Edm.

Save thee, Curan.

Cur.

And you, sir. I have been with your father; and given him notice, that the duke of Cornwall, and Regan his duchess, will be here with him to-night.

Edm.

How comes that?

Cur.

Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing* ^note arguments^{9 note}?

Edm.

Not I; 'Pray you, what are they?

Cur.^{1 note}

Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm.

Not a word.

Cur.

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

Edm.
The duke be here to-night? The better! Best!
This weaves itself perforce into my business!
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queazy question^{2 note}

Which I must act:—Briefness, and fortune, work* ^note!—
Brother, a word;—descend:—Brother, I say; Enter Edgar.
My father watches:—O sir, 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?
He's coming hither; now, i' the night, i' the haste^{3 note}

,
And Regan with him; Have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany^{4 note}

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

Edm.
I hear my father coming,—Pardon me:—
In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you:—
Draw: Seem to defend yourself: Now quit you well.
Yield:—come before my father;—Light, ho, here!—
Fly, brother;—Torches! torches!—So, farewell.— [Exit Edgar.
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [Wounds his Arm.
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport^{6 note}
.—Father! father!
Stop, stop! No help? Enter Gloster, and Servants with Torches.

Glo.
Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm.
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon^{7 note}

Glo.
But where is he?

Edm.
Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo.
Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm.
Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could—

Glo.
Pursue him, ho!—Go after.— [Exit Serv.
By no means,—what?

Edm.
Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
But that I told him, the revenging* ^note gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders^{9 note} bend;
Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father;—Sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted^{1 note}

Glo.
Let him fly far:
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found—Dispatch.—The noble duke^{2 note}
my master,
My worthy arch^{3 note}

By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward^{4 note} to the stake;
He, that conceals him, death.

Edm.
When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech^{5 note}

Glo.
Strong and fasten'd villain^{1 note}

Corn.
How now, my noble friend? since I came hither,
(Which I can call but now,) I have heard strange news^{4 note}.

Reg.
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

Glo.
O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd!

Reg.
What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glo.
O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Reg.
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

Glo.
I know not, madam:
It is too bad, too bad.—

Edm.
Yes, madam, he was^{5 note}
.

Reg.
No marvel then, though he were ill affected;
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the waste and spoil of his revenues^{6 note}

Corn.
Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—

Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A child-like office.

Edm.
'Twas my duty, sir.

Glo.
He did bewray his practice^{7 note}

Corn.
Is he pursued?

Glo.
Ay, my good lord, he is^{8 note}.

Corn.
If he be taken, he shall never more
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
How in my strength you please.—For you, Edmund,
Whose virtue and obedience doth^{9 note} this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours;
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
You we first seize on.

Edm.
I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.

Glo.
For him I thank your grace^{1 note}

Corn.
You know not why we came to visit you,—

Reg.
Thus out of season; threading dark-ey'd night^{2 note}

Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize^{3 note}

Glo.
I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome. [Exeunt.

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