In cunning I must draw my sword upon you :— Draw seem to defend yourself; (They draw and fight) now quit you well. Yield come before my father; help, ho, here !— [Exit Edgar, r.h. Some blood drawn on me wou'd beget opinion (Stabs himself in the arm.) Enter Gloster and Servants, l.h., with torches. Glost. Now, Edmund, where's the traitor? Edm Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms.—(Sheathes his sword) Glost. But where is he? Edm. Look, sir, I bleed! (Wraps his arm up in his handkerchief.) Glost. Where is the villain, Edmund ? Edm. Sir, he is fled. When by no means he could— Glost. By no means, what? Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him the revenging Gods 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend ; Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter, Or whether gasted (1) by the noise I made, Full suddenly he fled. Glost. Let him fly far, this kingdom shall not hide him, The noble duke my patron comes to night; By his authority I will proclaim Rewards for him that brings him to the stake, And death for the concealer; (1) Frighted. Then of my lands, loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means to make thee capable. (1) [Exeunt, l.h. SCENE II —The Gates of Gloster's Castle. Enter Kent, r.h., in disguise, and Oswald, l.h. Osw. Good morrow, friend; belong'st thou to this house? Kent. Ask them will answer thee. Osw. Where may we set our horses? Kent. I'th'mire. Osw. I am in haste, pr'y thee, an'thou lov'st me, tell me. Kent. I love thee not. Y Osw. Why then, I care not for thee. Kent. An I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold, (2) I'd make thee care for me. Osw. What dost thou mean? I know thee not. Kent. But, minion, I know thee. Osw. What dost thou know me for? Kent. For a base, proud, beggarly, white-liver'd, glassgazing, super-serviceable, finical rogue; one that wou'd be a pimp in way of good service, and art nothing but a com position of knave, beggar, coward, pander, Osw. What a monstrous fellow art thou, to rail at one that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee? Kent. Impudent slave! not know me, who but two days since tript up thy heels before the king? Draw, miscreant, or I'll make the moon shine through thee. (Draws his sword.) Osw. What means the fellow? I tell thee, I have nothing to do with thee. Kent. Draw, you rascal. I know your rogueship's office : you come with letters against the king, taking my young lady Vanity's part against her royal father. Draw, rascal. Osw. Murder, murder, help. [Exit, Kent after him, r.h.s.e. (1) Capable of succeeding to my land, notwithstanding the legal bar to thy illegitimacy. (2) Lipsbury Pinfold may be a cant expression, importing the same as Lob's Pound.—A pinfold is a pound. Flourish of Trumpets. Enter Duke of Cornwall, Regan, Captain of the Guard, Attendants, Gloster and Edmund, from the Gates, l.h. Glost. All welcome to your graces, you do me honor. Corn. Gloster, we have heard with sorrow that your life Has been attempted by your impious son. But Edmund here has paid you strictest duty, Glost. He did bewray (1) his practice, and receiv'd The hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. Corn. Is he pursued? Glost. He is, my lord. Reg. Use our authority to apprehend The traitor, and do justice on his head. For you, Edmund, that have signaliz'd Your virtue, you from henceforth shall be ours; A charming youth, and worth my farther thought! (Aside) We choose you, Gloster, for our host to night, A troublesome expression of our love. On, to the sports before us! (Noise within, r.h.)—Who are these? Enter Oswald, pursued by Kent. Oswald crying out for help, runs across the stage to l.h. The Captain of Guard draws his sword, l h., stops Kent r.h., and then retires a little to r.h. Glost. Now, what's the matter? Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives; he dies that strikes. Whence, and what are ye? Reg. The messengers from our sister, and the king. Osw. I'm scarce in breath, my lord. Kent. No marvel, you have so bestir'd your valor. Nature disclaims the dastard; a tailor made him. Osw. Sir, this old ruffin here, whose life I spar'd (1) Betray. Kent. Thou essence bottle! In pity to my beard !—Your leave, my lord, Kent. Yes, sir, but anger has a privilege. Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword, Than I and such a knave. Glost. Why dost thou call him knave? Kent. His countenance likes me not. (1) Corn. No more, perhaps, does mine, nor his, or hers. Kent. Plain dealing is my trade; and, to be plain, sir, I have seen better faces in my time, Than stand on any shoulders now before me. Reg. This is some fellow, that having once been prais'd For bluntness, since affects a saucy rudeness: But I have known one of these surly knaves, That in his plainness harbor'd more design. Than twenty cringing complimenting minions. Corn. What's the offence you gave him? Osw. Never any, sir r; t pleas'd the king, his master, lately To strike me on a slender misconstruction; Whilst, watching his advantage, this old lurcher Drew on me here again. Corn. Bring forth the stocks; (Two Guards exeunt at the gate.) we'll teach you. Kent. Sir, I am too old to learn ; Call not the stocks for me; I serve the king. On whose employment I was sent to you: You'll shew too small respect, and too bold malice Against the person of my royal master, Stocking his messenger. (Re-enter two Guards, they bring forth the stocks and seat, which they place r.h. of the gates.) (1) Pleases me not. Corn. Bring forth the stocks; as I have life and honor, There shall he sit till noon. (Guards seize Kent.) Reg. Till noon, my lord! Till night, and all night too. Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog, You would not use me so. Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will. (Captain signs the Guard, who lead Kent away, and Glost. Let me beseech your graces to forbear him; Reg. We'll answer that ; Our sister may receive it worse to have Her gentleman assaulted. To our business, lead. (Flourish.—Exeunt all but Gloster and Oswald into the Castle.) Glost. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition will not be controled. But I'll intreat for thee. Kent. Pray do not, sir. I have watch'd and travel'd hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle : Farewell t'ye, sir. [Exit Gloster into the Castle. (Oswald remains on the stage to indulge a few vaporing antics with Kent, and then follows Gloster into the Castle.) SCENE III.—A Forest. Enter Edgar, l.h., muffled up. Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd And, by the friendly hollow of a tree, Escap'd the hunt. No port is free, no place, |