And burnèd is Apollo’s laurel bough
That sometime grew within this learnèd man.
Faustus is gone. Regard his hellish fall,
5 Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits
To practise more than heavenly power permits.
[Exit.]
Terminat hora diem; terminat author opus.
EDWARD THE SECOND
[Dramatis Personae
GAVESTON
THREE POOR MEN
KING EDWARD II
EARL OF LANCASTER
MORTIMER SENIOR
MORTIMER JUNIOR
EDMUND EARL OF KENT, brother to King Edward II
GUY EARL OF WARWICK
THE BISHOP OF COVENTRY
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
QUEEN ISABELLA
EARL OF PEMBROKE
BEAUMONT, the Clerk of the Crown
SPENCER JUNIOR
BALDOCK
THE KING’S NIECE
A MESSENGER
TWO LADIES-IN-WAITING
JAMES
A HORSEBOY
EARL OF ARUNDEL
SPENCER SENIOR
PRINCE EDWARD, later King Edward III
LEVUNE
A HERALD
SIR JOHN OF HAINAULT
RICE ap HOWELL
THE MAYOR OF BRISTOL
AN ABBOT
MONKS
A MOWER
EARL OF LEICESTER
THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
SIR WILLIAM TRUSSELL
SIR THOMAS BERKELEY
MATREVIS
GURNEY
LIGHTBORNE
A CHAMPION
LORDS
SOLDIERS
GUARDS
ATTENDANTS]
[Scene 1]
Enter GAVESTON reading on a letter that was brought him from the KING.
GAVESTON
‘My father is deceased; come, Gaveston,
And share the kingdom with thy dearest friend.’
Ah, words that make me surfeit with delight!
What greater bliss can hap to Gaveston
Than live and be the favourite of a king?
Sweet prince, I come; these, these thy amorous lines
Might have enforced me to have swum from France,
And like Leander gasped upon the sand,
So thou wouldst smile and take me in thy arms.
10 The sight of London to my exiled eyes
Is as Elysium to a new-come soul –
Not that I love the city or the men,
But that it harbours him I hold so dear,
The king, upon whose bosom let me die,
And with the world be still at enmity.
What need the arctic people love starlight,
To whom the sun shines both by day and night?
Farewell, base stooping to the lordly peers;
My knee shall bow to none but to the king.
As for the multitude, that are but sparks
20 Raked up in embers of their poverty,
Tanti! I’ll fawn first on the wind
That glanceth at my lips and flieth away.
But how now, what are these?
Enter three POOR MEN.
POOR MEN Such as desire your worship’s service.
GAVESTON What canst thou do?
FIRST POOR MAN I can ride.
GAVESTON But I have no horses. What art thou?
SECOND POOR MAN A traveller.
30 GAVESTON Let me see, thou wouldst do well to wait at my trencher and tell me lies at dinner time, and, as I like your discoursing, I’ll have you. And what art thou?
THIRD POOR MAN A soldier, that hath served against the Scot.
GAVESTON
Why, there are hospitals for such as you.
I have no war, and therefore, sir, begone.
THIRD POOR MAN
Farewell, and perish by a soldier’s hand,
That wouldst reward them with an hospital.
GAVESTON [aside]
Ay, ay, these words of his move me as much
As if a goose should play the porcupine
40 And dart her plumes, thinking to pierce my breast.
But yet it is no pain to speak men fair;
I’ll flatter these and make them live in hope.
[To them]
You know that I came lately out of France,
And yet I have not viewed my lord the king;
If I speed well, I’ll entertain you all.
POOR MEN We thank your worship.
GAVESTON
I have some business, leave me to myself.
POOR MEN We will wait here about the court.
GAVESTON
Do. These are not men for me.
Exeunt [POOR MEN].
50 I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits,
Musicians that with touching of a string
May draw the pliant king which way I please.
Music and poetry is his delight;
Therefore I’ll have Italian masques by night,
Sweet speeches, comedies, and pleasing shows;
And in the day, when he shall walk abroad,
Like sylvan nymphs my pages shall be clad;
My men, like satyrs grazing on the lawns,
Shall with their goat feet dance an antic hay.
