A Room in GLOUCESTER’S Castle. | |
| |
Enter REGAN and OSWALD. | |
| Reg. But are my brother’s powers set forth? | |
| Osw. Ay, madam. | 4 |
| Reg. Himself in person there? | |
| Osw. Madam, with much ado: | |
| Your sister is the better soldier. | |
| Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? | 8 |
| Osw. No, madam. | |
| Reg. What might import my sister’s letter to him? | |
| Osw. I know not, lady. | |
| Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. | 12 |
| It was great ignorance, Gloucester’s eyes being out, | |
| To let him live; where he arrives he moves | |
| All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, | |
| In pity of his misery, to dispatch | 16 |
| His nighted life; moreover, to descry | |
| The strength o’ the enemy. | |
| Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. | |
| Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us, | 20 |
| The ways are dangerous. | |
| Osw. I may not, madam; | |
| My lady charg’d my duty in this business. | |
| Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you | 24 |
| Transport her purposes by word? Belike, | |
| Something—I know not what. I’ll love thee much, | |
| Let me unseal the letter. | |
| Osw. Madam, I had rather— | 28 |
| Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband; | |
| I am sure of that: and at her late being here | |
| She gave strange œilliades and most speaking looks | |
| To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom. | 32 |
| Osw. I, madam! | |
| Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know ’t: | |
| Therefore I do advise you, take this note: | |
| My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk’d, | 36 |
| And more convenient is he for my hand | |
| Than for your lady’s. You may gather more. | |
| If you do find him, pray you, give him this, | |
| And when your mistress hears thus much from you, | 40 |
| I pray desire her call her wisdom to her: | |
| So, fare you well. | |
| If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, | |
| Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. | 44 |
| Osw. Would I could meet him, madam: I would show | |
| What party I do follow. | |
| Reg. Fare thee well. [Exeunt. | |
