Edmund and some soldiers are leading their prisoners, Lear and Cordelia, to a place of confinement. Cordelia feels depressed by their misfortune (“false Fortune’s frown”), but the old king accepts their predicament cheerfully. He tells Cordelia that they will “live, and pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh at gilded butterflies” (11-13). The golden butterfly directly refers to a trinket, an item of jewelry, but here symbolizes unimportant and trivial matters. Although Lear is not happy about the outcome of the battle, he is happy to be with Cordelia. He is happy to know at last that her love for him is genuine.
As the soldiers lead Lear and Cordelia away, Edmund hands his captain a letter. The letter (as revealed later in the scene) instructs the captain to execute Lear and Cordelia. Edmund promises the captain “noble fortunes” (wealth and high rank) if he does as the letter instructs. The captain promises that he will follow those instructions.
Albany, along with Goneril and Regan, appears before Edmund. Albany asks Edmund to bring forth the prisoners, Lear and Cordelia. Edmund explains (another cunning lie) that he put Lear and Cordelia in a prison some distance away because he was afraid that many people in England would feel sympathy for them and those people might then turn against Albany and Edmund. Edmund promises that he will bring Lear and Cordelia to Albany tomorrow or on some later day. Of course, then it will be too late; for Edmund’s captain will have slain the two prisoners before that time.
Albany (who has read the letter given to him by Edgar) responds to Edmund coldly:
I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother. (61-62).
In other words, Albany is telling Edmund that he is merely one of the soldiers who must serve under him. Edmund is not his equal. Therefore, Edmund has no right to make any decisions regarding the prisoners. Regan is surprised by Albany’s response, and she defends Edmund. She tells Albany that since Edmund was the leader of the forces from Cornwall, he has every right to be considered an equal, a brother, to Albany. Regan is implying that she will soon be making Edmund her consort (her husband). The jealous Goneril interrupts Regan at this point (line 67) and asserts that Edmund does not need Regan’s approval or honors to be considered worthy and equal to Albany. She claims that he is worthy enough because of his own merits.
The two sisters argue further, but then suddenly Regan announces she is “not well” (74). Although she does not know it yet, Regan has been poisoned by Goneril. So, Regan quickly announces that she will take Edmund as her husband, as her “lord and master” (79). But before she makes the proclamation official, Albany bids her to wait. He then declares that Edmund is to be arrested for “capital treason” (84). Further, Albany accuses Goneril as being Edmund’s partner in his crime. Albany then – in a tone of bitterness – tells Regan that she cannot marry Edmund because he already has a contract of marriage with Goneril. Speaking ironically, Albany adds that if Regan wants to marry anyone, she should be making her request to him (he is now no longer married since Goneril has pledged herself to Edmund).
Goneril denies the accusation, but Albany ignores her.
Albany calls for the trumpet to be sounded to summon Edgar. The Duke informs Edmund that a challenger (Edgar) is being summoned to testify against Edmund. But Albany adds that if the challenger does not appear, Albany himself will challenge Edmund. Albany then throws down his glove before Edmund. The action of throwing down the glove signified a formal challenge to a duel or fight. Edmund accepts the challenge and throws down his own glove to signify his acceptance.
As Albany and Edmund discuss the challenge, Regan becomes sicker. The poison that Goneril had given her is killing her.
Edgar arrives dressed in armor and with a helmet and visor over his head so that his face cannot be seen. He refuses to give his name, but he tells Edmund that he is a nobleman. Edgar then accuses Edmund of being a traitor against his father, his brother, and the Duke of Albany (referred to as “prince” in line 134).
Edmund declares that according to proper etiquette, Edgar should announce his name. But Edmund says that he will accept the challenge anyway and that he denies the accusations that Edgar has made. Edmund knows that he will look cowardly and guilty if he refuses to accept the challenge.
Edgar and Edmund fight, and Edmund is mortally wounded. However, he does not die immediately.
Goneril complains that Edmund was tricked into fighting, but her husband tells her to be quiet or he else will choke her with her own letter (the one she had written to Edmund). When Goneril sees that Albany has the letter, she knows that she can no longer deny the truth. So, Goneril quickly exits.