_Glou._ [_Reads_] 'This policy and reverence of age makes[2697] 45 the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes[2698] from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come[2699] to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would 50 sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, EDGAR.' Hum! Conspiracy!--'Sleep till I waked him, you should[2700] enjoy half his revenue!'--My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in? When[2701] 55 came this to you? who brought it?[2702] _Edm._ It was not brought me, my lord; there's the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet. _Glou._ You know the character to be your brother's? _Edm._ If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear 60 it were his; but, in respect of that, I would fain think it[2703][2704] were not.[2703] _Glou._ It is his.[2705] _Edm._ It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is[2706] not in the contents. 65 _Glou._ Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this[2707] business? _Edm._ Never, my lord: but I have heard him oft maintain[2708] it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining,[2709] the father should be as ward to the son, and the[2710] 70 son manage his revenue.[2711] _Glou._ O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter! Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him; ay, apprehend[2712] him: abominable villain! Where is he? 75 _Edm._ I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please[2713] you to suspend your indignation against my brother till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you[2714] should run a certain course; where, if you violently proceed[2715] against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great 80 gap in your own honour and shake in pieces the heart of[2716] his obedience. I dare pawn down my life for him that he[2717] hath wrote this to feel my affection to your honour and to[2718] no further pretence of danger.[2719] _Glou._ Think you so? 85 _Edm._ If your honour judge it meet, I will place you where you shall hear us confer of this and by an auricular[2720] assurance have your satisfaction, and that without any further delay than this very evening. _Glou._ He cannot be such a monster--[2721] 90 _Edm._ Nor is not, sure.[2722]