[To Edmund.] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.Alb.
Stay yet; hear reason.—Edmund, I arrest thee
On capital treason; and, in thine arrest,
This gilded serpent [pointing to Goneril.],—For your claim, fair
sister,
I bar it in the interest of my wife;
‘Tis she is subcontracted to this lord,
And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,—
My lady is bespoke.
Gon.
An interlude!
Alb.
Thou art arm’d, Gloster:—let the trumpet sound:
If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]; I’ll prove it on thy
heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaim’d thee.
Reg.
Sick, O, sick!
Gon.
[Aside.] If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.
Edm.
There’s my exchange [throwing down a glove]: what in the world he
is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, who not? I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.
Alb.
A herald, ho!
Edm.
A herald, ho, a herald!
Alb.
Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.
Reg.
My sickness grows upon me.
Alb.
She is not well. Convey her to my tent.
[Exit Regan, led.]
[Enter a Herald.]
Come hither, herald.—Let the trumpet sound,—
And read out this.
Officer.
Sound, trumpet!
[A trumpet sounds.]
Her. [Reads.] ‘If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence.’
Edm.
Sound!
[First trumpet.]
Her.
Again!
[Second trumpet.]
Her.
Again!
[Third trumpet. Trumpet answers within. Enter Edgar, armed, preceded by a trumpet.]
Alb.
Ask him his purposes, why he appears
Upon this call o’ the trumpet.
Her.
What are you?
Your name, your quality? and why you answer
This present summons?
Edg.
Know, my name is lost;
By treason’s tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit.
Yet am I noble as the adversary
I come to cope.
Alb.
Which is that adversary?
Edg.
What’s he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloster?
Edm.
Himself:—what say’st thou to him?
Edg.
Draw thy sword,
That, if my speech offend a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,
My oath, and my profession: I protest,—
Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,
Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour and thy heart,—thou art a traitor;
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant ‘gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from the extremest upward of thy head
To the descent and dust beneath thy foot,
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou ‘No,’
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,
Thou liest.
Edm.
In wisdom I should ask thy name;
But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,
What safe and nicely I might well delay
By rule of knighthood,
