Gloucester's Castle.
Enter Cornwall and Edmund. CORNWALL I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.
EDMUND How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to
loyalty, something fears me to think of.
CORNWALL I now perceive it was not altogether your brother's evil
disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking merit, set
awork by a reproveable badness in himself.
EDMUND How malicious is my fortune that I must repent to be just!
This is the letter he spoke of, which approves him an
intelligent party to the advantages of France. O heavens! that
this treason were not- or not I the detector!
CORNWALL Go with me to the Duchess.
EDMUND If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty
business in hand.
CORNWALL True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.
Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our
apprehension.
EDMUND [aside] If I find him comforting the King, it will stuff his
suspicion more fully.- I will persever in my course of loyalty,
though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.
CORNWALL I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dearer
father in my love.
Exeunt.