Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd! Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life? He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar? Glo. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid! Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? Glo. I know not, madam : Yes, madam, he was. Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have the waste and spoil of his revenues. I have this present evening from my sister Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions, That, if they come to sojourn at my house, I'll not be there. Corn. Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that A child-like office. Edm. you have shown your father 'Twas my duty, sir. Glo. He did bewray his practice'; and receiv'd This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. Corn. Is he pursued? Glo. Ay, my good lord, he is. Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose, How in my strength you please. For you, Ed mund, Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant Edm. I shall serve you, sir, 5 Wicked purpose. Glo. For him I thank your grace. you, Corn. You know not why we came to visit Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize", Your needful counsel to our business, Which craves the instant use. Glo. I serve you, madam : [Exeunt. Your graces are right welcome. SCENE II. Before Gloster's Castle. Enter KENT and Steward, severally. Stew. Good dawning to thee, friend: Art of the house? Kent. Ay. Stew. Where may we set our horses? Kent. I' the mire. Stew. Pr'y thee, if thou love me, Kent. I love thee not. tell me. Stew. Why, then I care not for thee. Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me. Stew. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. Kent. Fellow, I know thee. Stew. What dost thou know me for? Kent. A knave; a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, threesuited, hundred-pound, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking knave; a glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, and coward: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deny'st 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-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou know'st me? Is it two days ago, since I tripp'd up thy heels, and beat thee, before the king? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be night, the moon shines; I'll make a sop o' the moonshine of you: Draw, you barber-monger, draw. [Drawing his Sword. 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 so carbonado shanks: your rascal; come your ways. Stew. Help, ho! murder! help! -draw you Kent. Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you neat slave, strike. [Beating him. Stew. Help, ho! murder! murder ! Enter EDMUND, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and Servants. Edm. How now? What 's the matter? Part. Kent. With you, goodman boy, if you please; come, I'll flesh you; come on, young master. Glo. Weapons! arms! What's the matter here? Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives; He dies, that strikes again: What is the matter? 7 Titles. 8 A character in the old moralities. Reg. The messengers from our sister and the king. Corn. What is your difference? speak. Stew. I am scarce in breath, my lord. Kent. No marvel, you have so bestirr'd your valour. You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee; a tailor made thee. Corn. Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man? Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir; a stone-cutter, or a painter, could not have made him so ill, though they had been but two hours at the trade. Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel? Stew. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spar'd, At suit of his grey beard, Kent. Thou zed! thou unnecessary letter! My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall with him. Spare my grey beard, you wagtail? Corn. Peace, sirrah! You beastly knave, know you no reverence? Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword, Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain Which are too intrinse' t' unloose: smooth every passion That in the natures of their lords rebels ; 9 Unrefined. 1 Perplexed. 2 Disown. s The bird called the king-fisher, which, when dried and hung up by a thread, is supposed to turn his bill to the point from whence the wind blows. With every gale and vary of their masters, Glo. Say that. How fell you out? Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy, Than I and such a knave. Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What's his offence? Kent. His countenance likes me not. Corn. No more, perchance, does mine, or his, or hers. Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain; Than stands on any shoulder that I see Corn. This is some fellow, Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect ness Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends, Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity, 4 In Somersetshire, where are bred great quantities of geese. |