Cor.

Post speedily to my lord your husband; shew him this &dagger2; letter: the army of France is landed:—Seek

out the villain Gloster. ^note

Reg.

Hang him instantly.

Gon.

Pluck out his eyes.

Cor.

Leave him to my displeasure.—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 you are going, to a most festinate ^note preparation; we are bound to the like. Our posts ^note shall be swift in intelligence ^note betwixt us.— Farewel, dear sister;—farewel, my lord of Gloster.—

How now? Where's the king?

Ste.
My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him hence:
Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
Hot questrists ^note 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.

Cor.
Get horses for your mistress.

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

Cor.
Edmund, farewel.—Go, seek the traitor Gloster,
Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us:— [Exeunt other Servants.
Though well ^note we may not pass upon his life
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? Re-enter Servants, with Gloster, Prisoner.

Reg.
Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Cor.
Bind fast his corky arms.

Glo.
What mean your graces?—Good my friends, consider

You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.

Cor.
Bind him, I say.

Reg.
Hard, hard:—O filthy traitor!

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

Cor.
To this chair bind him:—Villain, thou shalt find—

Glo.
By the kind gods,14Q1359 'tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard.

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, my hospitable favours
You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?

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

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

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

Reg.
To whose hands have you ^note sent the lunatick 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.

Cor.
Cunning.

Reg.
And false.

Cor.
Where hast thou sent the king?

Glo.
To Dover.

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

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

Glo.
I am ty'd to the stake,
And I must stand the course.

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover? ^note

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 ^note phangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head ^note
In hell-black night endur'd, would have buoy'd up ^note,
And quench'd the stelled fires: ^note yet, poor old heart,
He holp ^note the heavens to rage.
If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that ^note dearn time, ^note
Thou should'st have said, Good porter, turn the key:
All cruels else subscrib'd: ^note—But I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Cor.
See it shalt thou never:—Fellows, hold the chair:—
Upon these eyes ^note of thine I'll set my foot. [Gloster is held down in his Chair, while Cornwal plucks out one of his Eyes, and stamps on it.

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

Reg.
One side will mock another; th' other too.

Cor.
If you see vengeance,—

1. S.
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?

1. S.
If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I'd shake it on this ^note quarrel: What do you mean?

Cor.
My villain! [Draws, and runs at him.

1. S.
Nay, then ^note come on, and take the chance of anger. [Draws too, and they fight.

Reg.
Give me thy sword;—A peasant stand up thus! [snatches a Sword from an Att: and stabs him.

1. S.
O, I am slain!—My lord, you have ^note one eye left
To see some mischief on him:—O! [dies.

Cor.
Lest it see more, prevent it:—Out, vile jelly! [dashing Gloster's other Eye to the Ground.
Where is thy lustre now?

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

Reg.
Out, treacherous ^note 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?

Cor.
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. [Exeunt Cornwal, and Regan. Servants unbind Gloster, and lead him out.

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

3. S.
If she live long,
And, in the end, meet the old course of death,
Women will all turn monsters.

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

3. S.
Go thou; I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs,

To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! [Exeunt severally.

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