William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT V. 3. Scene III. The British Camp near Dover. (continued)

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, I disdain and spurn:
Back do I toss those 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. They fight. Edmund falls.]

Alb.
Save him, save him!

Gon.
This is mere practice, Gloster:
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?

Gon.
Ask me not what I know.

[Exit.]

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

[To an Officer, who goes out.]