Seeing that he also can no longer deny the truth, Edmund admits to being a traitor. He then asks his challenger to reveal himself.
Edgar removes his helmet and reveals his identity (lines 167-69). Edgar also asserts that …
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us.
The dark and vicious place where thee he got
Cost him his eyes. (169-72)
The word vices is used in a general sense initially, but Edgar is specifically referring to the vice of lust. The Earl of Gloucester (“he”) engaged in an act of lust, and the result of that act was the bastard child Edmund (“thee”). The “dark and vicious place” could refer to the bedroom of Edmund’s mother or even to her vagina. Edgar is declaring that his father was justly punished for his sin.
Edgar does not seem to be speaking for Shakespeare himself. The playwright, time and again, often complains about the unfairness or injustice of fortune or fate. The use of the word “gods” becomes another way of expressing the idea of fate. And since so much unfairness and injustice occurs to Lear, Edgar, Cordelia, Kent, Gloucester, and others in the play, Shakespeare does not really appear to believe that the gods are just or that fate is equitable.
Edgar then explains to Albany how he had been in disguise as mad Tom and had helped his father. Edgar adds that when he finally did reveal his true identity to Gloucester, the “two extremes of passion” – “joy” because of Edgar and “grief” because of Edmund – caused his heart to burst (lines 196-97). Gloucester died.
Edgar also explains to Albany that he also met up with Kent and that the noble earl had been in disguise and supporting and helping King Lear.