ACT III SCENE III

King Lear

ACT III SCENE III	Gloucester’s castle.
[Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]
GLOUCESTER	Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural
	dealing. When I desire their leave that I might
	pity him, they took from me the use of mine own
	house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual
	displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for	5
	him, nor any way sustain him.
EDMUND	Most savage and unnatural!
GLOUCESTER	Go to; say you nothing. There’s a division betwixt
	the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have
	received a letter this night; ’tis dangerous to be	10
	spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet:
	these injuries the king now bears will be revenged
	home; there’s part of a power already footed: we
	must incline to the king. I will seek him, and
	privily relieve him: go you and maintain talk with	15
	the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived:
	if he ask for me. I am ill, and gone to bed.
	Though I die for it, as no less is threatened me,
	the king my old master must be relieved. There is
	some strange thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.	20
[Exit]
EDMUND	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.	25
[Exit]

King Lear, Act 3, Scene 4