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Save thee, Curan.
Greetings, 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.
And to you, sir. I’ve spoken with your father and informed him that the Duke of Cornwall and his wife Regan will be staying here with him tonight.
How comes that?
How did that happen?
Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?
Honestly, I don’t know. Have you heard the latest rumors? I mean the quiet ones, since they’re just whispers in the ear?
Not I pray you, what are they?
No, I haven’t. Please tell me, what are they?
Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
Haven’t you heard there might be a war brewing between the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
Not a word.
Not a single word.
You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
Well, you might hear of it soon enough. Goodbye, sir.
The duke be here to-night? The better! best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. 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!
The duke is coming tonight? Even better! This fits perfectly into my plans. My father has guards set to capture my brother; And I have a tricky situation I must handle quickly: luck, work for me! Brother, I need a word; come down: brother, I said!
My father watches: O sir, fly this place; 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’ the night, i’ the haste, And Regan with him: have you nothing said Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany? Advise yourself.
My father is watching: Oh sir, leave this place now; They know where you’re hiding; You have the cover of darkness to escape: Haven’t you spoken against the Duke of Cornwall? He’s coming here now, tonight, in a hurry, And Regan’s with him: have you said anything in support of the Duke of Albany against him? Think carefully.
I am sure on’t, not a word.
I’m certain, not a single word.
I hear my father coming: pardon me: In cunning I must draw my sword upon you Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well. Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here! Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell.
I hear my father coming: forgive me: I have to pretend to draw my sword against you cleverly. Draw your sword; act like you’re defending yourself; do it well. Surrender: let’s face my father together. Lights, hey, over here! Run, brother. Torches, torches! Goodbye.
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion.
A little blood on me would make it more believable.
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards Do more than this in sport. Father, father! Stop, stop! No help?
To show I fought harder: I’ve seen drunk people Do worse than this just for fun. Father, father! Stop, stop! No help?
Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?
Now, Edmund, where’s the criminal?
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand auspicious mistress,--
He stood right here in the dark, sword drawn, Muttering evil spells, trying to summon the moon To be his powerful ally--
But where is he?
But where is he?
Look, sir, I bleed.
Look, sir, I’m bleeding.
Where is the villain, Edmund?
Where is the villain, Edmund?
Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could--
He ran this way, sir. When he couldn’t--
Pursue him, ho! Go after.
Chase him, hurry! Go after him.
By no means what?
By no means what?
Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him, the revenging gods ’Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend; Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine, Seeing how loathly opposite I stood To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion, With his prepared sword, he charges home My unprovided body, lanced mine arm: But when he saw my best alarum’d spirits, Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to the encounter, Or whether gasted by the noise I made, Full suddenly he fled.
Convince me to kill you, sir; But I told him, the gods of revenge Use all their thunder against those who kill their fathers; I spoke of how strong the bond is Between a child and his father; in the end, sir, Seeing how firmly I opposed His unnatural plan, he became furious, And with his sword ready, he attacked My unarmed self and slashed my arm: But when he saw how my spirit was fully awakened, Confident in the justice of my fight, ready to defend, Or maybe scared by the noise I made, He suddenly ran away.
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 to-night: By his authority I will proclaim it, That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, Bringing the murderous coward to the stake; He that conceals him, death.
Let him run far away: He won’t stay in this country without being caught; And once found—kill him. The noble duke, my master, My honorable leader and protector, arrives tonight: By his authority, I will announce That whoever finds him will earn our gratitude, Bringing the murderous coward to justice; Whoever hides him, death.
When I dissuaded him from his intent, And found him pight to do it, with curst speech I threaten’d 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 faith’d? No: what I should deny,-- As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce My very character,--I’ld turn it all To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise: And thou must make a dullard of the world, If they not thought the profits of my death Were very pregnant and potential spurs To make thee seek it.’
When I tried to talk him out of his plan, And found him determined to do it, with harsh words I threatened to expose him: he replied, ‘You worthless bastard! Do you really think That if I opposed you, any trust, virtue, or worth Would make your words believable? No: what I would deny— Like this, I would: yes, even if you presented My own handwriting—I’d turn it all Against you as a scheme, a plot, a damned trick: And you’d have to make fools of everyone, If they didn’t think the benefits of my death Were strong enough motives To make you seek it.’
Strong and fasten’d villain Would he deny his letter? I never got him.
Strong and determined villain! Would he deny his own letter? I disown 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 the due note of him; and of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means To make thee capable.
Listen, the duke’s trumpets! I don’t know why he’s here. I’ll close all the ports; the villain won’t escape; The duke must allow me that: besides, his portrait I’ll send far and wide, so the whole kingdom Will recognize him; and as for my estate, My loyal and rightful son, I’ll find a way To make you inherit it.
How now, my noble friend! since I came hither, Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
How are you, my good friend? Since I arrived here— Which feels like just a moment ago—I’ve heard strange news.
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?
If it’s true, no punishment will be severe enough To catch the offender. How are you, my lord?
O, madam, my old heart is crack’d, it’s crack’d!
Oh, madam, my old heart is broken, it’s broken!
What, did my father’s godson seek your life? He whom my father named? your Edgar?
What, did my father’s godson try to kill you? The one my father named? Your Edgar?
O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
Oh, madam, shame would rather keep it secret!
Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father?
Wasn’t he hanging around with the rowdy knights That serve my father?
I know not, madam: ’tis too bad, too bad.
I don’t know, madam: it’s terrible, terrible.
Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
Yes, madam, he was with that group.
No marvel, then, though he were ill affected: ’Tis they have put him on the old man’s death, To have the expense and waste of his revenues. I have this present evening from my sister Been well inform’d of them; and with such cautions, That if they come to sojourn at my house, I’ll not be there.
No wonder, then, if he had bad intentions: It’s they who pushed him to plot my father’s death, To take advantage of his wealth and estates. This very evening, I heard from my sister Reliable news of them; and with such warnings That if they come to stay at my house, I won’t be there.
Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father A child-like office.
Nor will I, I assure you, Regan. Edmund, I’ve heard you have shown your father True loyalty.
’Twas my duty, sir.
It was my duty, sir.
He did bewray his practise; and received This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
He exposed his own schemes; and got this wound you see, trying to capture him.
Is he pursued?
Is he being chased?
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my lord.
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 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.
If he’s caught, he’ll never again be feared for causing harm. Use my authority as you see fit. And as for you, Edmund, whose loyalty and obedience right now speak so well of you, you will be on our side. We need people we can deeply trust; you’ll be our first choice.
I shall serve you, sir, Truly, however else.
I will serve you, sir, faithfully, no matter what.
For him I thank your grace.
I thank your grace on his behalf.
You know not why we came to visit you,--
You don’t know why we came to see you—
Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night: 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 least thought it fit To answer from our home; the several messengers 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.
So unexpectedly, traveling through the night: Important matters, noble Gloucester, of some weight, where we need your advice. Our father has written, so has our sister, about disagreements, which I thought it better not to respond to from home; various messengers are here awaiting instructions. Our dear old friend, take comfort, and give us your necessary advice for our business, which requires immediate attention.
I serve you, madam: Your graces are right welcome.
I am at your service, madam: You are most welcome here.