Saue thee Curan How comes that ? Not I : pray you what are they ? Not a word The Duke be here to night ? The better best , This weaues it selfe perforce into my businesse , My Father hath set guard to take my Brother , And I haue one thing of a queazie question Which I must act , Briefenesse , and Fortune worke . Enter Edgar . Brother , a word , discend ; Brother I say , My Father watches : O Sir , fly this place , Intelligence is giuen where you are hid ; You haue now the good aduantage of the night , Haue you not spoken ‘ gainst the Duke of Cornewall ? Hee 's comming hither , now i'th ’ night , i'th ’ haste , And Regan with him , haue you nothing said Vpon his partie ‘ gainst the Duke of Albany ? Aduise your selfe I heare my Father comming , pardon me : In cunning , I must draw my Sword vpon you : Draw , seeme to defend your selfe , Now quit you well . Yeeld , come before my Father , light hoa , here , Fly Brother , Torches , Torches , so farewell . Exit Edgar . Some blood drawne on me , would beget opinion Of my more fierce endeauour . I haue seene drunkards Do more then this in sport ; Father , Father , Stop , stop , no helpe ? Here stood he in the dark , his sharpe Sword out , Mumbling of wicked charmes , coniuring the Moone To stand auspicious Mistris Looke Sir , I bleed Fled this way Sir , when by no meanes he could Perswade me to the murther of your Lordship , But that I told him the reuenging Gods , ‘ Gainst Paricides did all the thunder bend , Spoke with how manifold , and strong a Bond The Child was bound to'th ’ Father ; Sir in fine , Seeing how lothly opposite I stood To his vnnaturall purpose , in fell motion With his prepared Sword , he charges home My vnprouided body , latch 'd mine arme ; And when he saw my best alarum 'd spirits Bold in the quarrels right , rouz 'd to th ’ encounter , Or whether gasted by the noyse I made , Full sodainely he fled When I disswaded him from his intent , And found him pight to doe it , with curst speech I threaten 'd to discouer him ; he replied , Thou vnpossessing Bastard , dost thou thinke , If I would stand against thee , would the reposall Of any trust , vertue , or worth in thee Make thy words faith 'd ? No , what should I denie , I'ld turne it all To thy suggestion , plot , and damned practise : And thou must make a dullard of the world , If they not thought the profits of my death Were very pregnant and potentiall spirits To make thee seeke it . Tucket within . Yes Madam , he was of that consort It was my duty Sir I shall serue you Sir truely , how euer else How now , what 's the matter ? Part Most sauage and vnnaturall This Curtesie forbid thee , shall the Duke Instantly know , and of that Letter too ; This seemes a faire deseruing , and must draw me That which my Father looses : no lesse then all , The yonger rises , when the old doth fall . Enter . Scena Quarta . How my Lord , I may be censured , that Nature thus giues way to Loyaltie , something feares mee to thinke of How malicious is my fortune , that I must repent to be iust ? This is the Letter which hee spoake of ; which approues him an intelligent partie to the aduantages of France . O Heauens ! that this Treason were not ; or not I the detector If the matter of this Paper be certain , you haue mighty businesse in hand If I finde him comforting the King , it will stuffe his suspition more fully . I will perseuer in my course of Loyalty , though the conflict be sore betweene that , and my blood Yours in the rankes of death . Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold , Or whether since he is aduis 'd by ought To change the course , he 's full of alteration , And selfereprouing , bring his constant pleasure ‘ Tis to be doubted Madam In honour 'd Loue No by mine honour , Madam Feare not , she and the Duke her husband . The Enemy 's in view , draw vp your powers , Heere is the guesse of their true strength and Forces , By dilligent discouerie , but your hast Is now vrg 'd on you To both these Sisters haue I sworne my loue : Each iealous of the other , as the stung Are of the Adder . Which of them shall I take ? Both ? One ? Or neither ? Neither can be enioy 'd If both remaine aliue : To take the Widdow , Exasperates , makes mad her Sister Gonerill , And hardly shall I carry out my side , Her husband being aliue . Now then , wee'l vse His countenance for the Battaile , which being done , Let her who would be rid of him , deuise His speedy taking off . As for the mercie Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia , The Battaile done , and they within our power , Shall neuer see his pardon : for my state , Stands on me to defend , not to debate . Enter . Scena Secunda . Some Officers take them away : good guard , Vntill their greater pleasures first be knowne That are to censure them Take them away Come hither Captaine , hearke . Take thou this note , go follow them to prison , One step I haue aduanc 'd thee , if thou do'st As this instructs thee , thou dost make thy way To Noble Fortunes : know thou this , that men Are as the time is ; to be tender minded Do 's not become a Sword , thy great imployment Will not beare question : either say thou'lt do't , Or thriue by other meanes About it , and write happy , when th'hast done , Marke I say instantly , and carry it so As I haue set it downe . Sir , I thought it fit , To send the old and miserable King to some retention , Whose age had Charmes in it , whose Title more , To plucke the common bosome on his side , And turne our imprest Launces in our eies Which do command them . With him I sent the Queen : My reason all the same , and they are ready To morrow , or at further space , t ’ appeare Where you shall hold your Session Nor in thine Lord There 's my exchange , what in the world hes That names me Traitor , villain-like he lies , Call by the Trumpet : he that dares approach ; On him , on you , who not , I will maintaine My truth and honor firmely . Himselfe , what saist thou to him ? In wisedome I should aske thy name , But since thy out-side lookes so faire and Warlike , And that thy tongue of breeding breathes , What safe , and nicely I might well delay , By rule of Knight-hood , I disdaine and spurne : Backe do I tosse these Treasons to thy head , With the hell-hated Lye , ore-whelme thy heart , Which for they yet glance by , and scarcely bruise , This Sword of mine shall giue them instant way , Where they shall rest for euer . Trumpets speake Aske me not what I know What you haue charg 'd me with , That haue I done , And more , much more , the time will bring it out . ‘ Tis past , and so am I : But what art thou That hast this Fortune on me ? If thou'rt Noble , I do forgiue thee Th'hast spoken right , ‘ tis true , The Wheele is come full circle , I am heere This speech of yours hath mou 'd me , And shall perchance do good , but speake you on , You looke as you had something more to say I was contracted to them both , all three Now marry in an instant Yet Edmund was belou 'd : The one the other poison 'd for my sake , And after slew herselfe I pant for life : some good I meane to do Despight of mine owne Nature . Quickly send , to'th ’ Castle , for my Writ Is on the life of Lear , and on Cordelia : Nay , send in time Well thought on , take my Sword , Giue it the Captaine He hath Commission from thy Wife and me , To hang Cordelia in the prison , and To lay the blame vpon her owne dispaire , That she for-did her selfe