II. i.

90

100

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too fhort which can purfue the offender, how doft my Lord?

Gloft. Madam my old heart is crackt, is crackt.

Reg. What, did my fathers godfon feeke your life? he whom my father named your Edgar?

Gloft. I Ladie, Ladie, fhame would haue it hid.

Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous knights, that tends vpon my father?

Gloft. I know not Madam, tis too bad, too bad.

Bast. Yes Madam, he was.

Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill affected,

Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,
To haue the waft and fpoyle of his reuenues:

I haue this prefent euening from my fifter,

Beene well inform'd of them, and with fuch cautions,

That if they come to foiourne at my house, ile not be there.

Duke. Nor I, affure thee Regan; Edmund, I heard that you haue fhewen your father a child-like office.

Baft. Twas my dutie Sir.

Gloft. He did betray his practise, and receiued 110 This hurt you fee, ftriuing to apprehend him.

120

Duke. Is he pursued? Gloft. I my good Lord.

Duke. If he be taken, he shall neuer more be feard of doing harme, make your own purpose how in my strength you please, for you Edmund, whofe vertue and obedience, doth this inftant so much commend it felfe, you shall bee ours, natures of fuch deepe truft, we shall much need you, we first seaze on.

Bast. I fhall ferue you truly, how euer else.

Gloft. For him I thanke your grace.

Duke. You know not why we came to vifit you?

Regan. Thus out of feafon, threatning darke ey'd night,
Ocafions noble Glofter of fome poyle,

Wherein we must haue vfe of your aduife,

Our Father he hath writ, fo hath our fifter,

Of diferences, which I left thought it fit,
To answer from our home, the feueral meffengers
From hence attend dispatch, our good old friend,

[26

II. i.

90

100

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can purfue th'offender; how doft my Lord?

Glo. O Madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd.
Reg. What, did my Fathers Godfonne feeke your life?
He whom my Father nam'd, your Edgar?

Glo. O Lady, Lady, fhame would haue it hid.

Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous Knights
That tended vpon my Father?

Glo. I know not Madam, 'tis too bad, too bad.
Baft. Yes Madam, he was of that confort.

Reg. No maruaile then, though he were ill affected,
'Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,
To haue th'expence and waft of his Reuenues:

I haue this present euening from my Sifter

Beene well inform'd of them, and with fuch cautions,
That if they come to foiourne at my house,
Ile not be there.

Cor. Nor I, affure thee Regan;

Edmund, I heare that you haue fhewne yout Father
A Child-like Office.

Bast. It was my duty Sir.

Glo. He did bewray his practife, and receiu'd 110 This hurt you fee, ftriuing to apprehend him. Cor. Is he pursued?

120

Glo. I my good Lord.

Cor. If he be taken, he fhall neuer more

Be fear'd of doing harme, make your owne purpose,
How in my strength you please: for you Edmund,
Whofe vertue and obedience doth this inftant.
So much commend it felfe, you fhall be ours,
Nature's of fuch deepe truft, we shall much need:
You we firft feize on.

Baft. I fhall ferue you Sir truely, how euer elfe.
Glo. For him I thanke your Grace.

Cor. You know not why we came to vifit you?
Reg. Thus out of feason, thredding darke ey'd night,
Occafions Noble Gloster of fome prize,

Wherein we must haue vfe of your aduife.
Our Father he hath writ, fo hath our Sifter,
Of differences, which I beft though it fit
To answere from our home: the feuerall Messengers
From hence attend difpatch, our good old Friend,

[291b

II. i.

130

Lay comforts to your bofome, & beftow your needfull councell
To our bufines, which craues the inftant vse.

(Exeunt.

Gloft. I ferue you Madam, your Graces are right welcome. [27

II. ii.

10

Enter Kent, and Steward.

Steward. Good euen to thee friend, art of the house?
Kent. I. Stew. Where may we let our horfes?

Kent. It'h mire. Stew. Prethee if thou loue me, tell me.

Kent. I loue thee not. Stew. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipfburie pinfold, I would make thee
care for mee.

Stew. Why doft thou vse me thus? I know thee not.
Kent. Fellow I know thee.

Stew, What doft thou know me for?

Kent. A knaue, a rafcall, an eater of broken meates, a base, proud, fhallow, beggerly, three fhewted hundred pound, filthy worsted-stocken knaue, a lilly lyuer'd action taking knaue, a 20 whorfon glaffegazing fuperfinicall rogue, one truncke inheriting flaue, one that would'st bee a baud in way of good feruice, and art nothing but the composition of a knaue, begger, coward, pander, and the sonne and heire of a mungrell bitch, whom I will beat into clamorous whyning, if thou denie the leaft fillable of the addition.

