King Lear
Act III, Scene 3
Gloucester’s castle.
Costume design for Edmund
From Charles Kean's scrapbook
19th century
- Enter Gloucester and Edmund with lights.
Gloucester
1 - 5- Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing.
- When I desir’d 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.
Edmund
6- Most savage and unnatural!
Gloucester
7 - 17- Go to; say you nothing. There is division between the Dukes,
- and a worse matter than that. I have receiv’d 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
- reveng’d 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 perceiv’d. If he ask for me, I am ill
- and gone to bed. If I die for’t (as no less is threat’ned
- me), the King my old master must be reliev’d. There is
- strange things toward, Edmund, pray you be careful.
- Exit.
Edmund
18 - 22- This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the Duke
- Instantly know, and of that letter too.
- This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me
- That which my father loses: no less than all.
- The younger rises when the old doth fall.
- Exit.