Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Michael Best
Not Peer Reviewed

King Lear (Modern, Extended Quarto)

[Scene 6]
Enter [Edmund the] Bastard and Curan, meeting.
Bastard
Save thee, Curan.
Curan
And you, sir. I have been 930with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and his Duchess will be here with him tonight.
Bastard
How comes that?
Curan
Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news 935abroad, I mean the whispered ones, for there are yet but ear-bussing arguments.
Bastard
Not I. Pray you what are they?
Curan
Have you heard of no likely wars towards, twixt the two Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
940Bastard
Not a word.
Curan
You may, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
[Exit Curan.]
Bastard
The Duke be here tonight! The better--best.
This weaves itself perforce into my business.
Enter Edgar [above].
945My father hath set guard to take my brother,
And I have one thing of a queasy question
Which must ask briefness and fortune's help.
Brother, a word. Descend. Brother, I say.
[Edgar descends.]
950My father watches. Oh, 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 aught?
He's coming hither now in the night, i'th'haste,
955And Regan with him. Have you nothing said
Upon his party against the Duke of Albany?
Advise your--
Edgar
I am sure on't. Not a word.
Bastard
I hear my father coming. Pardon me.
960In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.
Seem to defend yourself. Now quit you well.--[Shouting]
Yield! Come before my father. Light here, here.--[To Edgar]
Fly, brother, fly.--[Shouting] Torches, torches! [To Edgar] So farewell.
965[Exit Edgar.]
[Wounding his arm] Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. [Shouting] Father, father!
Stop, stop! No help?
970Enter Gloucester [and attendants].
Gloucester
Now Edmund, where is the villain?
Bastard
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Warbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand's auspicious mistress.
975Gloucester
But where is he?
Bastard
Look sir, I bleed.
Gloucester
Where is the villain, Edmund?
Bastard
Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could--
Gloucester
Pursue him, go after.
[Exit attendant(s).]
[To the Bastard] By no means what?
980Bastard
Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
But that I told him the revengive 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,
985Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, with fell motion
With his preparèd sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced mine arm.
But when he saw my best alarumed spirits,
990Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter--
Or whether gasted by the noise I made--
But suddenly he fled.
Gloucester
Let him fly far.
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught--
995And found, dispatch! The noble Duke my master,
My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
By his authority I will proclaim it.
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous caitiff to the stake.
1000He that conceals him, death.
Bastard
When I dissuaded him from his intent
And found him pitched to do it, with curst speech
I threatened to discover him. He replied,
"Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think,
1005If I would stand against thee, could the reposure
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
1010To thy suggestion, plot, and damned pretense.
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."
1015Gloucester
Strong and fastened villain.
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.
[Trumpets sound.]
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
1020I will send far and near that all the kingdom
May have note of him. And of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.
Enter the Duke of Cornwall, [Regan, and attendants].
1025Cornwall
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
Madam, my old heart is cracked, is cracked.
1030Regan
What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father named, your Edgar?
Gloucester
Ay, lady, lady, shame would have it hid.
Regan
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?
1035Gloucester
I know not, madam. 'Tis too bad, too bad.
Bastard
Yes, madam, he was.
Regan
No marvel, then, though he were ill affected.
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the spoil and waste of his revenues.
1040I 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.
Cornwall
Nor I, assure thee Regan.
Edmund, 1045I heard that you have shown your father
A child-like office.
Bastard
'Twas my duty, sir.
Gloucester
He did betray his practice, and received
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
1050Cornwall
Is he pursued?
Gloucester
Ay, my good lord.
Cornwall
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,
1055Whose 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.
Bastard
I shall serve you truly,
However else.
1060Gloucester
For him I thank your grace.
Cornwall
You know not why we came to visit you?
Regan
This out-of-season, threatening, dark-eyed night?
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
Wherein we must have use of your advice.
1065Our 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
1070Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.
Gloucester
I serve you, madam.
Your graces are right welcome.
Exeunt.