King Lear

Edm.
Look, sir, I bleed.

Glou.
Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm.
Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,--

Glou.
Pursue him, ho!--Go after.

[Exeunt Servants.]

--By no means what?

Edm.
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, lanc'd mine arm;
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glou.
Let him fly far;
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found--dispatch'd.--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.

Edm.
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'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
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.

Glou.
Strong and fast'ned villain!
Would he deny his letter?--I never got him.

[Trumpets 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
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.

[Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.]

Corn.
How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,--
Which I can call but now,--I have heard strange news.

Reg.
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

Glou.
O madam, my old heart is crack'd,--it's crack'd!

Reg.
What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glou.
O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Reg.
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

Glou.
I know not, madam:--
It is too bad, too bad.