Their going hence, even as their coming hither: Ripeness is all: Come on. Glo. And that's true too. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c. Edm. Some officers take them away; good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else outfrown false fortune's frown. Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters ? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage: As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? [ven, He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaAnd fire us bence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve first. Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note; [Giving a Paper.] go, follow them to prison: VOL. VIII. H One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost ment Will not bear question: either say, thou'lt do't, Or thrive by other means. Off. I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark, I say instantly; and carry it so, 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 Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To some retention, and appointed guard; My reason all the same; and they are ready And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd The question 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 list to grace him. Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. [you. Gon. 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 thine, attaint This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GON.]-for your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; "Tis she is subcontracted to this lord, Gon. An interlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Reg. 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. [Exit REGAN, led. Come hither, herald.-Let the trumpet sound, And read out this. Off. Sound, trumpet. [A 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. [1 Trumpet. 2 Trumpet. [3 Trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. 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; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit: Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope withal. Which is that adversary? Alb. of Gloster? Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Edg. To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, 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 This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Gon. This is mere practice, Gloster. By the law of 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. Know'st thou this paper? Most monstrous! |