That are to cenfure them. Cor. We're not the first, Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst: As if we were God's fpies. And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon fuch Sacrifices, my Cordelia, Ere they shall make us weep; we'll see them starv'd first. Take thou this note; go, follow them to prison. Do's not become a fword; My great Employment (27) thy great Employment (27) Will not bear Question;] All the Copies concur in reading thus; but, without doubt, erroneously. The Perfon, whom Edmund is here speaking to, was of no higher Degree than a Captain; and therefore, certainly, accountable to his Superiours. Edmund, 'tis plain, muft mean; “ I leading one of the Conquerors' VOL. VI. Forces, E Will not bear queftion; either fay, thou'lt do't; Or thrive by other means. Capt. I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it, and write happy, when thou'ft done. Mark, I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo, As I have fet it down. [Exit Captain. Flourish. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers. Alb. Sir, you have shew'd to day your valiant ftrain, And fortune led you well: you have the Captives, Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife: We do require them of you, fo to use them, As we fhall find their merits and our fafety May equally determine. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To fend the old and miserable King To fome retention, and appointed guard; Whofe has charms in it, whofe title more, age To pluck the common bofoms on his fide; And turn our impreft launces in our eyes, Which do command them. With him I sent the Queen ; My reafon all the fame; and they are ready To morrow, or at further space, t' appear Where you fhall hold your Seffion. At this time, We fweat and bleed; the Friend hath loft his Friend; And the best Quarrels, in the Heat, are curst By thofe that feel their Sharpness. - The Queftion of Cordelia, and her Father, Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a Subject of this war, Not as a Brother. Reg. That's as we lift to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, "Forces, and having employ'd thee in this Business, will be "thy sufficient Warrant, and will secure Thee from being que"ftion'd about it." The The which immediacy may well stand up, Gon. Not fo hot : In his own grace he doth exalt himself, By me invested, he compeers the best. Alb. That were the moft, if he should husband you.' Reg. Jefters do oft prove Prophets. Gon. Holla, Holla! That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint. Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony, Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The Lett alone lyes not in your good Will. Edm. Nor in thine, lord. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum ftrike, and prove my Title thine. Alb. Stay yet; hear reafon: Edmund, I arreft thee On capital treafon; and, in thy Arrest, This gilded Serpent; for your Claim, fair fister, 'Tis fhe is fub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your banes. you will marry, make your If My lady is bespoke. Gon. An enterlude ! loves to me, Alb. Thou art arm'd, Glo'fter; let the trumpet found: If none appear to prove upon thy perfon Thy heinous, manifeft, and many treasons, There is my Pledge: I'll prove it on thy heart, Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O fick Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Afide. Edm. There's my exchange; what in the world he is, E 2 That That names me Traitor, villain-like he lies; Alb. A herald, ho! Enter a Herald. Truft to thy fingle virtue; for thy foldiers, Reg. This fickness grows upon me. Alb. She is not well, convey her to my Tent. [Exit Reg. led. Come hither, herald, let the trumpet found, I Herald reads. [A trumpet founds. Fany man of Quality, or Degree, within the lifts of the army, will maintain upon Edmund fuppofed Earl of Glo'fter, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third found of the trumpet: he is bold in bis defence. Her. Again. I trumpet. 2 trumpet. 3 trumpet. [Trumpet afwers, within. Enter Edgar, armed. 1 Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this Call o'th' trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality, and why you answer Edg. Know, my name is loft; By treafon's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit ; I come to cope. Alb. Which is that Adversary ? Edg. What's he,, that speaks for Edmund Earl of Glofter? Edm. Edm. Himfelf; what fay'ft thou to him? That if my speech offend a noble heart, A moft toad-fpotted traitor. Say thou, no; Thou lieft. Edm. In Wisdom I should ask thy name; But fince thy out-fide looks fo fair and warlike, Gon. O, fave him, fave him; This is Practice, By th' law of war, thou waft not bound to answer Alb. Shut your mouth, Dame, (28) Alb. Save him, save him. Gon. This is Practice, Glo'fter:] Thus all the Copies have diftinguish'd these Speeches: but I have ventur'd to place the two Hemiftichs to Gonerill. 'Tis abfurd, that Albany, who knew Edmund's Treafons, and his own Wife's Paffion for him, ould be follicitous to have his Life fav'd. |