Glo.

Strong and fasten'd villain!

[Tucket within.

Would he deny his letter?-[I never got him.]

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. Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,

(Which I can call but now,) I have heard strange

news.

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue th' offender. How dost, my lord? Glo. O Madam! my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd.

Reg. What did my father's godson seek your life?

He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glo. O lady, lady! shame would have it hid.

Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights

That tend upon my father?

Glo. I know not, Madam: 'tis too bad, too

Edm. Yes, Madam, he was of that consort.

Reg. 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 inform'd of them; and with such cau

tions,

That if they come to sojourn at my house,

Edmund, I hear that you have shewn your father
A child-like office.

Edm.

'Twas my duty, sir.

Glo. He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. Corn. Is he pursued?

Glo.

Ay, my good lord.

Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more

Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose, How in my strength you please. — For

mund,

you,

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.

Edm.

Truly, however else.

Glo.

I shall serve you, sir,

Ed

For him I thank your Grace.

Corn. You know not why we came to visit

you.

Reg. Thus out of season, threading dark-ey'd

night.

Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poise,

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 messen

gers

From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,

Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.

Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally.

Osw. Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?

Kent. Ay.

Osw. Where may we set our horses?

Kent. I' th' mire.

Osw. Pr'ythee, if thou lov'st me, tell me.

Kent. I love thee not.

Osw. Why, then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me.

Osw. Why do'st thou use me thus? I know thee not.

Kent. Fellow, I know thee.

Osw.

What do'st thou know me for?

Kent. A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lilyliver'd, action-taking knave; a whoreson glass-gazing, super-serviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that would'st be a bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into

clamorous whining, if thou deni'st the least syllable of thy addition.

Osw. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail on one that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee!

Kent. What a brazen-fac'd varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me! Is it two days since I tripp'd up thy heels, and beat thee, before the King? Draw, you rogue; for, though it be night, yet the moon shines I'll make a sop o' th' moonshine of you: [drawing his sword.] Draw, you whoreson cullionly barber-monger, draw.

Osw. Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

Kent. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the King, and take Vanity, the puppet's, part, against the royalty of her father. Draw, you rogue,

or I'll so carbonado your shanks :

come your ways.

Osw. Help, ho! murther! help!

draw, you rascal;

Kent. Strike, you slave: stand, rogue, stand; you

neat slave, strike.

Osw. Help, ho! murther! murther!

[Beating him.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, EDMUND, and

Servants.

Edm. How now! What's the matter?

[Parts them.

Kent. With you, goodman boy, if you please :

come,

I'll flesh you; come on, young master.

Glo. Weapons! arms! What's the matter here? Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives:

He dies that strikes again. What is the matter? Reg. The messenger from our sister and the King

Corn.

Osw. Kent.

What is your difference? speak.
I am scarce in breath, my lord.

No marvel, you have so bestirr'd your valour. You cowardly rascal, Nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made thee.

Corn.

man?

Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a

Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter, or a painter, could not have made him so ill, though they had been but two hours o' th' trade.

Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?

Osw. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spar'd,

At suit of his grey beard,

Kent. Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! - My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a jakes with him. Spare my grey beard, you wagtail?

Corn. Peace, sirrah!

You beastly knave, know you no reverence?
Kent. Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.

Corn. Why art thou angry?

Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a

sword,

Who wears no honesty.

these,

Such smiling rogues as

Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain

Which are too intrinse t' unloose; smooth every pas

sion

That in the natures of their lords rebels;

Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;
Reneag, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary of their masters,
Knowing naught, like dogs, but following. -