Niece. The grief for his
exile was not so much
As is the joy of his returning home.
This letter came from my sweet Gaveston:
What need'st thou, love, thus to excuse
thyself?
I know thou couldst not come and visit me.
[Reads.
I will not long be from thee, though I die;—
This argues the entire love of my lord;—
[Reads.
When I forsake thee, death seize on my
heart!—
But stay thee here where Gaveston shall
sleep.
[Puts
the letter into her bosom.
Now to the letter of my lord the king:
He wills me to repair unto the court,
And meet my Gaveston: why do I stay,
Seeing that he talks thus of my marriage
day?—
Who's there? Baldock!
See that my coach be ready; I must hence.
Baldock. It
shall be done, madam.
Niece. And meet me at the
park-pale presently [Exit Baldock.
Spenser, stay you, and bear me company,
For I have joyful news to tell thee of;
My lord of Cornwall is a-coming over,
And will be at the court as soon as we.
Younger Spencer. I
knew the king would have him home again.
Niece. If all things sort
out, as I hope they will,
Thy service, Spenser, shall be thought upon.
Younger Spencer. I
humbly thank your ladyship.
Niece. Come, lead the way:
I long till I am there. [Exeunt.
Enter KING EDWARD, QUEEN
ISABELLA, KENT, LANCASTER, the younger MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, and Attendants.
King Edward. The
wind is good; I wonder why he stays:
I fear me he is wreck'd upon the sea.
Queen Isabella. Look,
Lancaster, how passionate he is,
And still his mind runs on his minion!
Lancaster. My
lord,—
King Edward. How
now! what news? is Gaveston arriv'd?
Young Mortimer. Nothing
but Gaveston! what means your grace?
You have matters of more weight to think
upon:
The King of France sets foot in Normandy.
King Edward. A
trifle! we'll expel him when we please.
But tell me, Mortimer, what's thy device
Against the stately triumph we decreed?
Young Mortimer. A
homely one, my lord, not worth the telling.
King Edward. Pray
thee, let me know it.
Young Mortimer. But,
seeing you are so desirous, thus it is;
A lofty cedar tree, fair flourishing,
On whose top branches kingly eagles perch,
And by
the bark a canker creeps me up,
And gets unto the highest bough of all;
The motto, Æque tandem.
King Edward. And
what is yours, my Lord of Lancaster?
Lancaster. My
lord, mine's more obscure than Mortimer's.
Pliny reports, there is a flying-fish
Which all the other fishes deadly hate,
And therefore, being pursu'd, it takes the
air:
No sooner is it up, but there's a fowl
That seizeth it: this fish, my lord, I bear;
The motto this, Undique mors est.
Kent. Proud Mortimer!
ungentle Lancaster!
Is this the love you bear your sovereign?
Is this the fruit your reconcilement bears?
Can you in words make show of amity,
And in your shields display your rancorous
minds?
What call you this but private libelling
Against the Earl of Cornwall and my brother?
Queen Isabella. Sweet
husband, be content; they all love you.
King Edward. They
love me not that hate my Gaveston.
I am that cedar; shake me not too much;
And you the eagles; soar ye ne'er so high,
I have the jesses that will pull you down;
And Æque tandem shall that canker cry
Unto the proudest peer of Britainy.
Thou that compar'st him to a flying-fish,
And threaten'st death whether he rise or
fall,
'Tis not the hugest monster of the sea,
Nor foulest harpy, that shall swallow him.
Young Mortimer. If
in his absence thus he favours him,
What will he do whenas he shall be present?
Lancaster. That
shall we see: look, where his lordship come!
Enter GAVESTON.
King Edward. My
Gaveston! Welcome to Tynmouth! Welcome to thy friend! Thy absence made me droop
and pine away; For, as the lovers of fair Danaë, When she was lock'd up in a
brazen tower, Desir'd her more, and wax'd outrageous, So did it fare with me:
and now thy sight Is sweeter far than was thy parting hence Bitter and irksome
to my sobbing heart.
Gaveston.
Sweet lord and king, your speech preventeth mine; Yet have I words left to
express my joy: The shepherd, nipt with biting winter's rage, Frolics not more
to see the painted spring Than I do to behold your majesty.
