ARKCODEX
Act III, Scene 7
1Gloucester’scastle.
2Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants.
3CornwallPost speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the villain Gloucester. Exeunt some of the Servants.
4ReganHang him instantly.
5GonerilPluck out his eyes.
6CornwallLeave 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.
7Enter Oswald.
8How now! where’s the king?
9OswaldMy lord of Gloucester hath convey’d 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 lords dependants,
Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast
To have well-armed friends.
10CornwallGet horses for your mistress.
11GonerilFarewell, sweet lord, and sister.
12CornwallEdmund, 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 courtesy to our wrath, which men
May blame, but not control. Who’s there? the traitor?
13Enter Gloucester, brought in by two or three.
14ReganIngrateful fox! ’tis he.
15CornwallBind fast his corky arms.
16GloucesterWhat mean your graces? Good my friends, consider
You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
17CornwallBind him, I say. Servants bind him.
18ReganHard, hard. O filthy traitor!
19GloucesterUnmerciful lady as you are, I’m none.
20CornwallTo this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find—Regan plucks his beard.
21GloucesterBy the kind gods, ’tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard.
22ReganSo white, and such a traitor!
23GloucesterNaughty 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?
24CornwallCome, sir, what letters had you late from France?
25ReganBe simple answerer, for we know the truth.
26CornwallAnd what confederacy have you with the traitors
Late footed in the kingdom?
27ReganTo whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak.
28GloucesterI have a letter guessingly set down,
Which came from one that’s of a neutral heart,
And not from one opposed.
29CornwallCunning.
30ReganAnd false.
31CornwallWhere hast thou sent the king?
32GloucesterTo Dover.
33ReganWherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril—
34CornwallWherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.
35GloucesterI am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.
36ReganWherefore to Dover, sir?
37GloucesterBecause I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endured, would have buoy’d up,
And quench’d the stelled fires:
Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
If wolves had at thy gate howl’d that stern time,
Thou shouldst have said “Good porter, turn the key,”
All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.
38CornwallSee’t shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.
Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot.
39GloucesterHe that will think to live till he be old,
Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
40ReganOne side will mock another; the other too.
41CornwallIf you see vengeance—
42First servantHold 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.
43ReganHow now, you dog!
44First servantIf you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I’d shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
45CornwallMy villain! They draw and fight.
46First servantNay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
47ReganGive me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus! Takes a sword, and runs at him behind.
48First servantO, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
To see some mischief on him. O! Dies.
49CornwallLest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
Where is thy lustre now?
50GloucesterAll dark and comfortless. Where’s my son Edmund?
Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature,
To quit this horrid act.
51ReganOut, 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.
52GloucesterO my follies! then Edgar was abused.
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
53ReganGo thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover. Exit one with Gloucester.
How is’t, my lord? how look you?
54CornwallI 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.
55Second servantI’ll never care what wickedness I do,
If this man come to good.
56Third servantIf she live long,
And in the end meet the old course of death,
Women will all turn monsters.
57Second servantLet’s follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam
To lead him where he would: his roguish madness
Allows itself to any thing.
58Third servantGo thou: I’ll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! Exeunt severally.