Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene vii
2058: Scena Septima.
2059: [ Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gonerill, Bastard,
and Seruants]
2061:
Corn.
Poste speedily to my Lord your husband, shew
2062: him this Letter, the Army of France is landed: seeke out
2063: the Traitor Glouster.
2064:
Reg.
Hang him instantly.
2065:
Gon.
Plucke out his eyes.
2066:
Corn.
Leaue him to my displeasure. Edmond, keepe
2067: you our Sister company: the reuenges wee are bound to
2068: take vppon your Traitorous Father, are not fit for your
2069: beholding. Aduice the Duke where you are going, to a
2070: most festinate preparation: we are bound to the like. Our
2071: Postes shall be swift, and intelligent betwixt vs. Fare-well
2072: deere Sister, farewell my Lord of Glouster.
2073: [ Enter Steward.]
2074: How now? Where's the King?
2075:
Stew.
My Lord of Glouster hath conuey'd him hence
2076: Some fiue or six and thirty of his Knights
2077: Hot Questrists after him, met him at gate,
2078: Who, with some other of the Lords, dependants,
2079: Are gone with him toward Douer; where they boast
2080: To haue well armed Friends.
2081:
Corn.
Get horses for your Mistris.
2082:
Gon
Farewell sweet Lord, and Sister. [ Exit]
2083:
Corn.
Edmund farewell: go seek the Traitor Gloster,
2084: Pinnion him like a Theefe, bring him before vs:
2085: Though well we may not passe vpon his life
2086: Without the forme of Iustice: yet our power
2087: Shall do a curt'sie to our wrath, which men
2088: May blame, but not comptroll.
2089: [ Enter Gloucester, and Seruants.]
2090: Who's there? the Traitor?
2091:
Reg.
Ingratefull Fox, 'tis he.
2092:
Corn.
Binde fast his corky armes.
2093:
Glou.
What meanes your Graces?
2094: Good my Friends consider you are my Ghests:
2095: Do me no foule play, Friends.
2096:
Corn.
Binde him I say.
2097:
Reg.
Hard, hard: O filthy Traitor.
2098:
Glou.
Vnmercifull Lady, as you are, I'me none.
2099:
Corn.
To this Chaire binde him,
2100: Villaine, thou shalt finde.
2100:
Glou.
By the kinde Gods, 'tis most ignobly done
2102: To plucke me by the Beard.
2103:
Reg.
So white, and such a Traitor?
2104:
Glou.
Naughty Ladie,
2105: These haires which thou dost rauish from my chin
2106: Will quicken and accuse thee. I am your Host,
2107: With Robbers hands, my hospitable fauours
2108: You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?
2109:
Corn.
Come Sir.
2110: What Letters had you late from France?
2111:
Reg.
Be simple answer'd, for we know the truth.
2112:
Corn.
And what confederacie haue you with the Trai-tors,
2113: late footed in the Kingdome?
2114:
Reg.
To whose hands
2115: You haue sent the Lunaticke King: Speake.
2116:
Glou.
I haue a Letter guessingly set downe
2117: Which came from one that's of a newtrall heart,
2118: And not from one oppos'd.
2119:
Corn.
Cunning.
2120:
Reg.
And false.
2121:
Corn.
Where hast thou sent the King?
2122:
Glou.
To Douer.
2123:
Reg.
Wherefore to Douer?
2124: Was't thou not charg'd at perill.
2125:
Corn.
Wherefore to Douer? Let him answer that.
2126:
Glou.
I am tyed to'th' Stake,
2127: And I must stand the Course.
2128:
Reg.
Wherefore to Douer?
2129:
Glou.
Because I would not see thy cruell Nailes
2130: Plucke out his poore old eyes: nor thy fierce Sister,
2131: In his Annointed flesh, sticke boarish phangs.
2132: The Sea, with such a storme as his bare head,
2133: In Hell-blacke-night indur'd, would haue buoy'd vp
2134: And quench'd the Stelled fires:
2135: Yet poore old heart, he holpe the Heauens to raine.
2136: If Wolues had at thy Gate howl'd that sterne time,
2137: Thou should'st haue said, good Porter turne the Key:
2138: All Cruels else subscribe: but I shall see
2139: The winged Vengeance ouertake such Children.
2140:
Corn.
See't shalt thou neuer. Fellowes hold y Chaire,
2141: Vpon these eyes of thine, Ile set my foote.
2142:
Glou.
He that will thinke to liue, till he be old,
2143: Giue me some helpe. === O cruell! O you Gods.
2144:
Reg.
One side will mocke another: Th' other too.
2145:
Corn.
If you see vengeance.
2146:
Seru.
Hold your hand, my Lord:
2147: I haue seru'd you euer since I was a Childe:
2148: But better seruice haue I neuer done you,
2149: Then now to bid you hold.
2150:
Reg.
How now, you dogge?
2151:
Ser.
If you did weare a beard vpon your chin,
2152: I'ld shake it on this quarrell. What do you meane?
2153:
Corn.
My Villaine?
2154:
Seru.
Nay then come on, and take the chance of anger.
2155:
Reg.
Giue me thy Sword. A pezant stand vp thus?
2156: [ Killes him.]
2157:
Ser.
Oh I am slaine: my Lord, you haue one eye left
2158: To see some mischefe on him. Oh.
2159:
Corn.
Lest it see more, preuent it; Out vilde gelly:
2160: Where is thy luster now?
2161:
Glou.
All darke and comfortlesse?
2162: Where's my Sonne Edmund?
2163: Edmund, enkindle all the sparkes of Nature
2164: To quit this horrid acte.
2165:
Reg.
Out treacherous Villaine,
2166: Thou call'st on him, that hates thee. It was he
2167: That made the ouerture of thy Treasons to vs:
2168: Who is too good to pitty thee.
2169:
Glou.
O my Follies! then Edgar was abus'd,
2170: Kinde Gods, forgiue me that, and prosper him.
2171:
Reg.
Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
2172: His way to Douer. [ Exit with Glouster.]
2173: How is't my Lord? How looke you?
2174:
Corn.
I haue receiu'd a hurt: Follow me Lady;
2175: Turne out that eyelesse Villaine: throw this Slaue
2176: Vpon the Dunghill: Regan, I bleed apace,
2177: Vntimely comes this hurt. Giue me your arme. [ Exeunt.]
Act IV