928795Bast. Saue thee Curan.

929796Curan. And you sir, I haue beene with your father, and giuen

930797him notice, that the Duke of Cornwall and his Dutchesse will be

932798here with him to night.

933799Bast. How comes that?

934800Curan. Nay I know not, you haue heard of the newes abroad,

935801I meane the whisperd ones, for there are yet but eare-bussing ar-

936802guments.

937803Bast. Not, I pray you what are they?

941804Curan. You may then in time, fare you well sir.

943806Bast. The Duke be here to night! the better best, this weaues

944807it selfe perforce into my businesse, my father hath set guard to

945808take my brother, & I haue one thing of a quesie question, which

947810must aske breefenesse and fortune helpe; brother a word, dis-

949811cend brorher I say, my father watches, O flie this place, inte[l]li-

951812gence is giuen where you are hid, you haue now the good ad-

952813uantage of the night, haue you not spoken against the Duke of

953814Cornwall ought, hee's coming hether now in the night , it'h haste,

955815and Regan with him, haue you nothing saide vpon his party a-

956816gainst the Duke of Albaney, aduise your --------

958817Edg. I am sure on't not a word.

959818Bastard. I heare my father comming, pardon me in crauing, I

960819must draw my sword vpon you, seeme to defend your selfe, now

962820quit you well, yeeld, come before my father, light heere heere,

964821flie brother flie, torches, torches, so farwell; some bloud drawne

966822on me would beget opinion of my more fierce endeuor, I haue

967823seene drunkards do more then this in sport; father, father, stop,

969824stop, no helpe?

971826Glost. Now Edmund, where's the villaine?

972827Bast. Heere stood he in the darke, his sharpe sword out, warb-

973828ling of wicked charmes, coniuring the Moone to stand his auspi-

974829cious Mistris.

975830Glost. But where is he?

976831Bast. Looke sir, I bleed.

977832Glost. Where is the villaine, Edmund?

978833Bast. Fled this way sir, when by no meanes he could -------

979834Glost. Pursue him, go after, by no meanes, what?

980835Bast. Perswade me to the murder of your Lordship, but that

981836I tolde him the reuengiue Gods, gainst Paracides did all their

982837thunders bend, spoke with how many fould and strong a bond

984838the child was bound to the father; sir, in a fine, seeing how loth-

985839ly opposite I stood to his vnnaturall purpose, with fell motion

987840with his prepared sword, he charges home my vnprouided bo-

988841dy, launcht mine arme; but when he saw my best alarumd spirits

990842bold in the quarrels right, rouzd to the encounter, or whether

991843gasted by the noise I made, but sodainly he fled.

993844Glost. Let him flie farre, not in this Land shall he remaine vn-

994845caught and found; dispatch, the Noble Duke my master, my

996846worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, by his authority I will

997847proclaime it, that he which findes him shall deserue our thankes,

999848bringing the murderous caytiffe to the stake, he that conceales

1000849him, death.

1001850Bast. When I disswaded him from his intent, and found him

1002851pight to do it, with curst speech I threatned to discouer him; he

1003852replied, Thou vnpossessing bastard, dost thou thinke, if I would

1005853stand against thee, could the reposure of any trust, vertue, or

1006854worth in thee make thy words faith'd? no: what I should deny,

1008855as this I would, I, thogh thou didst produce my very character,

1009856ide turne it all to thy suggestion, plot, and damned pretence, and

1011857thou must make a dullard of the world, if they not thought the

1012858profits of my death were very pregnant and potentiall spurres to

1014859make thee seeke it.

1015860Glost. Strong and fastened villaine, would he deny his letter?

1017861I neuer got him: harke, the Dukes trumpets, I know not why he

862comes; all Ports ile barre, the villaine shall not scape, the Duke

1019863must grant me that: besides, his picture I wil send far and neere,

1020864that all the kingdome may haue note of him, and of my land,

1022865(loyall and naturall boy) ile worke the meanes to make thee ca-

1023866pable.

1025868Corn. How now my noble friend, since I came hether, which

1026869I can call but now, I haue heard strange newes.

1027870Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short which can

1028871pursue the offender; how dost my Lord?

1029872Glost. Madam, my old heart is crakt, is crakt.

1030873Reg. What, did my fathers godson seeke your life? he whom

1031874my father named your Edgar

1032875Glost. I Lady, Lady, shame would haue it hid.

1033876Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous Knights that

1034877tends vpon my father?

1035878Glost. I know not Madam, tis too bad, too bad.

1036879Bast. Yes madam, he was.

1037880Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill affected,

1038881Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,

1039882To haue these ------- and waste of this his reuenues:

1040883I haue this present euening from my sister

1041884Beene well inform'd of them, and with such cautions,

1042885That if they come to soiourne at my house, ile not be there.

1044886Duke. Nor I, assure thee Regan; Edmund, I heard that you haue

1045887shewne your father a child-like office.

1047888Bast. Twas my duty sir.

1048889Glost. He did betray his practise, and receiued

1049890This hurt you see, striuing to apprehend him.

1050891Duke. Is he pursued?

1051892Glost. I my good Lord.

1052893Duke. If he be taken, he shall neuer more be feard of doing

1053894harme, make your owne purpose how in my strength you please;

1054895for you Edmund, whose vertue and obedience doth this instant

1056896so much commend it selfe, you shall be ours, natures of such deep

1057897trust, we shall much need, you we first seize on.

1059898Bast. I shall serue you truely, how euer else.

1060899Glost. For him I thanke your Grace.

1061900Duke. You know not why we came to visite you?

1062901Regan. Thus out of season, threatning darke eide night,

1063902Occasions noble Glocester of some prize,

1064903Wherein we must haue vse of your aduice,

1065904Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

1066905Of defences, which I best thought it fit,

1067906To answer from our hand, the seuerall messengers

1068907From hence attend dispatch, our good old friend,

1069908Lay comforts to your bosome, & bestow your needfull counsell

1070909To our businesse, which craues the instant vse.

1072911Glo. I serue you Madam, your Graces are right welcome.