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King Lear - Act 2, scene 1
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King Lear - Act 2, scene 1Act 2, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
Edmund tricks Edgar into fleeing from Gloucester’s castle. After more of Edmund’s lies, Gloucester condemns Edgar to death and makes Edmund his heir. Cornwall and Regan arrive at Gloucester’s castle, hear the false stories about Edgar, and welcome Edmund into their service.
Enter ⌜Edmund, the⌝ Bastard and Curan, severally.EDMUND 1000 Save thee, Curan.
CURAN 1001 And ⟨you,⟩ sir. I have been with your father and
1002 given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and
1003 Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.
EDMUND 1004 5How comes that?
CURAN 1005 Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news
1006 abroad?—I mean the whispered ones, for they are
1007 yet but ear-kissing arguments.
EDMUND 1008 Not I. Pray you, what are they?
CURAN 1009 10Have you heard of no likely wars toward ’twixt
1010 the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMUND 1011 Not a word.
CURAN 1012 You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
He exits.
EDMUND
1013 The Duke be here tonight? The better, best.
1014 15 This weaves itself perforce into my business.
1015 My father hath set guard to take my brother,
1016 And I have one thing of a queasy question
1017 Which I must act. Briefness and fortune work!—
1018 Brother, a word. Descend. Brother, I say!
Enter Edgar.
1019 20 My father watches. O sir, fly this place!
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1020
Intelligence is given where you are hid.1021 You have now the good advantage of the night.
1022 Have you not spoken ’gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
1023 He’s coming hither, now, i’ th’ night, i’ th’ haste,
1024 25 And Regan with him. Have you nothing said
1025 Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany?
1026 Advise yourself.
EDGAR 1027 I am sure on ’t, not a word.
EDMUND
1028 I hear my father coming. Pardon me.
1029 30 In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.
1030 Draw. Seem to defend yourself. Now, quit you
1031 well.⌜They draw.⌝
1032 Yield! Come before my father! Light, hoa, here!
1033 ⌜Aside to Edgar.⌝ Fly, brother.—Torches, torches!
1034 35 —So, farewell.Edgar exits.
1035 Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
1036 Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards
1037 Do more than this in sport.⌜He wounds his arm.⌝
1038 Father, father!
1039 40 Stop, stop! No help?
Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches.
GLOUCESTER 1040 Now, Edmund, where’s the
1041 villain?
EDMUND
1042 Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
1043 Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
1044 45 To stand auspicious mistress.
GLOUCESTER 1045 But where is he?
EDMUND
1046 Look, sir, I bleed.
GLOUCESTER 1047 Where is the villain,
1048 Edmund?
EDMUND
1049 50 Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could—
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GLOUCESTER 1050 Pursue him, ho! Go after. ⌜Servants exit.⌝ By no
1051 means what?
EDMUND
1052 Persuade me to the murder of your Lordship,
1053 But that I told him the revenging gods
1054 55 ’Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend,
1055 Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
1056 The child was bound to th’ father—sir, in fine,
1057 Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
1058 To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion
1059 60 With his preparèd sword he charges home
1060 My unprovided body, ⟨lanced⟩ mine arm;
1061 And when he saw my best alarumed spirits,
1062 Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to th’ encounter,
1063 Or whether ghasted by the noise I made,
1064 65 Full suddenly he fled.
GLOUCESTER 1065 Let him fly far!
1066 Not in this land shall he remain uncaught,
1067 And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,
1068 My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
1069 70 By his authority I will proclaim it
1070 That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
1071 Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
1072 He that conceals him, death.
EDMUND
1073 When I dissuaded him from his intent
1074 75 And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
1075 I threatened to discover him. He replied
1076 “Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think
1077 If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
1078 Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
1079 80 Make thy words faithed? No. What ⟨I should⟩
1080 deny—
1081 As this I would, though thou didst produce
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1082
My very character—I’d turn it all1083 To thy suggestion, plot, and damnèd practice.
1084 85 And thou must make a dullard of the world
1085 If they not thought the profits of my death
1086 Were very pregnant and potential ⟨spurs⟩
1087 To make thee seek it.”
GLOUCESTER 1088 O strange and fastened villain!
1089 90 Would he deny his letter, said he?
1090 ⟨I never got him.⟩Tucket within.
1091 Hark, the Duke’s trumpets. I know not ⟨why⟩ he
1092 comes.
1093 All ports I’ll bar. The villain shall not ’scape.
1094 95 The Duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture
1095 I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
1096 May have due note of him. And of my land,
1097 Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means
1098 To make thee capable.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.
CORNWALL
1099 100 How now, my noble friend? Since I came hither,
1100 Which I can call but now, I have heard strange
1101 ⟨news.⟩
REGAN
1102 If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
1103 Which can pursue th’ offender. How dost, my
1104 105 lord?
GLOUCESTER
1105 O madam, my old heart is cracked; it’s cracked.
REGAN
1106 What, did my father’s godson seek your life?
1107 He whom my father named, your Edgar?
GLOUCESTER
1108 O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
REGAN
1109 110 Was he not companion with the riotous knights
1110 That tended upon my father?
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GLOUCESTER 1111 I know not, madam. ’Tis too bad, too bad.
EDMUND
1112 Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
REGAN
1113 No marvel, then, though he were ill affected.
1114 115 ’Tis they have put him on the old man’s death,
1115 To have th’ expense and waste of his revenues.
1116 I have this present evening from my sister
1117 Been well informed of them, and with such cautions
1118 That if they come to sojourn at my house
1119 120 I’ll not be there.
CORNWALL 1120 Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—
1121 Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
1122 A childlike office.
EDMUND 1123 It was my duty, sir.
GLOUCESTER
1124 125 He did bewray his practice, and received
1125 This hurt you see striving to apprehend him.
CORNWALL 1126 Is he pursued?
GLOUCESTER 1127 Ay, my good lord.
CORNWALL
1128 If he be taken, he shall never more
1129 130 Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose,
1130 How in my strength you please.—For you, Edmund,
1131 Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
1132 So much commend itself, you shall be ours.
1133 Natures of such deep trust we shall much need.
1134 135 You we first seize on.
EDMUND 1135 I shall serve you, sir,
1136 Truly, however else.
GLOUCESTER 1137 For him I thank your Grace.
CORNWALL
1138 You know not why we came to visit you—
REGAN
1139 140 Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.
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1140
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some ⟨poise,⟩1141 Wherein we must have use of your advice.
1142 Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
1143 Of differences, which I best ⟨thought⟩ it fit
1144 145 To answer from our home. The several messengers
1145 From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
1146 Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow
1147 Your needful counsel to our businesses,
1148 Which craves the instant use.
GLOUCESTER 1149 150 I serve you, madam.
1150 Your Graces are right welcome.
Flourish. They exit.