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But that I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainft parricides did all their thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to th' father-Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly oppofite I ftood

To his unnat❜ral purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared fword he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd my arm;
'Till at length gafted by the noise I made,
Full fuddenly he fled.

Gloc. Let him fly far;

Not in this land fhall he remain uncaught.

The noble duke,

My worthy and arch patron, comes to-night;

By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he, which finds him, fhall deferve our thanks;

He that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I diffuaded him from his intent, And threaten'd to discover him; he replied, Thou unpoffeffing baftard! doft thou think, If I would stand against thee, the repofal Of any truft, virtue, or worth in thee

Would make thy words faith'd? no; I'd turn it all To thy fuggeftion, plot, and damned practice.

Gloc. Oh, ftrange, faften'd, villain!

Would he deny his letter?

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All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape; I will fend 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 biar To make thee capable. [Exeunt.

Scene, the outfide of the earl of Glocefter's cafile.

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Stew. Good evening to thee, friend; art of this houfe?

Kent. Ay.

Stew. Where may we fet our horfes ?

Kent. 'th'mire.

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Stew. Prithee, if thou lov'st me, tell me. D Kent. I love thee not. not c Soody g. 7108 Stew. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipfbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me.

Stew. Why doft thou use me thus? I know thee

not.

Kent. Fellow, I know thee. ay shit 10 LEN Stew. What doft thou know me for?

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Kent. A knave, a rafcal, an eater of broken meats, a base, proud, fhallow, beggarly, threefuited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking

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knave; a lilly-liver'd, action-taking knave; a whor◄ fon, glafs-gazing, fuperferviceable, finical rogue; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service; and art nothing but the composition of knave, beggar, coward, pander; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition."

Stew. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail on one, that is neither known of thee nor knows thee !

Kent. What a brazen-fac'd varlet art thou, thus to deny thou know'ft me? Is it two days ago, fince I tript up thy heels, and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue; for though it be night, yet the moon fhines; I'll make a fop o'th' moonshine of you; you whorfon, cullionly, barber-monger, draw. [Drawing his fword.

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Stew. Away, I have nothing to do with thee. Kent. Draw, you rascal; you come with letters against the king; and take vanity, the puppet's part, against the royalty of her father; draw, you rogue, or I'll fo carbonado your shanks-draw, you rafcal, come your ways.

Stew. Help, ho! murder! help!

Kent. Strike, you slave ; ftand, rogue, ftand, you neat flave, ftrike.

[Beating him.

Stew.

Stew. Help ho! murder! murder !-[Exeunt.

Flourish. Enter Cornwall and Regan, attended; meeting Glocefter and Edmund.

Gloc. You graces are right welcome.

Cornw. How now, my noble friend? since I came hither,

Which I can call but now, I have heard ftrange news. Regan. If it be true, all vengeance comes too

short,

Which can pursue th' offender: How does my lord? Gloc. Oh, madam, my old heart is crack'd, 'tis

crack'd.

Regan. What, did my father's godfon feek your life?

He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Gloc. Oh, lady, lady, shame would have it hid. Regan. Was he not companion with the riotous knights

That tend upon my father?

Gloc. I know not, madam: 'Tis too bad, too bad. Edm. Yes, madamı, he was of that confort. Regan. No marvel then, tho' he were ill affected; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have th' expence and waste of his revenues. I have this prefent evening from my fifter

Been

Been well inform'd of them; and with fuch cautions, That if they come to fojourn at my house,

I'll not be there.

Cornw. Nor I, affure thee, Regan.

Edmund, I hear, that you have fhewn your father A child-like office.

Edm. 'Twas my duty, Sir.

Gloc. He did reveal his practice, and receiv'd This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. Cornw. Is he purfu'd? Gloc. Ay, my good lord. Cornw. If he be taken,

Be fear'd of doing harm.

he shall never more

As for

As for you, Edmund,

Whofe virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
Natures of fuch deep trust we shall much need.

Edm. I fhall ferve you, Sir, truly, however elfe.
Gloc. I thank your grace.

Regan. Our father he hath writ, fo hath our fifter, Of diff'rences, which I best thought it fit To answer from our home: The fev'ral meffengers From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,

Lay comforts to your bofom; and bestow

Your needful counfel to our bufineffes,

Which crave the inftant use.

Gloc. I ferve you, madam.

Enter

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