Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/139

King Lear, V. iii

But since thy outside looks so fair and war-like,

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. Fights. [Edmund falls.]

Alb. Save him, save him!

Gon. This is practice, Gloucester:

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, sir;

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?

Alb. Most monstrous!

Know'st thou this paper?

Edm. Ask me not what I know.

Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her.

[Exit an Officer.]

Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done,

And more, much more; the time will bring it out:

'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou

 145 say: assay

146 safe and nicely: with secure scruple

