928786Bast. Saue thee Curan.

929787Curan. And you Sir, I haue beene 930with your father, and giuen

788him notice, 931that the Duke of Cornwall and his Dutches 932will bee

789here with him to night.

933790Bast. How comes that?

934791Curan. Nay, I know not, you haue heard of the newes 935abroad,

792I meane the whisperd ones, for there are yet but 936eare-bussing ar-

793guments.

937794Bast. Not, I pray you what are they?

938795Curan. Haue you heard of no likely warres towards, 939twixt

796the two Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

940797Bast. Not a word.

941798Curan. You may then in time, 942fare you well sir.

943799Bast. The Duke be here to night! the better best, 944this weaues

800

Enter Edgar

it selfe perforce into my busines, 945my father hath set gard to take

801my brother, 947and I haue one thing of a quesie question, which

802must aske breefnes and fortune helpe; 949brother, a word, discend

803brother I say, 950my father watches, O flie this place, 951intelligence

804is giuen where you are hid, 952you haue now the good aduantage

805of the night, 953haue you not spoken gainst the Duke of Cornwall

806ought, 954hee's coming hether now in the night, it'h hast, 955and Re-

807gan with him, haue you nothing said 956vpon his partie against the

808Duke of Albany, 957aduise your---

958809Edg. I am sure on't not a word.

959810Bast. I heare my father coming, pardon me 960in crauing, I must

811draw my sword vpon you, 961seeme to defend your selfe, 962now quit

812you well, 963yeeld, come before my father, light here, here, 964flie

813brother flie, torches, torches, so farwell; 966some bloud drawne

814on mee would beget opinion 967of my more fierce indeuour, I

815haue seene drunckards 968doe more then this in sport, father, father,

969816stop, stop, no, helpe? Enter Glost.

971817Glost. Now Edmund where is the villaine?

972818Bast. Here stood he in the darke, his sharpe sword out, 973warb-

819ling of wicked charms, coniuring the Moone 974to stand's auspici-

820ous Mistris. Glost. 975But where is he?

976821Bast. Looke sir, I bleed.

977822Glost. Where is the villaine Edmund?

978823Bast. Fled this way sir, when by no meanes he could---

979824Glost. Pursue him, go after, by no meanes, what?

980825Bast. Perswade me to the murder of your Lordship, but that

981826I told him the reuengiue Gods, 982gainst Paracides did all their

827thunders bend, 984spoke with how many fould and strong a bond

828the child was bound to the father, sir in a fine, 985seeing how loath-

829ly opposite I stood, 986to his vnnaturall purpose, with fell motion

987830with his prepared sword, hee charges home 988my vnprouided bo-

831dy, lancht mine arme, 989but when he saw my best alarumd spirits,

990832bould in the quarrels, rights, rousd to the encounter, 991or whether

833gasted by the noyse I made, 992but sodainly he fled.

993834Glost, Let him flie farre, 994not in this land shall hee remaine vn-

835caught 995and found, dispatch, the noble Duke my maister, 996my

836worthy Arch and Patron, comes to night, 997by his authoritie I will

837proclaime it, 998that he which finds him shall deserue our thankes,

999838bringing the murderous caytife to the stake, 1000hee that conceals

839him, death.

1001840Bast. When I disswaded him from his intent, 1002and found him

841pight to doe it, with curst speech 1003I threatned to discouer him, he

842replyed, 1004thou vnpossessing Bastard, dost thou thinke, 1005if I would

843stand against thee, could the reposure 1006of any trust, vertue, or

844worth in thee 1007make thy words fayth'd? no. what I should denie,

1008845as this I would, I, though thou didst produce 1009my very character,

846id'e turne it all 1010to thy suggestion, plot, and damned pretence,

1011847and thou must make a dullard of the world, 1012if they not thought

848the profits of my death, 1013were very pregnant and potentiall

849spurres 1014to make thee seeke it.

1015850Glost. Strong and fastned villaine, 1016would he denie his letter,

851I neuer got him, 1017harke the Dukes trumpets, I know not why he

852comes, 1018all Ports ile barre, the villaine shall not scape, 1019the Duke

853must grant mee that, besides, his picture 1020I will send farre and

854neere, that all the kingdome 1021may haue note of him, and of my

855land 1022loyall and naturall boy, ile worke the meanes 1023to make thee

856capable.

1025858Corn. How now my noble friend, since I came hether, 1026which

859I can call but now, I haue heard strange newes.

1027860Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short 1028which can

861pursue the offender, how dost my Lord?

1029862Glost. Madam my old heart is crackt, is crackt.

1030863Reg. What, did my fathers godson seeke your life? 1031he whom

864my father named your Edgar?

1032865Glost. I Ladie, Ladie, shame would haue it hid.

1033866Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous knights, 1034that

867tends vpon my father?

1035868Glost. I know not Madam, tis too bad, too bad.

1036869Bast. Yes Madam, he was.

1037870Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill affected,

1038871Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,

1039872To haue the wast and spoyle of his reuenues:

1040873I haue this present euening from my sister,

1041874Beene well inform'd of them, and with such cautions,

1042875That if they come to soiourne at my house, 1043ile not be there.

1044876Duke. Nor I, assure thee Regan; Edmund, 1045I heard that you

877haue shewen your father 1046a child-like office.

1047878Bast. Twas my dutie Sir.

1048879Glost. He did betray his practise, and receiued

1049880This hurt you see, striuing to apprehend him.

1050881Duke. Is he pursued? Glost. 1051I my good Lord.

1052882Duke. If he be taken, he shall neuer more 1053be feard of doing

883harme, make your own purpose 1054how in my strength you please,

884for you Edmund, 1055whose vertue and obedience, doth this instant

1056885so much commend it selfe, you shall bee ours, 1057natures of such

886deepe trust, wee shall much need 1059you, we first seaze on.

887Bast. I shall serue you truly, how euer else.

1060888Glost. For him I thanke your grace.

1061889Duke. You know not why we came to visit you?

1062890Regan. Thus out of season, threatning darke ey'd night,

1063891Ocasions noble Gloster of some prise,

1064892Wherein we must haue vse of your aduise,

1065893Our Father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

1066894Of diferences, which I lest thought it fit,

1067895To answer from our home, the seuerall messengers

1068896From hence attend dispatch, our good old friend,

1069897Lay comforts to your bosome, & bestow 1070your needfull councell

898To our busines, 1071which craues the instant vse. (Exeunt.

1072899Glost. I serue you Madam, 1073your Graces are right welcome.