Edm. ^note

Save thee, Curan.

Cur.

And you ^note, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan ^note his duchess will be here with him this night ^note. ^note

Edm. ^note

How comes that?

Cur.

Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad, I mean the whispered ones, for they ^note are yet but ear-kissing ^note arguments?

Edm.

Not I: pray ^note you, what are they?

Cur.

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

Edm.

Not a word. ^note

Cur.

You may do ^note then in time. Fare you well, sir. ^note

^note

Edm.
The duke be here to-night? The better! best! ^note
This weaves itself perforce into my business.
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queasy ^note question,
Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work ^note!
Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say! Enter Edgar. ^note
My father watches: O sir ^note, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You have ^note now the good advantage of the night:
Have you not spoken 'gainst ^note the Duke of Cornwall? ^note
He's coming hither ^note, now, i' the night ^note, i' the haste ^note,
And Regan with him: have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst ^{note note} the Duke of Albany?
Advise yourself. ^note

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

Edm.
I hear my father coming: pardon me:
In cunning ^note I must draw my sword upon you:
Draw: ^note seem to defend yourself: now quit you well. ^note
Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, ^note here!

Fly, brother ^note. Torches, torches ^note! So farewell. [Exit Edgar. ^note
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [Wounds his arm. ^note
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have ^note seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. Father, father ^note!
Stop, stop! No help? Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches. ^{note note}

Glou.
Now, Edmund, where's ^note the villain?

Edm.
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling ^note of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand 's ^note auspicious mistress. ^note

Glou.
But where is he?

Edm.
Look, sir, I bleed.

Glou.
Where is the villain, Edmund ^note?

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

Glou.
Pursue him, ho ^note!—Go after. [Exeunt some Servants. ^note] ‘By ^note 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 ^note bend,

Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine ^note,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in ^note fell motion
With his prepared sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced ^note mine ^note arm:
But when ^note he saw my best alarum'd ^note spirits
Bold in the quarrel's right ^note, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gasted ^note by the noise I made,
Full ^note suddenly he fled.

Glou.
Let him fly far:
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found—dispatch. ^note The noble duke my master,
My worthy ^note arch and patron ^note, comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he which ^note finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous caitiff ^note to the stake;
He that conceals him, death. ^note

Edm.
When I dissuaded him from his intent
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,
'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, could the reposure ^note

Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee
Make ^note thy words faith'd? No: what I should ^note deny—
As this I would; ay, though ^note thou didst produce
My very character—I'ld ^note turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice ^{note note}:
And thou must ^note make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very ^note pregnant and potential spurs ^note
To make thee seek it.’

Glou.
Strong and fasten'd ^note villain!
Would he deny his letter? I never got him. ^note [Tucket within. ^note
Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why ^note 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 note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable. Enter ^note Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants. ^note

Corn.
How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news ^note.

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

Which can pursue the offender. How dost ^note, my lord?

Glou.
O, madam, ^note my old heart is crack'd, is ^note crack'd!

Reg.
What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father named? your Edgar? ^note

Glou.
O ^note, lady, lady, shame would have it ^note hid!

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

Glou.
I know not, madam: 'tis ^note too bad, too bad.

Edm.
Yes, madam ^note, he was of that consort ^note. ^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 ^note revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well inform'd of them, and with such cautions
That if they come to sojourn at my house,
I'll not be there. ^note

Corn.
Nor I, assure ^note thee, Regan.
Edmund, I hear ^note that you have shown your father
A child-like office. ^note

Edm.
'Twas ^note my duty, sir.

Glou.
He did bewray ^note his practice, and received

This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Corn.
Is he pursued?

Glou.
Ay, my good lord ^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 ^note you, Edmund ^note,
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant ^note
So much commend ^note itself, you shall be ours:
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need:
You we ^note first seize on. ^note

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

Glou.
For him ^note I thank your grace.

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

Reg.
Thus out of season, threading ^note dark-eyed night:
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise ^note,
Wherein we must have use of your advice: ^note
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences ^note, which I least ^note thought it fit
To answer from our home ^note; the several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,

Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business ^note, ^note
Which craves ^note the instant use. ^note

Glou.
I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome. ^note [Flourish. Exeunt. ^{note note}

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