Fool. Yes, indeed; thou would'ft make a good fool. Lear. To take't again perforce !-----monster ingratitude!

Fool. If you were my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear. How's that?

Fool. Thou fhouldeft not have been old 'till thou had't been wife

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 horfes ready?

Gent. Ready, my Lord.

Lear. Come, boy.

[departure,

Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my

Shall not be a maid long, unleis things be cut

fhorter.

АСТ II.

[Exeunt.

SCENE, a Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glo'fer.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, feverally.

AVE thee, Curan.

SA

EDMUND.

Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Duchefs, will be here with him this night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whipered ones; for they are yet but ear-killing 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?

Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, Sir.

[Exit.

Edm. The Duke be here to-night! the better!

belt!

This weaves itfelf 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: briefnefs and fortune work!
Brother, a word; defcend; brother, I fay;-----
To him enter EDGAR.

My father watches; O Sir, fly this place,
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You've now the good advantage of the night-----
Have you not fpoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither, now i' th' night, i' th' hafte,
And Regan with him; have you nothing faid
Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
Advise yourfelf.

Edg. I'm fure on't, not a word.
Edm. I hear my father coming.

Pardon me

In cunning I muft draw my fword upon you----
Draw, feein to defend yourself.
Now quit you well---

Yield come before my father-light hoa, here !---
Fly, brother---torches !---fo farewel---- [Exit Edg
Some blood drawn on me, would beget opinion.

Of my more fierce endeavour.
Do more than this in fport.
Stop, ftop, no help?--

[Wounds his arm. I've feen drunkards Father! father!

To him enter GLO'STER, and Servants, with Torches.

Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm. Here flood he in the dark, his sharp fword

out,

Mumbling of wicked charms, conj'ring the moon
To ftand's aufpicious mistress.
Glo. But where is he?

Edm. Look, Sir, I bleed.

Glo. Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he could-----

Glo. Pursue him, hoa! go after. By no means what

[thip;

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your Lord-
But that, I told him, the revenging Gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father. Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly oppofite I ftood

To his unnatʼral purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared fword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced my arm;
And when he faw my beft alarmed spirits
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gafted by the noise I made,
Full fuddenly he fled.

Gle. Let him fly far;

Not in this land fhall he remain uncaught

And found: difpatch-the noble Duke my master, My worthy and arch-patron, comes to-night; (13) By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he, which finds him, fhall deferve our thanks,

(13) My worthy arch and patron,] I can meet with no authority of this word used in this manner, to fignify my prince, my chief; but always as an epitatic particle prefixed and annexed to another noun: and therefore I have ven tured to suppose a tranfpofition of the copulative, and that we ought to read, arch-patron, as arch-duke, arch-angel, arch-bishop, &c.

VOL. V.

M

Bringing the murd'rous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I diluaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with cursed speech
I threatened to difcover him; he replied,
Thou unpoffeffing baftard! doft thou think,
If I would ftand against thee, would the repofal
Of any truft, virtue, or worth in thee

Make thy words faith'd? no; what I fhould deny,(As this I would, although thou didst produce My very character) I'd turn it all

To thy fuggeftion, plot, and damned practice;
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential fpurs
To make thee feek it.

[Trumpets within.

Glo. O ftrange, faftened villain! Would he deny his letter?I never got him.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: befides, his picture
I will fend far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
(Lojal and natural boy !) I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

Enter CORNWAL, REGAN, and Attendants.

Corn. How now, my noble friend? fince I came

hither,

1

Which I can call but now, I have heard ftrange

news.

T

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too fhort Which can pursue th' offender; how does my Lord? Glo. O Madam, my old heart is cracked, it's cracked !

Reg. What, did my father's godfon feek your He whom my father named your Edgar? [life, Glo. O Lady, Lady, fhame would have it hid. Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous That tend upon my father? [knights

Glo. I know not, Madam: 'tis too bad, too bad. Edm. Yes, Madam, he was of that confort.

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have the expence and waste of his revenues. I have this prefent evening from my fifter Been well informed of them; and with fuch cautions, That if they come to fojourn at my house, I'll not be there.

Corn. Nor I, affure thee, Regan.

Edmund, I hear that you have fhewn your father A child-like office.

Edm. 'Twas my duty, Sir.

Glo. He did bewray his practice, and received This hurt you fee, ftriving to apprehend him. Corn. Is he pursued?

Glo. Ay, my good Lord.

Corn. If he be taken, he fhall never more

Be feared of doing harm: make your own purpofe
How in my ftrength you pleafe. As for you, Edmund,
Whofe virtue and obedience doth this inftant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours;
Natures of fuch deep trust we shall much need:
You we first seize on.

Edm. I fhall ferve you, Sir,
Truly, however else.

Glo I thank your Grace..

Corn. You know not why we came to vifit you--Reg, Thus out of feafon threading dark-eyed night; (14)

(14)—————threading dark-eyed night ;] I have not ventured