Save thee Curan.

And you, sir. I have been 930with your father, and given him notice 931that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his Duchess 932will be here with him this night.

How comes that?

Nay I know not. You have heard of the news abroad, 935I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but 936ear-kissing arguments.

Not I. Pray you what are they?

Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 939twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Not a word.

You may do then in time. 942Fare you well, sir.

The Duke be here tonight? The better--best.

944This weaves itself perforce into my business,

945My father hath set guard to take my brother,

946And I have one thing of a queasy question

947Which I must act. Briefness, and fortune work.

949Brother, a word. Descend. Brother, I say,

950My father watches.

My father watches. O sir, fly this place!

951Intelligence is given where you are hid.

952You have now the good advantage of the night.

953Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

954He's coming hither, now i'th'night, i'th'haste,

955And Regan with him. Have you nothing said

956Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?

957Advise yourself.

Advise yourself. I am sure on't. Not a word.

I hear my father coming. Pardon me--

960In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you.

961Draw! Seem to defend yourself. 962Now quit you well.

963[Shouting] Yield! Come before my father. Light, ho, here!

964[To Edgar] Fly, brother.--[Shouting] Torches, torches! [To Edgar] So farewell.

966[Wounding his arm] Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

967Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards

968Do more than this in sport. [Shouting] Father, father!

969Stop, stop! No help?

Stop, stop! No help? Now Edmund, where's the villain?

Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,

973Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon

974To stand auspicious mistress.

But where is he?

Look sir, I bleed.

Where is the villain, Edmund?

Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could--

Pursue him, ho! Go after.

Pursue him, ho! Go after. [To the Bastard] By no means what?

Persuade me to the murder of your lordship.

981But that I told him the revenging gods

982'Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend;

983Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond

984The child was bound to'th'father. Sir, in fine,

985Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

986To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion

987With his preparèd sword he charges home

988My unprovided body, latched mine arm.

989And when he saw my best alarumed spirits,

990Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to th'encounter--

991Or whether gasted by the noise I made--

992Full suddenly he fled.

Full suddenly he fled. Let him fly far.

994Not in this land shall he remain uncaught--

995And found, dispatch! The noble Duke my master,

996My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.

997By his authority I will proclaim it.

998That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,

999Bringing the murderous coward to the stake.

1000He that conceals him, death.

When I dissuaded him from his intent

1002And found him pitched to do it, with curst speech

1003I threatened to discover him. He replied,

1004"Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think,

1005If I would stand against thee, would the reposal

1006Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

1007Make thy words faithed? No. What should I deny,

1008As this I would, though thou didst produce

1009My very character, I'd turn it all

1010To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice.

1011And thou must make a dullard of the world,

1012If they not thought the profits of my death

1013Were very pregnant and potential spirits

1014To make thee seek it."

To make thee seek it." Oh, strange and fastened villain!

1016Would he deny his letter, said he?

851I never got him.

1017Hark, the Duke's trumpets. I know not why he comes.

1018All ports I'll bar. The villain shall not scape;

1019The Duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture

1020I will send far and near that all the kingdom

1021May have due note of him. And of my land,

1022Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means

1023To make thee capable.

How now, my noble friend. Since I came hither,

1026Which I can call but now, I have heard strangeness.

If it be true, all vengeance comes too short

1028Which can pursue th'offender. How dost, my lord?

O madam, my old heart is cracked, it's cracked.

What, did my father's godson seek your life?

1031He whom my father named, your Edgar?

O lady, lady, shame would have it hid.

Was he not companion with the riotous knights

1034That tended upon my father?

I know not, madam. 'Tis too bad, too bad.

Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

No marvel, then, though he were ill affected,

1038'Tis they have put him on the old man's death

1039To have th'expense and waste of his revenues.

1040I have this present evening from my sister

1041Been well informed of them, and with such cautions,

1042That if they come to sojourn at my house

1043I'll not be there.

I'll not be there. Nor I, assure thee Regan;

1045Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father

1046A child-like office.

A child-like office. It was my duty, sir.

He did bewray his practice, and received

1049This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Is he pursued?

Ay, my good lord.

If he be taken, he shall never more

1053Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose

1054How, in my strength, you please. For you, Edmund,

1055Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant

1056So much commend itself, you shall be ours.

1057Natures of such deep trust we shall much need.

1058You we first seize on.

I shall serve you, sir, truly, however else.

For him I thank your grace.

You know not why we came to visit you?

Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night?

1063Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some prize,

1064Wherein we must have use of your advice.

1065Our father, he hath writ--so hath our sister--

1066Of differences which I best thought it fit

1067To answer from our home. The several messengers

1068From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,

1069Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow

1070Your needful counsel to our businesses,

1071Which craves the instant use.

I serve you, madam. 1073Your graces are right welcome.