Come hither, herald, let the trumpet sound,
And read out this. [A trumpet sounds. Herald reads.

If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund supposed Earl of Glo'ster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence.

Her.
Again. 2 trumpet.

Her.
Again. 3 trumpet. [Trumpet answers him within.

Enter Edgar armed.

Alb.
Ask him his purposes, why he appears
Upon this call o'th' trumpet.

Her.
What are you?
Your name, your quality, and why you answer
This present summons?

Edg.
Know, my name is lost
By treason's tooth, bare-gnawn and canker-bit;
Yet am I noble as the adversary
I come to cope.

Alb.
Which is that adversary?

Edg.
What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Glo'ster?

Bast.
Himself, what say'st thou to him?

Edg.
Draw thy sword,
That if my speech offend a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee justice, here is mine:
Behold it is the privilege of mine honours,
My oath, and my profession. I protest,
Maugre thy strength, place, youth, and eminence,
Spite of thy victor-sword, and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor;
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father,
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious Prince,
And from th' extreamest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust below thy foot,
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou no,
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,
Thou lyest.

Bast.
In wisdom I should ask thy name,
But since thy out-side looks so fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some † ^note'say of breeding breaths,
What safe and nicely I might well delay

By rule of Knight-hood, I disdain and spurn:
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head,
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart,
Which (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise)
This sword of mine shall give them instant way,
Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak. [Alarum. Fight.

Alb.
Save him, save him.

Gon.
This is practice, Glo'ster:
By th' law of war, thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.

Alb.
Shut your mouth, dame,
Or with this paper shall I stop it;
Thou worse than any thing, read thine own evil:
No tearing, lady, I perceive you know it.

Gon.
Say if I do, the laws are mine, not thine,
Who can arraign me for't?

Alb.
Monster, know'st thou this paper?

Gon.
Ask me not what I know— [Exit Gon.

Alb.
Go after her, she's desperate, govern her.

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