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King Lear : Act 2, Scene 1

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           Enter Bastard [EDMUND] and CURAN meets him.

      EDMUND
  1   Save thee, Curan.

      CURAN
  2   And you, sir. I have been with your father, and
  3   given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and
  4   Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.

      EDMUND
  5   How comes that?

      CURAN
  6   Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news
  7   abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones, for they
  8   are yet but ear-bussing arguments?

      EDMUND
  9   Not I. Pray you, what are they?

      CURAN
 10   Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt
 11   the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

      EDMUND
 12   Not a word.

      CURAN
 13   You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

           Exit.

      EDMUND
 14   The duke be here to-night? The better! best!
 15   This weaves itself perforce into my business.
 16   My father hath set guard to take my brother;
 17   And I have one thing, of a queasy question,
 18   Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work!
 19   Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say!
 20   My father watches—

           Enter EDGAR.

 20                                     O sir, fly this place;
 21   Intelligence is given where you are hid;
 22   You have now the good advantage of the night:
 23   Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
 24   He's coming hither: now, i' the night, i' the haste,
 25   And Regan with him: have you nothing said
 26   Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
 27   Advise yourself.

      EDGAR
 27                                  I am sure on't, not a word.

      EDMUND
 28   I hear my father coming: pardon me:
 29   In cunning I must draw my sword upon you
 30   Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well. —
 31   Yield! Come before my father! Light, ho, here! —
 32   Fly, brother. — Torches, torches! — So, farewell.

           Exit Edgar.

 33   Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

           [Wounds his arm.]

 34   Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards
 35   Do more than this in sport. — Father, father!
 36   Stop, stop! No help?

           Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches.

      GLOUCESTER
 37   Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

      EDMUND
 38   Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
 39   Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
 40   To stand 's auspicious mistress —

      GLOUCESTER
 40                                                          But where is he?

      EDMUND
 41   Look, sir, I bleed.

      GLOUCESTER
 41                                   Where is the villain, Edmund?

      EDMUND
 42   Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could —

      GLOUCESTER
 43   Pursue him, ho! Go after.

           [Exeunt some Servants.]

 43                                                 By no means what?

      EDMUND
 44   Persuade me to the murder of your lordship,
 45   But that I told him, the revenging gods
 46   'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend,
 47   Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
 48   The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,
 49   Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
 50   To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
 51   With his prepared sword, he charges home
 52   My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:
 53   But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
 54   Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
 55   Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
 56   Full suddenly he fled.

      GLOUCESTER
 56                                         Let him fly far:
 57   Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
 58   And found — dispatch. The noble duke my master,
 59   My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight:
 60   By his authority I will proclaim it,
 61   That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
 62   Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
 63   He that conceals him, death.

      EDMUND
 64   When I dissuaded him from his intent,
 65   And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
 66   I threaten'd to discover him; he replied,
 67   'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
 68   If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
 69   Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
 70   Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny, —
 71   As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce
 72   My very character, —I'ld turn it all
 73   To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:
 74   And thou must make a dullard of the world,
 75   If they not thought the profits of my death
 76   Were very pregnant and potential spurs
 77   To make thee seek it.'

      GLOUCESTER
 77                                O strange and fasten'd villain!
 78   Would he deny his letter? I never got him.

           Tucket within.

 79   Hark, the Duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes.
 80   All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
 81   The Duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
 82   I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
 83   May have the due note of him; and of my land,
 84   Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
 85   To make thee capable.

           Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants.

      CORNWALL
 86   How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
 87   Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

      REGAN
 88   If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
 89   Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

      GLOUCESTER
 90   O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd!

      REGAN
 91   What, did my father's godson seek your life?
 92   He whom my father named? your Edgar?

      GLOUCESTER
 93   O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

      REGAN
 94   Was he not companion with the riotous knights
 95   That tend upon my father?

      GLOUCESTER
 96   I know not, madam. 'Tis too bad, too bad.

      EDMUND
 97   Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

      REGAN
 98   No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:
 99   'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
100   To have the expense and waste of his revenues.
101   I have this present evening from my sister
102   Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions,
103   That if they come to sojourn at my house,
104   I'll not be there.

      CORNWALL
104                               Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
105   Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
106   A child-like office.

      EDMUND
106                                It was my duty, sir.

      GLOUCESTER
107   He did bewray his practise; and received
108   This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

      CORNWALL
109   Is he pursued?

      GLOUCESTER
109                           Ay, my good lord.

      CORNWALL
110   If he be taken, he shall never more
111   Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
112   How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,
113   Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
114   So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
115   Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
116   You we first seize on.

      EDMUND
116                                       I shall serve you, sir,
117   Truly, however else.

      GLOUCESTER
117                                       For him I thank your grace.

      CORNWALL
118   You know not why we came to visit you, —

      REGAN
119   Thus out of season, threading dark-ey'd night?
120   Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
121   Wherein we must have use of your advice:
122   Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
123   Of differences, which I best thought it fit
124   To answer from our home; the several messengers
125   From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
126   Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
127   Your needful counsel to our business,
128   Which craves the instant use.

      GLOUCESTER
128                                                     I serve you, madam:
129   Your graces are right welcome.

           Exeunt.