Page 1789 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

EDMUND

I beseech you, Sir, pardon me; it is a letter from my brother that I have not
all o’erread, and for so much as I have perus’d, I find it not fit for your
o’erlooking.

GLOUCESTER
Give me the letter, sir. [40]

EDMUND

I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand
them, are to blame.

GLOUCESTER
Let’s see, let’s see.

EDMUND
I hope, for my brother’s justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of
my virtue. [45]

GLOUCESTER
(reads) This policy and reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of

our times; keeps our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I
begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny,
who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffer’d. Come to me, [50] that
of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I wak’d him, you

should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother,
EDGAR. − Hum! Conspiracy! ‘Sleep till I wak’d him, −you should enjoy half his
revenue.’ My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? [55] a heart and brain
to breed it in? When came you to this? Who brought it?

EDMUND
It was not brought me, my Lord; there’s the cunning of it; I found it thrown in

at the casement of my closet. [60]

GLOUCESTER
You know the character to be your brother’s?