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Home  »  King Lear  »  Act III

William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Scene III

Act III

[Gloucester’s castle]
Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

Glou.Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house; charg’d me, on pain of perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, or any way sustain him.Edm.Most savage and unnatural!Glou.Go to; say you nothing. There is division between the Dukes, and a worse matter than that. I have received a letter this night; ’tis dangerous to be spoken; I have lock’d the letter in my closet. These injuries the King now bears will be revenged home; there is part of a power already footed. We must incline to the King. I will look him, and privily relieve him. Go you and maintain talk with the Duke, that my charity be not of him perceived. If he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. If I die for it, as no less is threat’ned me, the King my old master must be relieved. There is strange things toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.Exit.Edm.This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the DukeInstantly know; and of that letter too.This seems a fair deserving, and must draw meThat which my father loses; no less than all.The younger rises when the old doth fall.Exit.