Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison: Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,- Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven, Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note; [Giring a Paper.] go, follow them to prison: One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way To noble fortunes: Know thou this,—that men Are as the time is: to be tender-minded Does not become a sword :-Thy great employment Will not bear question;+ either say, thou'lt do't, 2 The French disease. 3 Skin. 4 Admit of debate. I'll do't, my lord. Or thrive by other means. Off. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so, As I have set it down. Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: We do require them of you; so to use them, As we shall find their merits and our safety May equally determine. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; Whose age To pluck the common bosom on his side, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I sent the My reason all the same; and they are ready Where you shall hold your session. At this time, We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend; And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd By those that feel their sharpness The question of Cordelia, and her father, Requires a fitter place." Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother. Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, Gon. up, Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your advancement. Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. Gon. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Gon. 8 Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will. 5 To be discoursed of in greater privacy. 6 Authority to act on his own judgment. 7 Alluding to the proverb: "Love being jealous makes a good eye look a-squint.” 8 The hindrance. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GoN.]-for your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, My lady is bespoke. Gon. An interlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster :-Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Glove.] I'll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! [Aside. Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down a Glove.] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, 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. Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound, And read out this. Off. Sound, trumpet. [Exit REGAN, led. [4 Trumpet sounds. 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. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he 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; 9 i. e. Valour. |