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[Gloucester’s castle]
Enter REGAN and Steward [OSWALD]
Reg. But are my brother’s powers set forth? | |
| Osw. Ay, madam. | |
| Reg. Himself in person there? | |
| Osw. Madam, with much ado. 1 | 4 |
| Your sister is the better soldier. | |
| Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? | |
| Osw. No, madam. | |
| Reg. What might import my sister’s letter to him? | 8 |
| Osw. I know not, lady. | |
| Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. | |
| It was great ignorance, 2 Gloucester’s eyes being out, | |
| To let him live; where he arrives he moves | 12 |
| All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, | |
| In pity of his misery, to dispatch | |
| His nighted 3 life; moreover, to descry | |
| The strength o’ the enemy. | 16 |
| Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. | |
| Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow, stay with us; | |
| The ways are dangerous. | |
| Osw. I may not, madam: | 20 |
| My lady charg’d my duty in this business. | |
| Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you | |
| Transport her purposes by word? Belike | |
| Some things—I know not what. I’ll love thee much, | 24 |
| Let me unseal the letter. | |
| Osw. Madam, I had rather— | |
| Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband; | |
| I am sure of that; and at her late being here | 28 |
| She gave strange œillades 4 and most speaking looks | |
| To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom. 5 | |
| Osw. I, madam? | |
| Reg. I speak in understanding; y’ are, I know ’t. | 32 |
| Therefore I do advise you, take this note: | |
| My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk’d; | |
| And more convenient is he for my hand | |
| Than for your lady’s. You may gather more. | 36 |
| If you do find him, pray you, give him this; | |
| And when your mistress hears thus much from you, | |
| I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. | |
| So, fare you well. | 40 |
| If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, | |
| Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. | |
| Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should show What party I do follow. | |
| Reg. Fare thee well. [Exeunt. | 44 |
