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

Edg.
I'm sure on't not a word.

Edm.
I hear my father coming. 'Tis not safe
To tarry here. Fly, brother! hence! away. [Exit Edgar.
Glo'ster approaches.—Now for a feigned scuffle!
—Yield! come before my father! lights, here, lights!
Some blood drawn on me, would beget opinion [Wounds his arm.
Of my more fierce encounter. I've seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. Father! father!
Stop, stop.[illeg.] no help?—

To him, enter Glocester and servants with torches.

Glo.
Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

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

Glo.
But where is he?

Edm.
Look, Sir, I bleed.

Glo.
Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm.
Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could—

Glo.
Pursue him, ho! go after. By no means, what?

Edm.
Persuade me to the murther of your lordship.
But that, I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainst Parricides did all their thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to th'father—Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly opposite I stood
To his unnat'ral purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd my arm;
Till at length gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo.
Let him fly far;
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught.
The noble duke,
My worthy and arch patron, comes to-night;
By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks;
He that conceals him, death.

Edm.
When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And threaten'd to discover him; he replied,
Thou unpossessing Bastard! do'st thou think,
If I would stand against thee, the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Would make thy words faith'd? no; I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice.

Glo.
O strange, fasten'd, villain!
Would he deny his letter?

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
(Loyal and natural boy!) I'll work the means
To make thee capable. [Exeunt.

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