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  • Title: King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
  • Editor: Michael Best
  • Textual editors: James D. Mardock, Eric Rasmussen
  • Coordinating editor: Michael Best

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-463-9

    Copyright Michael Best. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Michael Best
    Not Peer Reviewed

    King Lear (Modern, Quarto)

    [Act 2, scene 1 in Folio]
    [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.
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