Edmund.

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 Dutchess, will be here with him this night.

Edm.

How comes that?

Cur.

Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones; for they are yet but ear-kissing* ^note arguments.

Edm.

Not I; pray you, what are they?

Cur.

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

Edm.

Not a word.

Cur.

You may do 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 * ^notequeazy question
Which I must act. Briefness, and fortune work!
Brother, a word. Descend. Brother, I say;— Enter Edgar.
My father watches; O Sir, fly this place,
Intelligence is giv'n where you are hid;
You've now the good advantage of the night—
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither, now i'th' night, i'th' haste,
And Regan with him; ^{1 note}

Edg.
I'm 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 hoa, here!
Fly, brother—Torches!—So farewel— [Ex. Edgar.]
Some blood, drawn on me, would beget opinion [Wounds his arm.
Of my more fierce endeavour. I've seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. Father! father!
Stop, stop. No help? To him, Enter Glo'ster, and servants with torches.

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

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

^{2 note}Mumbling of wicked Charms, conj'ring the moon
To stand's auspicious mistress.

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.—By no means, what?

Edm.
Persuade me to the murther of your lordship;
But that, I told him, the revenging Gods
'Gainst Parricides did all ^{3 note}their thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to th' father.—Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly opposite I stood
To his unnat'ral purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd my arm;
And when he saw my best alarmed spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to th' encounter,
Or whether ^{4 note}gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo.
Let him fly far;
^{5 note}

By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he, who finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the ^{6 note}murtherous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death.

Edm.
When I disswaded him from his intent,
^{7 note}And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him. He replied,
Thou unpossessing Bastard! do'st thou think,
If I would stand against thee, ^{8 note}would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Make thy words faith'd? no; when I should deny,
As this I would, although thou didst produce
My very character, I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice;
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. [Trumpets within.

Glo.
O ^{9 note}strange, fasten'd villain!
Would he deny his letter?—I never got him.—
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
I will send far and near, that all the Kingdom
May have due note of him. And of my land,
Loyal and natural Boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

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