Page 1818 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to th’encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

GLOUCESTER
Let him fly far: [55]
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, [60]
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death.

EDMUND
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, [65]
‘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 [70]
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 spirits [75]
To make thee seek it.’

GLOUCESTER

O strange and fast’ned villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him.
(Tucket 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 [80]
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom