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

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 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 

 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 

 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 

 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. 



 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. 



 Exit  Shakespeare homepage  |  King Lear  | Act 3, Scene 3 

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