King Lear

King Lear

ACT II SCENE I	GLOUCESTER's castle.
	Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him
EDMUND	Save thee, Curan.
CURAN	And you, sir. I have been with your father, and
	given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan
	his duchess will be here with him this night.	5
EDMUND	How comes that?
CURAN	Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad;
	I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but
	ear-kissing arguments?
EDMUND	Not I pray you, what are they?	10
CURAN	Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the
	Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMUND	Not a word.
CURAN	You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
	Exit
EDMUND	The duke be here to-night? The better! best!	15
	This weaves itself perforce into my business.
	My father hath set guard to take my brother;
	And I have one thing, of a queasy question,
	Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work!
	Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say!	20
	Enter EDGAR
	My father watches: O sir, fly this place;
	Intelligence is given where you are hid;
	You have now the good advantage of the night:
	Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
	He's coming hither: now, i' the night, i' the haste,	25
	And Regan with him: have you nothing said
	Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
	Advise yourself.
EDGAR	I am sure on't, not a word.
EDMUND	I hear my father coming: pardon me:	30
	In cunning I must draw my sword upon you
	Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well.
	Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here!
	Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell.
	Exit EDGAR
	Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion.	35
	Wounds his arm
	Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards
	Do more than this in sport. Father, father!
	Stop, stop! No help?
	Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches
GLOUCESTER	Now, Edmund, where's the villain?
EDMUND	Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,	40
	Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
	To stand auspicious mistress,--
GLOUCESTER	But where is he?
EDMUND	Look, sir, I bleed.
GLOUCESTER	Where is the villain, Edmund?	45
EDMUND	Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could--
GLOUCESTER	Pursue him, ho! Go after.
	Exeunt some Servants
	By no means what?
EDMUND	Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
	But that I told him, the revenging gods	50
	'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
	Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
	The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,
	Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
	To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,	55
	With his prepared sword, he charges home
	My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:
	But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
	Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
	Or whether gasted by the noise I made,	60
	Full suddenly he fled.
GLOUCESTER	Let him fly far:
	Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
	And found--dispatch. The noble duke my master,
	My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:	65
	By his authority I will proclaim it,
	That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
	Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
	He that conceals him, death.
EDMUND	When I dissuaded him from his intent,	70
	And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
	I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,
	'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
	If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
	Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee	75
	Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,--
	As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce
	My very character,--I'ld turn it all
	To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:
	And thou must make a dullard of the world,	80
	If they not thought the profits of my death
	Were very pregnant and potential spurs
	To make thee seek it.'
GLOUCESTER	Strong and fasten'd villain
	Would he deny his letter? I never got him.	85
	Tucket within
	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 the due note of him; and of my land,	90
	Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
	To make thee capable.
	Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants
CORNWALL	How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
	Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
REGAN	If it be true, all vengeance comes too short	95
	Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?
GLOUCESTER	O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd!
REGAN	What, did my father's godson seek your life?
	He whom my father named? your Edgar?
GLOUCESTER	O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!	100
REGAN	Was he not companion with the riotous knights
	That tend upon my father?
GLOUCESTER	I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.
EDMUND	Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
REGAN	No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:	105
	'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
	To have the expense and waste of his revenues.
	I have this present evening from my sister
	Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions,
	That if they come to sojourn at my house,	110
	I'll not be there.
CORNWALL	Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
	Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
	A child-like office.
EDMUND	'Twas my duty, sir.	115
GLOUCESTER	He did bewray his practise; and received
	This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
CORNWALL	Is he pursued?
GLOUCESTER	Ay, my good lord.
CORNWALL	If he be taken, he shall never more	120
	Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
	How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,
	Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
	So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
	Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;	125
	You we first seize on.
EDMUND	I shall serve you, sir,
	Truly, however else.
GLOUCESTER	For him I thank your grace.
CORNWALL	You know not why we came to visit you,--	130
REGAN	Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:
	Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
	Wherein we must have use of your advice:
	Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
	Of differences, which I least thought it fit	135
	To answer from our home; the several messengers
	From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
	Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
	Your needful counsel to our business,
	Which craves the instant use.	140
GLOUCESTER	I serve you, madam:
	Your graces are right welcome.
	Exeunt