King Lear Page #5

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I cannot tell.

Striving to better,

oft we mar what's well.

Nay, then?

Go you before to Regan.

I will not sleep, my lord,

till I have delivered your letter.

Shalt see...

thy other daughter will use thee kindly,

for though she's as like this as a crab's

like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

What canst tell?

She will taste as like this

as a crab does to a crab.

Thou canst tell why one's nose

stands i'the middle of one's face?

No.

Why, to keep one's eyes

on either side's nose.

That what a man cannot smell out,

he may spy into.

I did her wrong.

Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

- No.

- Nor I neither.

The reason why the seven stars are no more

than seven is a pretty reason.

- Because they are not eight?

- Yes, indeed.

Thou wouldst make a good fool.

To take't again by force!

Monster ingratitude!

If you were my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee

beaten for being old before thy time.

How's that?

Thou shouldst not have been old

until thou hadst been wise.

O let me not be mad,

not mad, sweet heaven!

Keep me in temper.

I would not be mad!

- Are the horses ready?

- Ready, my lord.

Come, boy.

Save thee, Curan.

And you, sir.

I have been with your father,

and given him notice that the Duke

of Cornwall and Regan his duchess

will be here with him this night.

How comes that?

Nay, I know not.

You have heard the news abroad?

I mean the whispered ones.

Not I. Pray you, what are they?

Have you heard of no likely wars toward,

'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Not a word.

You may do, in time. Fare you well, sir.

The Duke be here tonight?

The better! Best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business.

My father hath set guard to take my brother,

and I have one thing

of a queasy question which I must act.

Briefness and fortune, work!

Brother, a word.

Descend, brother, I say!

My father watches.

O, sir, fly this place!

Intelligence is given where you are hid.

Have you not spoken

'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

He's coming hither, now, i'the night,

i'the haste, and Regan with him.

Have you nothing said

upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?

- Advise yourself.

- Not a word, I am sure on't.

I hear my father coming. Pardon me.

In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.

Yield! Come before my father!

Lights, ho, here!

Fly, brother.

Torches, torches!

So, farewell.

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

of my more fierce endeavour.

I have seen drunkards

do more than this in sport.

Stop, stop! Father, father! No help?

Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

- Here stood he in the dark.

- But where is he?

- Look, sir, I bleed.

- Where is the villain, Edmund?

Fled this way.

When by no means he could...

Pursue him, ho! Go after.

By no means what?

Persuade me to the murder

of your lordship.

Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

to his unnatural purpose,

he charges home my unprovided body,

latched mine arm.

But when he saw my best alarumed spirits

roused to the encounter,

full suddenly he fled.

Let him fly far.

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught,

and found, dispatch.

He that conceals him, death.

I threatened to discover him.

He replied, "Thou unpossessing bastard,

dost thou think,

"if I would stand against thee,

would the reposal

"of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

make thy words faithed?"

Would he deny his letter, said he?

I never got him.

Hark, the Duke's trumpets!

I know not why he comes.

All ports I'll bar.

The villain shall not 'scape.

The Duke must grant me that.

Besides, his picture I will send

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 to make thee capable.

How now, my noble friend?

I have heard strange news.

If it be true, all vengeance

comes too short

which can pursue the offender.

How dost, my lord?

O, madam, my old heart is cracked,

it's cracked.

What, did my father's godson

seek your life?

He whom my father named? Your Edgar?

Lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Was he not companion with the riotous knights

that tended upon my father?

I know not, madam. Too bad, too bad!

Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

No marvel then though he were ill affected.

'Tis they have put him

on the old man's death,

to have the expense and waste

of his revenues.

I have this present evening from my sister

been well informed of them,

and with such cautions,

that if they come to sojourn at my house,

I'll not be there.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

Edmund, I hear that you have shown

your father a child-like office.

It was my duty, sir.

He did bewray his practise, and received

this hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

- Is he pursued?

- Ay, my good lord.

If he be taken, he shall never more

be fear'd of doing harm.

For you, Edmund,

whose virtue and obedience doth

this instant so much commend itself,

you shall be ours.

Natures of such deep trust we shall

much need. You we first seize on.

I shall serve you, sir,

Truly, however else.

- For him I thank your grace.

- You know not why we came to visit you?

Thus out of season,

threading dark-eyed night,

occasions, noble Gloucester,

of some poise,

wherein we must have use of your advice.

Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

of differences,

which I best thought it fit

to answer from our home.

I serve you, madam.

Your graces are right welcome.

Good even to thee, friend.

Art of this house?

- Ay.

- Where may we set our horses?

In the mire.

- I prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.

- I love thee not.

Why dost thou use me thus?

I know thee not.

- Fellow, I know thee.

- What dost thou know me for?

A knave, a rascal,

an eater of broken meats.

A base, proud, shallow, beggarly,

three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy,

worsted-stocking knave.

A whoreson, glass-gazing,

super-serviceable finical rogue,

one that would be a bawd,

in way of good service,

and art nothing but the composition

of knave, beggar, coward, pandar,

and the son and heir of a mongrel b*tch.

Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou,

thus to rail on one that is neither

known to thee nor knows thee!

What a brazen-faced varlet art thou

to deny thou knowest me!

Is it two days ago since I tripped up

thy heels and beat thee before the King?

- Draw, you rogue!

- Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

Draw, you rascal!

You come with letters against the King.

Draw, you rogue,

or I'll so carbonado your shanks!

Help, ho! Murder!

Strike, you slave! Stand, rogue!

Stand, you neat slave! Strike!

Help, ho! Murder! Murder!

- How now! What's the matter? Part!

- With you, goodman boy, and you please.

Come, I'll flesh ye!

Come on, young master.

Weapons? Arms?

What's the matter here?

Keep peace, upon your lives!

He dies that strikes again.

What is the matter?

The messengers from our sister

and the King.

- What is your difference? Speak.

- I am scarce in breath, my lord.

No marvel, you have so bestirred

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