30

Stew. What a monftrous fellow art thou, thus to raile on one, that's neither knowne of thee, nor knowes thee.

Kent. What a brazen fact varlet art thou, to deny thou knoweft mee, is it two dayes agoe fince I beat thee, and tript vp thy heeles before the King? draw you rogue, for though it be night the Moone shines, ile make a sop of the moone-fhine a'you, draw you whorfon cullyonly barber-munger, draw?

Stew. Away, I haue nothing to doe with thee.

Kent. Draw you rafcall, you bring letters against the King, 40 and take Vanitie the puppets part, against the royaltie of her

II. i.

Lay comforts to your bofome, and bestow
Your needfull counfaile to our bufineffes,

130 Which craues the inftant vse.

II. ii.

10

Glo. I ferue you Madam,

Your Graces are right welcome.

Scena Secunda.

Exeunt. Flourish.

Enter Kent, aad Steward feuerally.

Stew. Good dawning to thee Friend, art of this houfe?

Kent. I

Stew. Where may we fet our horfes?

Kent. l'th'myre.

Stew. Prythee, if thou lou'ft me, tell me.

Kent. I loue thee not.

Ste. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold, I would make
thee care for me.

Ste. Why do'ft thou vle me thus? I know thee not.
Kent. Fellow I know thee.

Ste. What do'ft thou know me for?

Kent. A Knaue, a Rafcall, an eater of broken meates, a bafe, proud, fhallow, beggerly, three-fuited - hundred pound, filthy woofted-stocking knaue, a Lilly - liuered, action - taking, whorefon glaffe - gazing fuper- feruiceable 20 finicall Rogue, one Trunke - inheriting flaue, one that would'ft be a Baud in way of good feruice, and art nothing but the compofition of a Knaue, Begger, Coward, Pandar, and the Sonne and Heire of a Mungrill Bitch, one whom I will beate into clamours whining, if thou deny'ft the leaft fillable of thy addition.

Stew. Why, what a monstrous Fellow art thou, thus to raile on one, that is neither knowne of thee, nor knowes thee?

30 Kent. What a. brazen-fac'd Varlet art thou, to deny thou knoweft me? Is it two dayes fince I tript vp thy heeles, and beate thee before the King? Draw you rogue, for though it be night, yet the Moone fhines, Ile make a Lop oth' Moonshine of you, you whorefon Cullyenly Barber-monger, draw.

Stew. Away, I haue nothing to do with thee.

Kent. Draw you Rafcall, you come with Letters a

40 gainst the King, and take Vanitie the puppets part, a

[292a

II. ii.

50

father, draw you rogue or ile fo carbonado your fhankes, draw
you rafcall, come your wayes.

Stew. Helpe, ho, murther, helpe.

Kent. Strike you flaue, stand rogue, ftand you neate flaue,
strike?
Stew. Helpe ho, murther, helpe.

Enter Edmund with his rapier drawne, Glofter the Duke
and Dutcheffe.

Bast. How now, whats the matter?

Kent. With you goodman boy, and you please come, ile [28 fleash you, come on yong maister.

Gloft. Weapons, armes, whats the matter here:

Duke. Keepe peace vpon your liues, hee dies that strikes againe, what's the matter?

Reg. The meffengers from our fifter, and the King.

Duke. Whats your difference, speake

Stew. I am fcarfe in breath my Lord.

Kent. No maruaile you haue fo beftir'd your valour, you 60 cowardly rafcall, nature difclaimes in thee, a Tayler made thee.

70

Duke. Thou art a strange fellow, a Taylor make a man.
Kent. I, a Tayler fir; a Stone-cutter, or a Painter could not
haue made him fo ill, though hee had beene but two houres at
the trade.

Gloft. Speake yet, how grew your quarrell?

Stew. This ancient ruffen fir, whose life I haue spar'd at fute of his gray-beard.

Kent. Thou whorfon Zedd, thou vnneceffarie letter, my Lord if you'l giue mee leaue, I will tread this vnboulted villaine into morter, and daube the walles of a iaques with him, spare my gray beard you wagtayle.

Duke. Peace fir, you beaftly Knaue you haue no reuerence.

Kent. Yes fir, but anger has a priuiledge.

Duke. Why art thou angry

Kent. That fuch a flaue as this fhould weare a fword,

That weares no honefty, fuch fmiling roges as these,

80 Like Rats oft bite those cordes in twaine,

Which are to intrench, to inloose smooth euery passion
That in the natures of their Lords rebell,

Bring oyle to ftir, fnow to their colder-moods,

Reneag, affirme, and turne their halcion beakes