Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Edmund, the Bastard and Curan, severally. 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? 5 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 10
the dukes of Cornwall and Albany? EDMUND Not a word. CURAN You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir. He exits. | Back at Edmund's place, Edmund gets news from a courtier named Curan. He learns that Regan and her husband, Cornwall, will be paying an unexpected visit to his father (Gloucester) and decides to factor that into his plans. Curan also says that there are rumors flying around about a dispute between Cornwall (Regan's husband) and Albany (Goneril's husband). |
EDMUND
The Duke be here tonight? The better, best.
This weaves itself perforce into my business. 15
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! 20
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 25
Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany?
Advise yourself. | Edmund is supervillain-monologuing about how well his scheme is going when Edgar walks in. He immediately tells Edgar that he's been found out and he'll have to flee to a new hiding spot. He also says that the Duke of Cornwall is on his way there. Did Edgar say anything offensive about him? Or the Duke of Albany? |
EDGAR I am sure on ’t, not a word. | Edgar says he hasn't been bad-mouthing anybody. |
EDMUND
I hear my father coming. Pardon me.
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you. 30
Draw. Seem to defend yourself. Now, quit you
well. They draw.
Yield! Come before my father! Light, hoa, here!
Aside to Edgar. Fly, brother.—Torches, torches!
—So, farewell. Edgar exits. 35
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. He wounds his arm.
Father, father!
Stop, stop! No help? 40 | Edmund announces he hears Gloucester coming, and Edmund suggests he and Edgar pretend to fight so that no one suspects that Edmund has been helping his brother. They fake sword fight for a bit, and then Edgar scurries off. As his father's guards come in looking for Edgar, now the "bad son," Edmund, cuts himself so it will look like Edgar hurt him. |
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. 45 GLOUCESTER But where is he? EDMUND
Look, sir, I bleed. GLOUCESTER Where is the villain,
Edmund? | Gloucester enters, on the hunt for Edgar, and Edmund starts spinning a tale about how he found Edgar standing in the dark with a blade mumbling to himself. Gloucester ignores that and says, "Which way did he go?" to which Edmund replies, "Look at my wound!" and Gloucester returns, "Great, but which way did he go?" |
EDMUND
Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could— 50 GLOUCESTER
Pursue him, ho! Go after. Servants exit. 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, 55
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 preparèd sword he charges home 60
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 ghasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled. 65 | Edmund starts his story again, but is interrupted when Gloucester sends his servants in pursuit of Edgar. Then, finally, his dad's ears are all his so Edmund tells his dramatic story (ahem, lie) about how he heroically fought off his wicked brother. |
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 70
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death. | Gloucester announces that he has put a price on Edgar's head; he adds that with Cornwall's authority, he'll reward anyone that turns Edgar in and punish anyone that protects and hides him. Thus Edgar is made into one of Britain's Most Wanted Criminals. |
EDMUND
When I dissuaded him from his intent
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech 75
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 80
deny—
As this I would, though thou didst produce
My very character—I’d turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damnèd practice.
And thou must make a dullard of the world 85
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it.” GLOUCESTER O strange and fastened villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he? 90
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 95
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. | Edmund covers all his bases here. He reports the following: Edgar said that Edmund's illegitimate status would make him the less credible brother. Basically, Edmund is setting it up so that any story Edgar could possibly tell in his defense will immediately be suspect. |
Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants. CORNWALL
How now, my noble friend? Since I came hither, 100
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? 105 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 110
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, 115
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. 120 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 125
This hurt you see striving to apprehend him. | Meanwhile, Regan and her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, arrive at Gloucester's house. They have already heard the news about Edgar's "treachery." Cornwall praises Edmund for his loyalty to his father, which is ironic. |
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, 130
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. 135 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— | Cornwall says that when Edgar is captured, he'll make sure he never harms anyone again. Then he again praises Edmund and tells him what a valued and loyal subject he is. |
REGAN
Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night. 140
Occasions, noble Gloucester, 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 messengers 145
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. 150
Your Graces are right welcome. Flourish. They exit. | Finally, Regan explains why she and Cornwall have shown up at Gloucester's in the middle of the night like this. Both her sister and her father have written her, separately, to complain about an argument. She and Cornwall want Gloucester's advice about how to handle the situation. |