King Lear
Background on King Lear: King Leir the Play: Scene 31

Cornwall and Cambria individually recognize that the day is lost, that the people have turned against them.  Cambria has grown to fear a devil in the other camp who has hounded him mercilessly.  Mumford enters—he is the man—and chases Cambria out the door, admitting that he cannot catch him (with his nimble pair of legs), but if he ever sees him again, the legs come off.

Scene 30 . . . Directory . . . Scene 32

Scene 31

Sound alarum: excursions.
Mumford must chase Cambria away: then cease. Enter Cornwall.

CORNWALL: The day is lost, our friends do all revolt,
And join against us with the adverse part:
There is no means of safety but by flight,
And therefore I’ll to Cornwall with my Queen.   Exit.

[Enter Cambria.]

CAMBRIA: I think, there is a devil in the Camp hath
haunted me today: he hath so tired me, that in a manner
I can fight no more.    Enter Mumford.
Zounds, here he comes, I’ll take me to my home.

Mumford follows him to the door, and returns.

MUMFORD: Farewell (Welshman) give thee but thy due,
Thou hast a light and nimble pair of legs: … [31.10]
Thou art more in debt to them than to thy hands:
But if I meet thee once again today,
I’ll cut them off, and set them to a better heart.   Exit.

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