King Lear : Act 3, Scene 5



           Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND.

      CORNWALL
  1   I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.
1. my revenge: my revenge [on Gloucester for aiding King Lear].   his house: Gloucester's house.


      EDMUND
  2   How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus
  3   gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think
  4   of.
2-4. How . . . of: I am afraid to think of how I may be condemned for letting my loyalty [to you] override my natural bonds [to my father].


      CORNWALL
  5   I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's
  6   evil disposition made him seek his death; but a
6. his death: Gloucester's death.

  7   provoking merit, set a-work by a reprovable
  8   badness in himself.
7-8. provoking . . . himself: i.e., a goading evil in Edgar, urged on by Gloucester's badness, which invited punishment.


      EDMUND
  9   How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to
 10   be just! This is the letter he spoke of, which
 11   approves him an intelligent party to the advantages
 12   of France: O heavens! that this treason were not,
11-12. approves . . . France: proves him a spy and informer working to aid France.

 13   or not I the detector!

      CORNWALL
 14   Go with me to the duchess.

      EDMUND
 15   If the matter of this paper be certain, you have
 16   mighty business in hand.

      CORNWALL
 17   True or false, it hath made thee Earl of
 18   Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he
 19   may be ready for our apprehension.
19. apprehension: arrest.


      EDMUND [Aside.]
 20   If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff
 21   his suspicion more fully.
20-21. stuff his suspicion: increase suspicion of Gloucester.

           [To Cornwall.]
                                              I will persevere in
 22   my course of loyalty, though the conflict be
 23   sore between that and my blood.
23. my blood: i.e., my natural attachment to a family member.


      CORNWALL
 24   I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find a
 25   dearer father in my love.

           Exeunt.