Corn.

Post speedily to my lord your husband; shew him this letter:—the army of France is landed:— Seek out the traitor Gloster.

Reg.

Hang him instantly.

Gon.

Pluck out his eyes.

Corn.

Leave him to my displeasure.—Edmund, keep you our sister company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father, are not fit for your beholding. Advise the duke, when you are going, to a most festinate preparation; we are

bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift, and intelligent betwixt us^{2 note}

. Farewel, dear sister;— farewel, ^{3 note}my lord of Gloster.

How now? Where's the king?

Stew.
My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him hence:
Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
^{4 note}Hot questrists after him, met him at gate;
Who, with some other of the lord's dependants,
Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast
To have well-armed friends.

Corn.
Get horses for your mistress.

Gon.
Farewel, sweet lord, and sister. [Exeunt Goneril, and Edmund.

Corn.
Edmund, farewel.—Go, seek the traitor Gloster,
Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us:—
^{5 note}

Without the form of justice; yet our power
Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men
May blame, but not controul. Who's there? The traitor? Enter Gloster, brought in by servants.

Reg.
Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn.
Bind fast his ^{6 note}

Glo.
What mean your graces?—Good my friends, consider
You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.

Corn.
Bind him, I say, [They bind him.

Reg.
Hard, hard:—O filthy traitor!

Glo.
Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none.

Corn.
To this chair bind him:—Villain, thou shalt find— [Regan plucks his beard.

Glo.
^{7 note}

Reg.
So white, and such a traitor!

Glo.
Naughty lady,
These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin,
Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host;
With robbers' hands, ^{8 note}

Corn.
Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?

Reg.
^{9 note}Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth.

Corn.
And what confederacy have you with the traitors

Late footed in the kingdom?

Reg.
To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king?
Speak.

Glo.
I have a letter guessingly set down,
Which came from one that's of a neutral heart,
And not from one oppos'd.

Corn.
Cunning.

Reg.
And false.

Corn.
Where hast thou sent the king?

Glo.
To Dover.

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover?
Wast thou not charg'd at peril—

Corn.
Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.

Glo.
^{9 note}

I'm ty'd to the stake, and I must stand ^{1 note}the course.

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover?

Glo.
Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs^{2 note}

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd ^{3 note}

Corn.
See it shalt thou never:—Fellows, hold the chair:—
Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot^{5 note}

Glo.
He, that will think to live 'till he be old,
Give me some help:—O cruel! O ye gods!

Reg.
One side will mock another; the other too.

Corn.
If you see vengeance,—

Serv.
Hold your hand, my lord:
I have serv'd you ever since I was a child;
But better service have I never done you,
Than now to bid you hold.

Reg.
How now, you dog?

Serv.
If you did wear a beard upon your chin,

I'd shake it on this quarrel: What do you mean?

Corn.
My villain^{6 note}! [Draws, and runs at him.

Serv.
Nay, then come on, and take the chance of anger. [Fight; Cornwall is wounded.

Reg. [To another servant.]
Give me thy sword.—A peasant stand up thus! [Comes behind, and kills him.

Serv.
O, I am slain!—My lord, yet you have one eye left
To see some mischief on him:—O! [Dies.

Corn.
Lest it see more, prevent it:—Out, vile jelly!
Where is thy lustre now? [Treads the other out.

Glo.
All dark and comfortless.—Where's my son Edmund?
Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature,
To quit this horrid act.

Reg.
Out, treacherous villain!
Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he
That made the overture of thy treasons to us;
Who is too good to pity thee.

Glo.
O my follies!
Then Edgar was abus'd.—
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!

Reg.
Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover.—How is't, my lord? How look you?

Corn.
I have receiv'd a hurt:—Follow me, lady.—
Turn out that eyeless villain;—throw this slave
Upon the dunghill.—Regan, I bleed apace:
Untimely comes this hurt: Give me your arm. [Exit Cornwall, led by Regan;—Servants lead Gloster out.

1st Serv.
^{7 note}

If this man come to good,

2d Serv.
If she live long,
And, in the end, meet the old course of death,9Q1091
Women will all turn monsters.

1st Serv.
Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam
To lead him where he would; his roguish madness
Allows itself to any thing.

2d Serv.
Go thou; I'll fetch ^{8 note}