'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, Gon. An interlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:- Let the trum pet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! Gon. If not. I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside. Edm. There's my exchange, [throwing down a glove.] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet; he that dares approach, On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain My truth and honour firmly. Alb. A herald, ho, Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy sol diers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg.. This sickness grows upon me. Enter a Herald. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit REGAN, led. Come hither, herald, Let the trumpet sound, And read out this. Off. Sound, trumpet. VOL. XIX. [A trumpet sounds. 8 Herald reads. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence. Edm. Sound. Her. Again. Her. Again. 1. trumpet. 2. trumpet. 13. trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter EDCAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why be appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? Edg. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit: Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund Earl That, if my speech offend <a noble heart, nence, Despite thy victor sword, and fire new fortune, Thy valour, and thy heart, — thou art a traitor: False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious Prince; And, from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No. This sword, this arm, and my best, spirits are bent To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, 7 Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes, What safe and nicely I might well delay bruise,) This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND jalls. Alb. O save him, save him! Gon. This is mere practice, Gloster. By the law of a arms, thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd, But cozen'd and beguil'd. Alb. Shut your mouth, Dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it: Hold, Sir: Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil: No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it. [Gives the letter to Edmund. Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine: Who shall arraign me for't? Alb. Most monstrous ? Know'st thou this paper? Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out. Edm. What you have, charg'd me with, that have I done; And more, much more: the time will bring it out "Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, That hast this fortune on me? I do forgive thee. noble, Edg. Let's exchange charity. If thou art I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophecy A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee; Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. Worthy Prince, j I know it well. Alb. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your i ther? Edg. By nursing them, my Lord. List a brief tale; And, when 'tis told, 0, that my heart would burst! The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow'd me so near, (O, our lives' sweetuess! That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despaïr; Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him, Edm. This speech of yours hath moy'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Alb, If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. [Edg. This would have seem'd a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, To amplify too-much, would make much more, And top extremity. Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Who having seen me in my worst estate, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding. Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong arms He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out |