ACT II
SCENE I GLOUCESTER's castle.


 [Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him]

EDMUND Save thee, Curan.

CURAN 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.

EDMUND How comes that?

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

EDMUND Not I pray you, what are they?

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

EDMUND Not a word.

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

 [Exit]

EDMUND 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!
 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.

EDGAR                   I am sure on't, not a word.

EDMUND 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]

 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]

GLOUCESTER Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

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

GLOUCESTER But where is he?

EDMUND Look, sir, I bleed.

GLOUCESTER Where is the villain, Edmund?

EDMUND Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could--

GLOUCESTER Pursue him, ho! Go after.

 [Exeunt some Servants]

       By no means what?

EDMUND 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:
 But 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.

GLOUCESTER 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.

EDMUND 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
 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
 My very character,--I'ld turn it all
 To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:
 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.'

GLOUCESTER Strong and fasten'd 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 the 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]

CORNWALL How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
 Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

REGAN If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
 Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

GLOUCESTER O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd!

REGAN What, did my father's godson seek your life?
 He whom my father named? your Edgar?

GLOUCESTER O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

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

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

EDMUND Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

REGAN No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:
 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
 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,
 I'll not be there.

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

EDMUND 'Twas my duty, sir.

GLOUCESTER He did bewray his practise; and received
 This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

CORNWALL Is he pursued?

GLOUCESTER                   Ay, my good lord.

CORNWALL 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
 So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
 Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
 You we first seize on.

EDMUND I shall serve you, sir,
 Truly, however else.

GLOUCESTER For him I thank your grace.

CORNWALL You know not why we came to visit you,--

REGAN 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 least thought it fit
 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.

GLOUCESTER I serve you, madam:
 Your graces are right welcome.

 [Exeunt]




 KING LEAR


ACT II