Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.

Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a father! - Be my horses ready?

Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.

Lear. Because they are not eight?

Fool. Yes, indeed. Thou wouldest make a good fool.
Lear. To take it again perforce!

Monster ingratitude!

Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear. How's that?

Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old before thou hadst been wise.

Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!

Enter Gentleman.

How now! Are the horses ready?

Gent. Ready, my lord.

Lear. Come, boy.

Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. [Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE 1.

A Court within the Castle of the Earl of GLOSTER.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edm. Save thee, Curan.

Cur. 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 to-night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad? I mean, the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-bussing arguments.

Edm. Not I pray you, what are they?

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm. Not a word.

Cur. You may do, then, in time. Fare you well,

Sir.

[Exit.

Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better!

Best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business.

My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queazy question,

Which I must act. - Briefness, and fortune, work!
Brother, a word; - descend: -brother, I say;

My father watches.

Enter EDGAR.

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,
And Regan with him: have you nothing said

Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany?

Advise yourself.

Edg.

I am sure on 't, not a word.

Edm. I hear my father coming. - Pardon me;
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 [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 GLOSTER, 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, conjuring the moon
To stand auspicious mistress.

[Exit Serv.] By no

Sir, in fine,

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
But that I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father;
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm :
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to th' encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,

Full suddenly he fled.

dispatch. The noble duke my master,

My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:

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.

Edm. When I dissuaded 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! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee
Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,
(As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce

VI.

145

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."

Glo.

Would he deny his letter?

Strong and fasten'd villain!

I never got him.

[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 due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither, (Which I can call but now) I have heard strange news.

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue th' offender. How dost, my lord?
Glo. O, Madam! my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd.
Reg. What! did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glo. O, lady, lady! shame would have it hid.
Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

Glo. I know not, Madam: 't is too bad, too bad.
Edm. Yes, Madam, he was of that consort.

Reg. No marvel, then, though he were ill affected: 'T is they have put him on the old man's death, To have th' 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,

I'll not be there.

Corn. Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A child-like office.

Glo. He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
Corn. Is he pursued?

Glo.

Ay, my good lord.

Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more

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;
You we first seize on.

Edm.

Truly, however else.

Glo.

I shall serve you, Sir,

For him I thank your grace.

Corn. You know not why we came to visit you.

Reg. Thus out of season, threading dark-ey'd night.
Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize,

Wherein we must have use of your advice.
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I best thought it fit

To answer from our home: the several messengers
From hence attend despatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow

Your needful counsel to our business,

Which craves the instant use.

Glo.

I serve you, Madam.

Your graces are right welcome.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Before GLOSTER'S Castle.

Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally.

Osw. Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?

Kent. Ay.