William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Tragedy of King Lear.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| Act III |
| | | Scene V |
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[Gloucester’s castle]
Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND
Corn. I will have my revenge ere I depart his house. | |
| Edm. How, my lord, I may be censured 1 that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of. | |
| Corn. I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother’s evil disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking merit, set a-work by a reproveable badness in himself. | |
| Edm. How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This is the letter which he spoke of, which approves 2 him an intelligent party to the advantages of France. O heavens! that this treason were not, or not I the detector! | 4 |
| Corn. Go with me to the Duchess. | |
| Edm. If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand. | |
| Corn. True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension. | |
| Edm. [Aside.] If I find him comforting the King, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.—I will persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood. | 8 |
| Corn. I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love. Exeunt. | |
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