Corn.

Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the traitor ^note Gloucester. ^note

Reg.

Hang him instantly.

Gon.

Pluck out his eyes.

Corn.

Leave him to my displeasure ^note. Edmund, keep you our sister company: the revenges ^note we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise ^note the duke, where ^note you are going, to a most festinate ^note preparation: we are bound to the like. ^note Our posts ^note shall be swift and intelligent ^note betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my lord of Gloucester. ^note

How now! where's the king?

Osw.
My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence:

Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
Hot questrists ^note after him ^note, met him at gate;
Who, with some other of the lords ^note dependants,
Are gone with him toward ^note Dover; where they boast
To have well-armed friends. ^note

Corn.
Get horses for your mistress.

Gon.
Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

Corn.
Edmund, farewell. [Exeunt Goneril, Edmund, and Oswald. ^note
Go seek the traitor Gloucester.
Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. [Exeunt other Servants. ^note
Though well ^note we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice, yet our power
Shall do a courtesy ^note to our wrath, which men ^note
May blame ^note but not control. Who's ^note there? the traitor? Enter Gloucester, brought in by two or three. ^note

Reg.
Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn.
Bind fast his corky arms.

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

Corn.
Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him. ^note

Reg.
Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!

Glou.
Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none ^note.

Corn.
To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find— ^{note note} [Regan ^note plucks his beard.

Glou.
By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard. ^note

Reg.
So white, and such a traitor!

Glou.
Naughty lady,
These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin ^note
Will quicken and accuse thee: I am ^note your host:
With robbers' ^note hands my hospitable favours ^note
You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? ^note

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

Reg.
Be simple answerer ^note, for we know the truth.

Corn.
And what confederacy have you with the traitors
Late ^note footed in the kingdom? ^note

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

Glou.
I have ^note a letter guessingly set down,
Which came from one that's of a neutral heart
And not from one opposed.

Corn.
Cunning.

Reg.
And false.

Corn.
Where hast thou sent the king?

Glou.
To Dover ^note.

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril— ^{note note}

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

Glou.
I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. ^note

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover, sir ^note?

Glou.
Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed ^note flesh stick ^note boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare ^note head
In hell-black night ^note endured, would have buoy'd ^note up,
And quench'd the stelled ^note fires:
Yet, poor old heart, ^note he holp ^note the heavens to rain ^note.
If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern ^note time,
Thou shouldst have said, ‘Good ^note porter, turn the key,’
All cruels ^note else subscribed ^note: but I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Corn.
See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. ^note
Upon these ^note eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

Glou.
He that will think to live till he be old, ^note
Give me some help! O cruel! O you ^note gods!

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

Corn.
If you see vengeance— ^note

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

Reg.
How now, you dog!

First Serv.
If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I'ld shake it on this ^note quarrel. What do you mean? ^note

Corn.
My villain! [They draw ^note and fight.

First Serv.
Nay ^note, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.

Reg. ^note
Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus! ^note [Takes ^note a sword and runs at him behind.

First Serv.
O, I am slain! My lord, you have ^note one eye left
To see some mischief on him ^note. O! ^note [Dies. ^note

Corn.
Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile ^note jelly! ^note
Where is thy lustre now?

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

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

Glou.
O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. ^note
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!

Reg.
Go thrust him out at gates ^note, and let him smell
His way to Dover. [Exit ^note one with Gloucester.] How is't, my lord? how look ^note you? ^{note note}

Corn.
I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.
Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave
Upon the dunghill ^note. Regan, I bleed apace:
Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm. ^note [Exit ^note Cornwall, led by Regan.

Sec. Serv. ^note
I'll never care what wickedness I do,
If this man come to good.

Third Serv. ^note
If she live long,

And in the end meet the old course of death,
Women will all turn monsters. ^note

Sec. Serv. ^note
Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam ^note
To lead him where he would: his roguish ^note madness
Allows itself to any thing.

Third Serv. ^note
Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
To apply to his ^note bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! ^{note note} [Exeunt severally. ^note

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