The Tragedy of King Lear: ACT II , SCENE I. GLOUCESTER's castle.

The Tragedy of King Lear: ACT II


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

		SCENE I. GLOUCESTER's castle.

		SCENE II. Before Gloucester's castle.

		SCENE III. A wood.

		SCENE IV. Before GLOUCESTER's castle. KENT in the stocks.

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

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SCENE I. GLOUCESTER's castle.

Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him

EDMUND

Save thee, Curan.

CURAN

      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 this night.

EDMUND

5 How comes that?

CURAN

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

EDMUND

Not I pray you, what are they?

CURAN

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

EDMUND

Not a word.

CURAN

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

Exit

EDMUND

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

Enter EDGAR

20    My father watches: 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,
25    And Regan with him: have you nothing said
      Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
      Advise yourself.

EDGAR

I am sure on't, not a word.

EDMUND

      I hear my father coming: pardon me:
30    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

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

Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches

GLOUCESTER

Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

EDMUND

      Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
40    Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
      To stand auspicious mistress,--

GLOUCESTER

But where is he?

EDMUND

Look, sir, I bleed.

GLOUCESTER

Where is the villain, Edmund?

EDMUND

45 Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could--

GLOUCESTER

Pursue him, ho! Go after.

Exeunt some Servants

By no means what?

EDMUND

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

GLOUCESTER

      Let him fly far:
      Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
      And found--dispatch. The noble duke my master,
      My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:
65    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.

EDMUND

      When I dissuaded him from his intent,
70    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
75    Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,--
      As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce
      My very character,--I'ld turn it all
      To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:
      And thou must make a dullard of the world,
80    If they not thought the profits of my death
      Were very pregnant and potential spurs
      To make thee seek it.'

GLOUCESTER

Strong and fasten'd villain
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.

Tucket within

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

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants

CORNWALL

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

REGAN

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

GLOUCESTER

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

REGAN

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

GLOUCESTER

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

REGAN

100 Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

GLOUCESTER

I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.

EDMUND

Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

REGAN

      No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:
105   'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
      To have the 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,
110   I'll not be there.

CORNWALL

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

EDMUND

'Twas my duty, sir.

GLOUCESTER

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

CORNWALL

Is he pursued?

GLOUCESTER

Ay, my good lord.

CORNWALL

      If he be taken, he shall never more
120   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;
125   You we first seize on.

EDMUND

I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.

GLOUCESTER

For him I thank your grace.

CORNWALL

You know not why we came to visit you,--

REGAN

130   Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:
      Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
      Wherein we must have use of your advice:
      Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
      Of differences, which I least thought it fit
135   To answer from our home; the several messengers
      From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
      Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
      Your needful counsel to our business,
      Which craves the instant use.

GLOUCESTER

140 I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome.

Exeunt

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