SCENE V. Gloucester's castle. King Lear  Shakespeare homepage  |  King Lear  | Act 3, Scene 5 

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 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 a-work by a reprovable 

 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  o 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 persevere 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  Shakespeare homepage  |  King Lear  | Act 3, Scene 5 

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