1    Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him
2    this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek
3    out the villain Gloucester.

4    Hang him instantly.

5    Pluck out his eyes.

6    Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our
7    sister company: the revenges we are bound to take
8    upon your traitorous father are not fit for your
9    beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to
10   a most festinate preparation: we are bound to the
11   like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent
12   betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my
13   lord of Gloucester.
Enter OSWALD
14   How now! where's the king?

15   My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence:
16   Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
17   Hot questrists after him, met him at gate;
18   Who, with some other of the lords dependants,
19   Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast
20   To have well-armed friends.

21   Get horses for your mistress.

22   Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

23   Edmund, farewell.
Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD
24   Go seek the traitor Gloucester,
25   Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.
Exeunt other Servants
26   Though well we may not pass upon his life
27   Without the form of justice, yet our power
28   Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men
29   May blame, but not control. Who's there? the traitor?

30   Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

31   Bind fast his corky arms.

32   What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider
33   You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.

34   Bind him, I say.

35   Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!

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

37   To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find--

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

40   So white, and such a traitor!

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

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

47   Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.

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

50   To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak.

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

54   Cunning.

55   And false.

56   Where hast thou sent the king?

57   To Dover.

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

59   Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.

60   I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.

61   Wherefore to Dover, sir?

62   Because I would not see thy cruel nails
63   Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
64   In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
65   The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
66   In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up,
67   And quench'd the stelled fires:
68   Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
69   If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,
70   Thou shouldst have said 'Good porter, turn the key,'
71   All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see
72   The winged vengeance overtake such children.

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

75   He that will think to live till he be old,
76   Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!

77   One side will mock another; the other too.

78   If you see vengeance,--

79   Hold your hand, my lord:
80   I have served you ever since I was a child;
81   But better service have I never done you
82   Than now to bid you hold.

83   How now, you dog!

84   If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
85   I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?

86   My villain!

87   Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.

88   Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus!

89   O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
90   To see some mischief on him. O!

91   Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
92   Where is thy lustre now?

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

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

100  O my follies! then Edgar was abused.
101  Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!

102  Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
103  His way to Dover.
Exit one with GLOUCESTER
104  How is't, my lord? how look you?

105  I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.
106  Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave
107  Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace:
108  Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm.

109  I'll never care what wickedness I do,
110  If this man come to good.

111  If she live long,
112  And in the end meet the old course of death,
113  Women will all turn monsters.

114  Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam
115  To lead him where he would: his roguish madness
116  Allows itself to any thing.

117  Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
118  To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!