We do require them of you, so to use them,
As we shall find their merits, and our safety,
May equally determine.

Edm.

Sir, I thought it fit

To send the old and miserable king

To some retention, and appointed guard';
has charms in it, whose title more,

Whose age
To pluck the common bosom2 on his side,

And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes,

Which do command them. With him I sent the

queen:

My reason all the same; and they are ready

To-morrow, or at farther space, ť appear

Where you shall hold your session. At this time3,

We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd

By those that feel their sharpness.

The question of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.

Alb.

I hold you but a subject of this war,

Not as a brother.

Reg.

Sir, by your patience,

That's as we list to grace him:

4

Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded,
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person;
The which immediacy may well stand up,
And call itself your brother.

1

Gon.

Not so hot:

and appointed guard ;] These words are not in the folio, nor in the quarto with the publisher's address: they are in the other quartos.

2

the common bosom] One quarto reads “the coren bosom," and the others "the common blossoms." Our text is that of the folio, and the allusion to the disposition of the people at large is obvious.

3

At this time,] From these words to the end of the speech is not in the folio, but in the three quartos.

4

our pleasure MIGHT]

5 The which IMMEDIACY]

"Our pleasure should" in the quartos.

Such is the word in the folio: the quartos read immediate. In Goneril's next speech, the folio has "addition" for advancement

of the quartos.

In his own grace he doth exalt himself,

More than in your addition.

Reg.

In my rights,

By me invested, he compeers the best.

Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Gon.

Holla, holla! That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.

Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer
From a full-flowing stomach.-General,

Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony:
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine".
Witness the world, that I create thee here

My lord and master.

Gon.

Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.

Edm. Nor in thine, lord.

Alb.

Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine'.

[To EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason.-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,

This gilded serpent. [Pointing to GON.]-For your claim, fair sister,

I bar it in the interest of my wife;

"Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,

And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
If you will marry, make your love to me,

My lady is bespoke.

Gon.

An interlude"!

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster.-Let the trumpet sound:

THE WALLS are thine :] A metaphorical phrase, signifying, to surrender, like a town. This line is not in the quartos.

7

- my title THINE.] "My title good," quartos, where the line is given to Edmund. Two lines lower, for "thy arrest," the quartos have "thine attaint." 8 An interlude !] This exclamation is only in the folio. The necessary words, "let the trumpet sound," are also from that impression. In the next line, for head of the quartos, the folio has "person."

If none appear to prove upon thy person,
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

There is my pledge. [Throwing down a Glove.] I'll prove it on thy heart,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less

Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

Reg.

Sick! O, sick!

Gon. [Aside.] If not, I'll ne'er trust poison".

Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down a
Glove.] what in the world he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, who not? I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho!

Edm.

A herald, ho! a herald 10!

Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,

All levied in my name, have in my name

Took their discharge.

Reg.

Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.

My sickness grows upon me.

[Exit REGAN, led.

"If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army', will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence."

9- I'll ne'er trust POISON.] So the quartos: the folio, medicine; and three lines higher, "make it on thy heart."

10 A herald, ho! a herald !] Only in the quartos.

1 Sound, trumpet.] This command is not in the folio.

2

within the LISTS of the army,] The quartos," within the host," &c.

Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Her.

What are you?

Your name? your quality? and why you answer
This present summons?

Edg.

Know, my name is lost;

By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit:
Yet am I noble, as the adversary

I come to cope withal3.

Alb.

Which is that adversary?

Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of

Gloster?

Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him?

Edg.

That if my speech offend a noble heart,

Draw thy sword,

Thy arm may do thee justice; here is mine:

Behold, it is my privilege1, the privilege of mine honours,

My oath, and my profession. I protest,

Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,
Despite thy victor swords, and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor:
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from th' extremest upward of thy head,

3 Yet am I noble, as the adversary

I come to cope withal.] So the folio, but omitting "withal:" one quarto (that with the stationer's address) reads,

"Yet are I move 't,

Where is the adversary I come to cope withal ?"

and the others leave out "Yet are I move 't."

4

- my privilege,] These words are only in the folio.

* DESPITE thy victor sword,] The folio has Despise for "Despite."

VOL, VII.

I i

To the descent and dust below thy foot,

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, "No,"
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,

Thou liest.

Edm.

In wisdom, I should ask thy name;

But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,

And that thy tongue some 'say' of breeding breathes,
What safe and nicely I might well delay

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn.
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which, for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise,
This sword of mine shall give them instant way,
Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets, speak.
[Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls.

Alb. O, save him! save him!

Gon.

This is mere practice, Gloster.

By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,

But cozen'd and beguil'd'.

Alb.

Shut

your mouth, dame; Or with this paper shall I stop it?-Hold, sir1!— Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil : No tearing, lady; I perceive, you know it.

[Gives the Letter to EDMUND. Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine: Who can arraign me for't??

6

below thy FOOT,] The quartos, "beneath thy feet;" and two lines earlier, "conspicuate 'gainst," for "conspirant 'gainst."

7 And that thy TONGUE some 'SAY—] The quartos read being for “tongue"

of the folio. "'Say " is assay, i. e. sample or taste.

8

* By RULE of knighthood,] "Right of knighthood" in the quartos.

9 But cozen'd and beguil'd.] In this speech the quartos and folio differ: the former have "mere" (omitted in the folio) and "arms" for war.

Hold, sir!] Only in the folio. In the next line it has "name," for thing of

the quartos.

2 Who CAN arraign me for 't?] The quartos, "Who shall," &c. In the next line, one of the quartos (that without the address) has Monster, for "Most monstrous!" of the other quartos and folio.