SCENE III.
To him, Enter Glo'ster, and servants with torches.
Glo.
Now, Edmund, where's the villain?
Edm.
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
1 noteMumbling 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—
-- 44 --
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 the 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;
And when he saw my best alarmed spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to th' encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.
Glo.
Let him fly far;
2 note
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found, dispatch'd.—the noble Duke my master,
3 note
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night;
By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he, who finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murth'rous coward to the stake:
He that conceals him, death.
Edm.
When I disswaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him; he replied,
Thou unpossessing Bastard! do'st thou think,
-- 45 --
If I would stand against thee, 4 notewould the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Make thy words faith'd? * note
no; when I should deny.
(As this I would, although thou didst produce
My very character) I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice;
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it.
[Trumpets within.
Glo.
O strange, fasten'd villain!
Would he deny his letter?—I never got him.—
Hark, the Duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes—
All Ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The Duke must grant me that; besides, his picture
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.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
