Edm. (C.)
Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound: why am I then
Depriv'd of a son's right, because I came not
In the dull road that custom has prescrib'd?
Why bastard? Wherefore base? when I can boast
A mind as generous, and a shape as true
As honest madam's issue? Why are we
Held base, who in the lusty stealth of Nature
Take fiercer qualities than what compound
The scanted births of the stale marriage-bed?
Well, then, legitimate Edgar, to thy right
Of law I will oppose a bastard's cunning.
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund
As to legitimate Edgar; with success
I've practis'd yet on both their easy natures.
Here comes the old man, chaf'd with the information
Which last I forg'd against my brother Edgar:
A tale so plausible, so boldly utter'd.
And heighten'd by such lucky accidents,
That now the slightest circumstance confirms him,
And base-born Edmund, spite of law, inherits. Enter Gloster and Kent, L.

Glo.
Nay, good my lord, your charity
O'ershoots itself, to plead in his behalf;
You are yourself a father, and may feel
The sting of disobedience from a son
First-born and best-belov'd.—O, villain Edgar!

Kent. (L.)
Be not too rash; all may be forgery,
And time yet clear the duty of your son.

Glo. (C.)
Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds,
Yet shalt thou ne'er convince me: I have seen
His foul designs through all a father's fondness.

Edm. [Aside.]
It works as I could wish; I'll shew myself. [Advances.

Glo.
Ha, [Crossing to Edmund, R.] Edmund! welcome, boy.—O, Kent! see here
Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory:
This bye-born, the wild sally of my youth,
Pursues me with all filial offices;
Whilst Edgar, begged of heaven, and born in honour,
Draws plagues upon my head, that urge me still
To curse in age the pleasure of my youth.
Nay, weep not, Edmund, for thy brother's crimes.
O gen'rous boy! thou shar'st but half his blood,
Yet lov'st beyond the kindness of a brother:
But I'll reward thy virtue. Follow me.
My lord, you wait the king, who comes resolv'd
To quit the toils of empire, and divide
His realms amongst his daughters. Heaven succeed it!
But much I fear the change.

Kent.
I grieve to see him
With such wild starts of passion hourly seiz'd
As render majesty beneath itself.

Glo.
Alas! 'tis the infirmity of his age:
Yet has his temper ever been unfixt,
Chol'ric, and sudden. [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums, R.
Hark, they approach. [Flourish.—Exeunt, R. Enter Cordelia, L. Edgar following.

Edg.
Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet once more,
And, ere successful Burgundy receive
The treasure of thy beauties from the king,
Ere happy Burgundy for ever fold thee,
Cast back one pitying look on wretched Edgar.

Cord.
Alas! what would the wretched Edgar with
The more unfortunate Cordelia?
Who, in obedience to a father's will,
Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's. [Flourish continues till the Scene changes.—Exeunt Cordelia, R. and Edgar, L.

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