Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, queen; Where you shall hold your session. At this time, By those that feel their sharpness :— The question of Cordelia, and her father, Alb. I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother. Reg. Sir, by your patience, That's as we list to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. Gon. And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes—] i. e. Turn the lancemen whom we have hired by giving them press-money. 2 Requires a fitter place.] i. e. The determination of the question what shall be done with Cordelia and her father, should be reserved for greater privacy. 3 The which immediacy-] Immediacy is close and immediate connexion with me, and direct authority from me. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; My lord and master. Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will. Edm. Nor in thine, lord. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, This gilded serpent: [pointing to GoN.]-for your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, My lady is bespoke. Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge; [throwing down a Glove.] I'll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. Sick, O, sick! [Aside. Edm. There's my exchange: [throwing down a Glove.] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: The let-alone lies not in your good will.] Whether he shall not or shall, depends not on your choice. Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue'; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. This sickness grows upon me. Enter a Herald. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound, [Exit REGAN, led. And read out this. Off. Sound, trumpet. [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 Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o'the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer 5 thy single virtue ;] i. e. valour; a Roman sense of the word. 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 withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Το Thou liest. Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn : Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession;] The privilege of this oath means the privilege gained by taking the oath administered in the regular initiation of a knight professed. 7 'say of breeding breathes,] Say is sample, a taste. This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls. Alb. O save him, save him! Gon This is mere practice, Gloster: By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer Alb. [Gives the Letter to EDMUND. Gon. Say, if I do: the laws are mine, not thine : Who shall arraign me for't? Alb. Know'st thou this paper? Gon. Most monstrous! Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL. [To an Officer, who goes out. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; And more, much more: the time will bring it out; 'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, Let's exchange charity. Edg. If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to scourge us : The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Where they shall rest for ever.] To that place, where they shall rest for ever; i. e. thy heart. |