928Bast. Saue thee Curan.

929Cur. And your Sir, I haue bin

930With your Father, and giuen him notice

931That the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Duchesse

932Will be here with him this night.

933Bast. How comes that?

934Cur. Nay I know not, you haue heard of the newes a-

935broad, I meane the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but

936ear-kissing arguments.

937Bast. Not I: pray you what are they?

938Cur. Haue you heard of no likely Warres toward,

939'Twixt the Dukes of Cornwall, and Albany?

940Bast. Not a word.

941Cur. You may do then in time,

942Fare you well Sir. Exit.

943Bast. The Duke be here to night? The better best,

944This weaues it selfe perforce into my businesse,

945My Father hath set guard to take my Brother,

946And I haue one thing of a queazie question

947Which I must act, Briefenesse, and Fortune worke.

949Brother, a word, discend; Brother I say,

950My Father watches: O Sir, fly this place,

951Intelligence is giuen where you are hid;

952You haue now the good aduantage of the night,

953Haue you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornewall?

954Hee's comming hither, now i'th'night, i'th'haste,

955And Regan with him, haue you nothing said

956Vpon his partie 'gainst the Duke of Albany?

957Aduise your selfe.

958Edg. I am sure on't, not a word.

959Bast. I heare my Father comming, pardon me:

960In cunning, I must draw my Sword vpon you:

961Draw, seeme to defend your selfe,

962Now quit you well.

963Yeeld, come before my Father, light hoa, here,

964Fly Brother, Torches, Torches, so farewell.

966Some blood drawne on me, would beget opinion

967Of my more fierce endeauour. I haue seene drunkards

968Do more then this in sport; Father, Father,

969Stop, stop, no helpe?

971Glo. Now Edmund, where's the villaine?

972Bast. Here stood he in the dark, his sharpe Sword out,

973Mumbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the Moone

974To stand auspicious Mistris.

975Glo. But where is he?

976Bast. Looke Sir, I bleed.

977Glo. Where is the villaine, Edmund?

978Bast. Fled this way Sir, when by no meanes he could.

979Glo. Pursue him, ho: go after. By no meanes, what?

980Bast. Perswade me to the murther of your Lordship,

981But that I told him the reuenging Gods,

982'Gainst Paricides did all the thunder bend,

983Spoke with how manifold, and strong a Bond

984The Child was bound to'th'Father; Sir in fine,

985Seeing how lothly opposite I stood

986To his vnnaturall purpose, in fell motion

987With his prepared Sword, he charges home

988My vnprouided body, latch'd mine arme;

989And when he saw my best alarum'd spirits

990Bold in the quarrels right, rouz'd to th'encounter,

991Or whether gasted by the noyse I made,

992Full sodainely he fled.

993Glost. Let him fly farre:

994Not in this Land shall he remaine vncaught

995And found; dispatch, the Noble Duke my Master,

996My worthy Arch and Patron comes to night,

997By his authoritie I will proclaime it,

998That he which finds him shall deserue our thankes,

999Bringing the murderous Coward to the stake:

1000He that conceales him death.

1001Bast. When I disswaded him from his intent,

1002And found him pight to doe it, with curst speech

1003I threaten'd to discouer him; he replied,

1004Thou vnpossessing Bastard, dost thou thinke,

1005If I would stand against thee, would the reposall

1006Of any trust, vertue, or worth in thee

1007Make thy words faith'd? No, what should I denie,

1008(As this I would, though thou didst produce

1009My very Character) I'ld turne it all

1010To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise :

1011And thou must make a dullard of the world,

1012If they not thought the profits of my death

1013Were very pregnant and potentiall spirits

1014To make thee seeke it. Tucket within.

1015Glo. O strange and fastned Villaine,

1016Would he deny his Letter, said he?

1017Harke, the Dukes Trumpets, I know not wher he comes.;

1018All Ports Ile barre, the villaine shall not scape,

1019The Duke must grant me that: besides, his picture

1020I will send farre and neere, that all the kingdome

1021May haue due note of him, and of my land,

1022(Loyall and naturall Boy) Ile worke the meanes

1023To make thee capable.

1025Corn. How now my Noble friend, since I came hither

1026(Which I can call but now,) I haue heard strangenesse.

1027Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short

1028Which can pursue th'offender; how dost my Lord?

1029Glo. O Madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd.

1030Reg. What, did my Fathers Godsonne seeke your life?

1031He whom my Father nam'd, your Edgar?

1032Glo. O Lady, Lady, shame would haue it hid.

1033Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous Knights

1034That tended vpon my Father?

1035Glo. I know not Madam, 'tis too bad, too bad.

1036Bast. Yes Madam, he was of that consort.

1037Reg. No maruaile then, though he were ill affected,

1038'Tis they haue put him on the old mans death,

1039To haue th'expence and wast of his Reuenues :

1040I haue this present euening from my Sister

1041Beene well inform'd of them, and with such cautions,

1042That if they come to soiourne at my house,

1043Ile not be there.

1044Cor. Nor I, assure thee Regan;

1045Edmund, I heare that you haue shewne yout Father

1046A Child-like Office.

1047Bast. It was my duty Sir.

1048Glo. He did bewray his practise, and receiu'd

1049This hurt you see, striuing to apprehend him.

1050Cor. Is he pursued?

1051Glo. I my good Lord.

1052Cor. If he be taken, he shall neuer more

1053Be fear'd of doing harme, make your owne purpose,

1054How in my strength you please: for you Edmund,

1055Whose vertue and obedience doth this instant

1056So much commend it selfe, you shall be ours,

1057Nature's of such deepe trust, we shall much need:

1058You we first seize on.

1059Bast. I shall serue you Sir truely, how euer else.

1060Glo. For him I thanke your Grace.

1061Cor. You know not why we came to visit you?

1062Reg. Thus out of season, thredding darke ey'd night,

1063Occasions Noble Gloster of some prize,

1064Wherein we must haue vse of your aduise.

1065Our Father he hath writ, so hath our Sister,

1066Of differences, which I best though it fit

1067To answere from our home: the seuerall Messengers

1068From hence attend dispatch, our good old Friend,

1069Lay comforts to your bosome, and bestow

1070Your needfull counsaile to our businesses,

1071Which craues the instant vse.

1072Glo. I serue you Madam,

1073Your Graces are right welcome. Exeunt.Flourish.