Enter Edmund and Curan, meeting. [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]: 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]: Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the two 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 tonight? The better! best! 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. 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, 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; 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 Of my more fierce endeavour: [_Wounds his arm._] 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, 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]: Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,— [GLOUCESTER]: Pursue him, ho! Go after. [_Exeunt Servants._] —By no means what? [EDMUND]: Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him the revenging gods ’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 With his prepared sword, he charges home My unprovided body, latch’d mine arm; But when he saw my best alarum’d spirits, Bold in the quarrel’s right, rous’d to th’encounter, Or whether gasted by the noise I made, Full suddenly he fled. [GLOUCESTER]: Let him fly far; Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; And found—dispatch’d. The noble Duke my master, My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight: 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, 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 Make thy words faith’d? No: what I should deny As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce My very character, I’d turn it all To thy suggestion, 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 spurs To make thee seek it. [GLOUCESTER]: O strange and fast’ned villain! Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him. [_Tucket within._] 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 due note of him; and of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means To make thee capable. Enter Cornwall, Regan and [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 Which can pursue th’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 nam’d? your Edgar? [GLOUCESTER]: O lady, lady, shame would have it hid! [REGAN]: 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: ’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, I’ll not be there. [CORNWALL]: Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father A childlike office. [EDMUND]: It was my duty, sir. [GLOUCESTER]: He did bewray his practice; and receiv’d 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 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; 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]: Thus out of season, threading dark-ey’d 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 best thought it fit 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]: I serve you, madam: Your graces are right welcome. [_Exeunt. Flourish._]