] 80

[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, 85 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 90 Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord ? Glou. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's

crack'd !

74. character : cf. I, ii, 66.
75. practice=plotting. Cf. I, ii, 198.
78. pregnant and potential=ready and powerful.
79. fast'ned=hardened.

83. his picture: this practice was common long before the invention of photography.

86. natural: with reference to the two meanings of the word, illegitimate and affectionate.

87. capable: a legal usage=capable of inheriting.

Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life? He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar? Glou. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid !

95 Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous

knights That tended upon my father?

Glou. 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, 101 To have the expense and waste of his revenues. I have this present evening from my sister Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions, That if they come to sojourn at my house,

105 I'll not be there. Corn.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A child-like office.
Edm.

’T was my duty, sir.
Glou. He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

110 Corn. Is he pursued ? Glou.

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, Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant 115 So much commend itself, you shall be ours.

99. consort=company. 109. bewray=betray.

114. How in my strength you please: however within my power you please.