A Room in Gloucester's Castle.
 Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and SERVANTS.

Cornwall	[To GONERIL.] Post speedily to my lord your husband; show 
	him this letter. The army of France is landed.
	[To SERVANTS.] Seek out the traitor Gloucester.
									 [Exeunt some of the SERVANTS.
Regan	Hang him instantly.

Goneril	Pluck out his eyes.

Cornwall	Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister 
	company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your 
	traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise 
	the duke where you are going, to a most festinate 
	preparation; we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be 
	swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; 
	farewell, my Lord of Gloucester.

                              Enter OSWALD.

	How now, where's the king?

Oswald	My Lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence.
	Some five or six-and-thirty of his knights,
	Hot questrists after him, met him at gate;
	Who, with some other of the lord's dependants,
	Are gone with him toward Dover, where they boast
	To have well-armd friends.

Cornwall								Get horses for your mistress.

Goneril	Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

Cornwall	Edmund, farewell.
							 [Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD.

							Go seek the traitor Gloucester;
	Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.
												[Exeunt other SERVANTS.
	Though well we may not pass upon his life
	Without the form of justice, yet our power
	Shall do a court'sy to our wrath, which men
	May blame but not control.

                 Enter GLOUCESTER brought in by SERVANTS.

									Who's there? The traitor?

Regan	Ingrateful fox!-'tis he.

Cornwall	Bind fast his corky arms.

Gloucester	What means your graces? Good my friends, consider
	You are my guests; do me no foul play, friends.

Cornwall	Bind him, I say.
												[SERVANTS bind him.
Regan					Hard, hard! O filthy traitor!

Gloucester	Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.

Cornwall	To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find-
												[REGAN plucks his beard.

Gloucester	By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
	To pluck me by the beard.

Regan	So white, and such a traitor!

Gloucester									Naughty lady,
	These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin
	Will quicken and accuse thee. I am your host;
	With robbers' hands my hospitable favours
	You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?

Cornwall	Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?

Regan	Be simple-answered, for we know the truth.

Cornwall	And what confederacy have you with the traitors
	Late footed in the kingdom?

Regan	To whose hands you have sent the lunatic king. Speak.

Gloucester	I have a letter guessingly set down,
	Which came from one that's of a neutral heart,
	And not from one opposed.

Cornwall								Cunning.

Regan										And false.

Cornwall	Where hast thou sent the king?

Gloucester								To Dover.

Regan	Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril-

Cornwall	Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that.

Gloucester	I am tied to th'stake, and I must stand the course.

Regan	Wherefore to Dover?

Gloucester	Because I would not see thy cruel nails
	Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
	In his anointed flesh rash boarish fangs.
	The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
	In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up
	And quenched the stelld fires;
	Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
	If wolves had at thy gate howled that dearn time,
	Thou shouldst have said 'Good porter, turn the key.'
	All cruels else subscribe, but I shall see
	The wingd vengeance overtake such children.

Cornwall	See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.
	Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

Gloucester	He that will think to live till he be old
	Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
												[GLOUCESTER's eye put out.

Regan	One side will mock another; th'other too.

Cornwall	If you see vengeance-

1st Servant							Hold your hand, my lord.
	I have served you ever since I was a child,
	But better service have I never done you
	Than now to bid you hold.

Regan								How now, you dog!

1st Servant	If you did wear a beard upon your chin
	I'd shake it on this quarrel.
												[CORNWALL draws.
									What do you mean?

Cornwall	My villain!

1st Servant	[Drawing.]
	Nay then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
							[They fight, and CORNWALL is wounded.

Regan	Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus!
						   [Takes a sword and runs at him behind.

1st Servant	O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
	To see some mischief on him. O!
												[Dies.
Cornwall	Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
	Where is thy lustre now?
								 [GLOUCESTER'S other eye put out.

Gloucester	All dark and comfortless! Where's my son Edmund?
	Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature
	To quit this horrid act.

Regan								Out, treacherous villain!
	Thou call'st on him that hates thee. It was he
	That made the overture of thy treasons to us;
	Who is too good to pity thee.

Gloucester	O my follies! Then Edgar was abused.
	Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him.

Regan	Go thrust him out at gates and let him smell
	His way to Dover.
							   [Exit GLOUCESTER led by a SERVANT.

							How is't, my lord? How look you?

Cornwall	I have received a hurt. Follow me, lady.
	Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave
	Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace.
	Untimely comes this hurt. Give me your arm.
									 [Exit CORNWALL, led by REGAN.

2nd Servant	I'll never care what wickedness I do
	If this man come to good.

3rd Servant								If she live long,
	And in the end meet the old course of death,
	Women will all turn monsters.

2nd Servant	Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam
	To lead him where he would; his roguish madness
	Allows itself to anything.

3rd Servant	Go thou; I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
	To apply to his bleeding face. Now heaven help him!
												[Exeunt severally.
