Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, fweet 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 is maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. [Exeunt. ACT A Court within the Caftle of the Earl of GLOSTER. Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting. Edm. Save thee, Curan. Cur. And you, fir. 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 whisper'd ones, for they are yet but ear-kiffing 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 then, in time. Fare you well, fir. [Exit. Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! Best! This weaves itself perforce into my business! My father hath fet 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;-defcend :-Brother, I fay; Enter EDGAR. My father watches :-O fir, fly this place; Upon Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany? Edg. I am fure on't, not a word. Edm. I hear my father coming,-Pardon me :` [Exit EDGAR. Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour: I have feen drunkards Do more than this in fport.-Father! father! Stop, ftop! No help? Enter GLOSTER, and Servants with torches. Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? Edm. Here food he in the dark, his sharp fword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To ftand his aufpicious mistress : Glo. Edm. Look, fir, I bleed. Glo. But where is he? Where is the villain, Edmund ? Edm. Fled this way, fir. When by no means he couldGlo. Purfue him, ho!-Go after.-[Exit. Ser.] By no means,-what? Edm. Perfuade me to the murder of your lordship; 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend; To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion, My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm : Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter, Not in this land fhall he remain uncaught; And found-Despatch.-The noble duke my master, By his authority I will proclaim it, That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks, Edm. When I diffuaded him from his intent, Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny, To thy fuggeftion, plot, and damned practice: Glo. Strong and faften'd villain! Would he deny his letter?-I never got him. [Trumpets within. Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes: All ports I'll bar; the villain fhall not 'scape; The duke must grant me that: befides, his picture May May have due note of him; and of my land, Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend? fince 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 the offender. How doft, my lord? Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd! Reg. What did my father's godfon 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. It is too bad, too bad. Edm. I know not, madam: Yes, madam, he was. Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have the wafte and fpoil of his revenues. I have this present evening from my fister Been well inform'd of them; and with fuch cautions, I'll not be there. Corn. Nor I, affure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father 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, he is. Corn. If he be taken, be fhall never more |