King Edward. Will
none of you salute my Gaveston?
Lancaster. Salute
him! yes.—Welcome, Lord Chamberlain!
Young Mortimer. Welcome
is the good Earl of Cornwall!
Warwick.
Welcome, Lord Governor of the Isle of Man!
Pembroke. Welcome,
Master Secretary!
Kent. Brother, do you hear
them?
King Edward. Still
will these earls and barons use me thus?
Gaveston. My
lord, I cannot brook these injuries.
Queen Isabella. Ay
me, poor soul, when these begin to jar! [Aside.
King Edward. Return
it to their throats; I'll be thy warrant.
Gaveston.
Base, leaden earls, that glory in your birth, Go sit at home, and eat your
tenants' beef; And come not here to scoff at Gaveston, Whose mounting thoughts
did never creep so low As to bestow a look on such as you.
Lancaster. Yet
I disdain not to do this for you. [Draws
his sword, and offers to stab Gaveston.
King Edward. Treason!
treason! where's the traitor?
Pembroke. Here,
here!
King Edward. Convey
hence Gaveston; they'll murder him.
Gaveston. The
life of thee shall salve this foul disgrace.
Young Mortimer. Villain,
thy life! unless I miss mine aim. [Wounds
Gaveston.
Queen Isabella. Ah,
furious Mortimer, what hast thou done.
Young Mortimer. No
more than I would answer, were he slain.
[Exit
Gaveston with Attendants.
King Edward. Yes,
more than thou canst answer, though he live: Dear shall you both abide this
riotous deed: Out of my presence! come not near the court.
Young Mortimer. I'll
not be barr'd the court for Gaveston.
Lancaster. We'll
hale him by the ears unto the block.
King Edward. Look
to your own heads; his is sure enough.
Warwick.
Look to your own crown, if you back him thus.
Kent. Warwick, these words
do ill beseem thy years.
King Edward. Nay,
all of them conspire to cross me thus: But, if I live, I'll tread upon their
heads That think with high looks thus to tread me down. Come, Edmund, let's
away, and levy men: 'Tis war that must abate these barons' pride.
[Exeunt
King Edward, Queen Isabella, and Kent.
Warwick.
Let's to our castles, for the king is mov'd.
Young Mortimer. Mov'd
may he be, and perish in his wrath!
Lancaster. Cousin,
it is no dealing with him now; He means to make us stoop by force of arms: And
therefore let us jointly here protest To prosecute that Gaveston to the death.
Young Mortimer. By
heaven, the abject villain shall not live! Warwick. I'll have his blood, or die
in seeking it.
Pembroke. The
like oath Pembroke takes.
Lancaster. And
so doth Lancaster. Now send our heralds to defy the king; And make the people
swear to put him down.
Enter a Messenger.
Young Mortimer. Letters!
from whence?
Messenger.
From Scotland, my lord.
[Giving letters to Mortimer.
Lancaster. Why,
how now, cousin! how fare all our friends?
Young Mortimer. My
uncle's taken prisoner by the Scots.
Lancaster. We'll
have him ransom'd, man: be of good cheer.
Young Mortimer. They
rate his ransom at five thousand pound. Who should defray the money but the
king, Seeing he is taken prisoner in his wars? I'll to the king.
Lancaster. Do,
cousin, and I'll bear thee company.
Warwick.
Meantime my Lord of Pembroke and myself Will to Newcastle here, and gather
head.
Young Mortimer. About
it, then, and we will follow you.
Lancaster. Be
resolute and full of secrecy.
Warwick. I
warrant you.
[Exit with Pembroke.
Young Mortimer. Cousin,
an if he will not ransom him, I'll thunder such a peal into his ears As never
subject did unto his king.
Lancaster. Content;
I'll bear my part.—Hollo! who's there?
Enter Guard.
Young Mortimer. Ay,
marry, such a guard as this doth well. Lancaster. Lead on the way.
Guard. Whither will your
lordships?
Young Mortimer. Whither
else but to the king?
Guard. His highness is
dispos'd to be alone.
Lancaster. Why,
so he may; but we will speak to him.
Guard. You may not in, my
lord.
Young Mortimer. May
we not?
Enter KING EDWARD and KENT.
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