[Stage] Enter Edmund the bastard and Curan, severally
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Save thee, Curan.
Curan(旷徨)
And you, sir. I have been with your father and given
him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his
duchess will be here with him this night.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
How comes that?
Curan(旷徨)
Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad?—I
mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but
ear-kissing arguments.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Not I. Pray you, what are they?
Curan(旷徨)
Have you heard of no likely wars toward ’twixt the two
Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Not a word.
Curan(旷徨)
You may do then in time. Fare you well, sir.
[Stage] Exit Curan
Edmund(爱德蒙)
The duke be here tonight? The better—best!
This weaves itself perforce into my business.
My father hath set guard to take my brother.
And I have one thing, of a queasy question,
Which I must act.
Briefness and fortune, work!—
Brother, a word. Descend, brother, I say.
[Stage] Enter Edgar
My father watches. O sir, fly this place.
Intelligence is given where you are hid.
You have now the good advantage of the night.
Have you not spoken ‘gainst the Duke of Cornwall aught?
He’s coming hither—now, i’ th’ night, i’ th’ haste,
And Regan with him.
Have you nothing said
Upon his party ‘gainst the Duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.
Edgar(爱德加)
I am sure on ’t, not a word.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
I hear my father coming. Pardon me.
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.
Draw. Seem to defend yourself. Now quit you well.—
[loudly]
Yield! Come before my father. Light, ho! Here!
[aside to Edgar
]
Fly, brother, fly.
[loudly]
Torches, torches!
[aside to Edgar
]
So, farewell.
[Stage] Exit Edgar
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of my more fierce endeavor.
[cuts his own arm]
I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport.—
Father, father!—
Stop, stop!—No help?
[Stage] Enter Gloucester and servants with torches
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Now Edmund, where’s the villain?
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand ’s auspicious mistress—
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
But where is he?
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Look, sir, I bleed.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Where is the villain, Edmund?
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could—
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Pursue him, ho! Go after.
[Stage] Exeunt some servants
“By no means” what?
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Persuade me to the murder of your lordship,
But that I told him the revenging gods
‘Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend,
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to th’ father.
Sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his preparèd sword he charges home
My unprovided body, latched mine arm.
And when he saw my best alarumed spirits,
Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether ghasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Let him fly far.
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught.
And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,
My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
By his authority I will proclaim it
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake.
He that conceals him, death.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with cursed speech
I threatened to discover him. He replied,
“Thou unpossessing bastard!
Dost thou think
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Make thy words faithed? No.
What I should deny—
As this I would, ay, though thou didst produce
My very character—I’d turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damnèd practice.
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spirits
To make thee seek it.”
[Stage] Tucket within
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
O strange and fastened villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him.—
Hark, the duke’s trumpets. I know not why he comes.
All ports I’ll bar. The villain shall not ’scape.
The duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have the due note of him.—
And of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means
To make thee capable.
[Stage] Enter the Duke of Cornwall, Regan, and attendants
Cornwall(康沃尔)
How now, my noble friend? Since I came hither,
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
Regan(里根)
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can pursue th’ offender. How dost, my lord?
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
O madam, my old heart is cracked, it’s cracked.
Regan(里根)
What, did my father’s godson seek your life?—
He whom my father named, your Edgar?
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid.
Regan(里根)
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
I know not, madam. ‘Tis too bad, too bad.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
Regan(里根)
No marvel then, though he were ill affected.
‘Tis they have put him on the old man’s death,
To have th’ expense and spoil of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well informed of them—and with such cautions
That if they come to sojourn at my house
I’ll not be there.
Cornwall(康沃尔)
Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A childlike office.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
It was my duty, sir.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
He did bewray his practice, and received
This hurt you see striving to apprehend him.
Cornwall(康沃尔)
Is he pursued?
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Ay, my good lord.
Cornwall(康沃尔)
If he be taken, he shall never more
Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose
How in my strength you please.—
For you, Edmund,
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours.
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need.
You we first seize on.
Edmund(爱德蒙)
I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
[to Cornwall] For him I thank your grace.
Cornwall(康沃尔)
You know not why we came to visit you—
Regan(里根)
Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
Wherein we must have use of your advice:
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I least thought it fit
To answer from our home.
The several messengers
From hence attend dispatch.
Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
I serve you, madam.
Your graces are right welcome.
[Stage] Flourish. Exeunt