A Court within the Earl of Gloucester's Castle.
 Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edmund	Save thee, Curan.

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.

Edmund	How comes that?

Curan	Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad? I mean 
	the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing 
	arguments.

Edmund	Not I. Pray you, what are they?

Curan	Have you heard of no likely wars toward 'twixt the Dukes of 
	Cornwall and Albany?

Edmund	Not a word.

Curan	You may do then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
												[Exit.
Edmund	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!

                               Enter EDGAR.

	My father watches. O, sir, fly this place;
	Intelligence is given where you are hid;
	You have now the good advantage of the night.
	Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
	He's coming hither now, i'th'night, i'th'haste,
	And Regan with him. Have you nothing said
	Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
	Advise yourself.

Edgar						I am sure on't, not a word.

Edmund	I hear my father coming. Pardon me,
	In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.
	Draw, seem to defend yourself. Now quit you well.
	[Calling.] Yield; come before my father. Light, ho, here!
	-Fly, brother.-Torches, torches!-So, farewell.
												[Exit EDGAR.
	Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
	Of my more fierce endeavour.
												[Wounds his arm.
								I have seen drunkards
	Do more than this in sport.-Father, father!
	Stop, stop! No help?
	
                  Enter GLOUCESTER, and SERVANTS with torches.

Gloucester	Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edmund	Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
	Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
	To stand auspicious mistress.

Gloucester									But where is he?

Edmund	Look, sir, I bleed.

Gloucester						Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edmund	Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could-

Gloucester	Pursue him, ho! Go after.
												[Exeunt some SERVANTS.
							'By no means' what?

Edmund	Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
	But that I told him the revenging gods
	'Gainst parricides 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 loathly opposite I stood
	To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion
	With his prepard sword he charges home
	My unprovided body, lanced mine arm;
	And when he saw my best alarumed spirits
	Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to th'encounter,
	Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
	Full suddenly he fled.

Gloucester								Let him fly far,
	Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
	And found-dispatch. The noble duke my master,
	My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
	By his authority I will proclaim it
	That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
	Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
	He that conceals him, death.

Edmund	When I dissuaded him from his intent,
	And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
	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? No; what I should deny-
	As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce
	My very character-I'd turn it all
	To thy suggestion, plot, and damnd practice;
	And thou must make a dullard of the world
	If they not thought the profits of my death
	Were very pregnant and potential spirits
	To make thee seek it.'

Gloucester							O strange and fastened villain!
	Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him.
												[Tucket within.
	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.

                  Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and ATTENDANTS.

Cornwall	How now, my noble friend! Since I came hither,
	Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

Regan	If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
	Which can pursue th'offender. How dost, my lord?

Gloucester	O, madam, my old heart is cracked-it's cracked!

Regan	What, did my father's godson seek your life?
	He whom my father named? Your Edgar?

Gloucester	O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid.

Regan	Was he not companion with the riotous knights
	That tended upon my father?

Gloucester	I know not, madam. 'Tis too bad, too bad.

Edmund	Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

Regan	No marvel then though he were ill affected;
	'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
	To have th'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.

Cornwall							Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
	Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
	A childlike office.

Edmund							It was my duty, sir.

Gloucester	He did bewray his practice; and received
	This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Cornwall	Is he pursued?

Gloucester						Ay, my good lord.

Cornwall	If he be taken he shall never more
	Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose,
	How in my strength you please. 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.

Edmund						I shall serve you, sir,
	Truly, however else.

Gloucester							For him I thank your grace.

Cornwall	You know not why we came to visit you-

Regan	Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.
	Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some prize,
	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; the several messengers
	From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
	Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow
	Your needful counsel to our businesses,
	Which craves the instant use.

Gloucester								I serve you, madam.
	Your graces are right welcome.
												[Flourish. Exeunt.
