Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: you have the captives, Who were the opposites of this day's strife: We do require them of you; so to use them, As we shall find their merits and our safety May equally determine. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; Which do command them. With him I sent the queen; Where you shall hold your session. At this time, By those that feel their sharpness: The question of Cordelia, and her father, Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, The which immediacy may well stand up," Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Alb. That were the most, if he should husband you Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holla, holla! That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint. [5] Turn the launce-men, whom we have hired by giving them pressmoney, against us. STEEVENS. [6] The determination of the question, what shall be done with Cordelia and her father, should be reserved for greater privacy. STEEVENS. [7] Immediacy, supremacy in opposition to subordination, which has quiddam medium between itself and power. JOHNSON. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good-will.9 Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [TO EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, This gilded serpent:-[Pointing to GoN.]-For your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord," And I, her husband, contradict your bans. Gon. An interlude.! Alb. Thou art arm'd,Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge; [Throwing down a glove.] I' prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside. Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down a glove.] What in the world he is, That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald ! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. This sickness grows upon me. [8] A metaphorical phrase taken from the camp, and signifying, to surrender at discretion. WARBURTON. [9] To obstruct their union lies not in your good pleasure: your veto will avail nothing. 9* MALONE. VOL. VIII. 109 Enter a Herali. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Erit REGAN, led. Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,— And read out this. Off. Sound, trumpet. [A trumpet sounds. Herald reads. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloater, that he is a manifold traitor let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence. Edm. Sound. Her. Again. [1 Trumpet. 2 Trumpet. [3 Trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer Edg. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-guawn, and canker-bit : I am come to cope withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No, [2] The privilege of this oath means the privilege gained by taking the ath administered in the regular initiation of a knight professed. JOHNS. To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: Gon. This is mere practice, Gloster: By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it :-Hold, sir :--- [Gives the letter to EDMUND. Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine : Who shall arraign me for't? Alb. Most monstrous ! Know'st thou this paper? Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out. Edm.What you have charg'd me with, that have 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 art noble, I do forgive thee. Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund ; If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; [1] 'Say for essay, some shew or probability. POPE-Say is sample, a STEEVENS. taste. The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophecy A royal nobleness :-I must embrace thee; Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. Worthy prince, I know it well. Alb. Where have you hid yourself! How have you known the miseries of your father? That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have seem'd a period Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding As he'd burst heaven; threw him on my father: |