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 Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holloa, holloa! That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint.3 Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer (1) To be discoursed of in greater privacy. (2) Authority to act on his own judgment. (3) Alluding to the proverb: Love being jealous makes a good eye look a-squint.', From a full-flowing stomach.-General, My lord and master. 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 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, If 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. 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: (1) The hindrance. 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. Offi. 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. 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. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? (1) i. e. Valour. Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Edg Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession: I protest,Maugrel thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, 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, Thou liest. Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name;2 But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, And that thy tongue some 'say3 of breeding breathes, What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart; Which (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise,) This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls. Alb. O'save him, save him! 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 : (1) Notwithstanding. (2) Because if his adversary was not of equal rank, Edmund might have declined the combat. (3) Sample. (4) Stratagem. 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! 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? If thou art noble, I do forgive thee. If Edg. Let's exchange charity. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. I know it well. Alb. Worthy prince, Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father? Edg. By nursing them, my lord.-List1 a brief tale; And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst! (1) Hear. |