Sometime a lovely boy in Dian’s shape,
60 With hair that gilds the water as it glides,
Crownets of pearl about his naked arms,
And in his sportful hands an olive tree
To hide those parts which men delight to see,
Shall bathe him in a spring, and there hard by,
One like Actaeon peeping through the grove
Shall by the angry goddess be transformed,
And running in the likeness of an hart,
By yelping hounds pulled down and seem to die.
Such things as these best please his majesty,
70 My lord. Here comes the king and the nobles
From the parliament. I’ll stand aside.
Enter the KING [EDWARD], LANCASTER, MORTIMER
SENIOR, MORTIMER JUNIOR, EDMUND EARL OF KENT,
GUY EARL OF WARWICK, etc.
EDWARD Lancaster!
LANCASTER My lord?
GAVESTON [aside]
That earl of Lancaster do I abhor.
EDWARD
Will you not grant me this? [Aside] In spite of them
I’ll have my will, and these two Mortimers
That cross me thus shall know I am displeased.
MORTIMER SENIOR
If you love us, my lord, hate Gaveston.
GAVESTON [aside]
80 That villain Mortimer! I’ll be his death.
MORTIMER [toEDWARD]
Mine uncle here, this earl, and I myself Were sworn to your father at his death That he should ne’er return into the realm;
And know, my lord, ere I will break my oath,
This sword of mine that should offend your foes
Shall sleep within the scabbard at thy need,
And underneath thy banners march who will,
For Mortimer will hang his armour up.
GAVESTON [aside] Mort Dieu!
EDWARD
90 Well Mortimer, I’ll make thee rue these words.
Beseems it thee to contradict thy king?
Frown’st thou thereat, aspiring Lancaster?
The sword shall plane the furrows of thy brows
And hew these knees that now are grown so stiff.
I will have Gaveston, and you shall know
What danger ’tis to stand against your king.
GAVESTON [aside] Well done, Ned!
LANCASTER
My lord, why do you thus incense your peers,
That naturally would love and honour you
100 But for that base and obscure Gaveston?
/> Four earldoms have I besides Lancaster –
Derby, Salisbury, Lincoln, Leicester.
These will I sell to give my soldiers pay
Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realm.
Therefore, if he be come, expel him straight.
KENT
Barons and earls, your pride hath made me mute,
But now I’ll speak, and to the proof, I hope.
I do remember in my father’s days,
Lord Percy of the north, being highly moved,
110 Braved Mowbray in presence of the king,
For which, had not his highness loved him well,
He should have lost his head; but with his look
The undaunted spirit of Percy was appeased,
And Mowbray and he were reconciled;
Yet dare you brave the king unto his face.
Brother, revenge it, and let these their heads
Preach upon poles for trespass of their tongues.
WARWICK O, our heads!
EDWARD
Ay, yours, and therefore I would wish you grant.
WARWICK
120 Bridle thy anger, gentle Mortimer.
MORTIMER
I cannot, nor I will not; I must speak.
Cousin, our hands, I hope, shall fence our heads
And strike off his that makes you threaten us.
Come, uncle, let us leave the brainsick king
And henceforth parley with our naked swords.
MORTIMER SENIOR
Wiltshire hath men enough to save our heads.
WARWICK
All Warwickshire will love him for my sake.
LANCASTER
And northward, Gaveston hath many friends.
Adieu, my lord, and either change your mind
Or look to see the throne where you should sit
130 To float in blood, and at thy wanton head
The glozing head of thy base minion thrown.
Exeunt NOBLES. [KENT, KING EDWARD and GAVESTON remain.]
EDWARD
I cannot brook these haughty menaces!
Am I a king and must be overruled?
Brother, display my ensigns in the field;
I’ll bandy with the barons and the earls,
And either die or live with Gaveston.
GAVESTON [coming forward]
I can no longer keep me from my lord.
EDWARD
What, Gaveston, welcome! Kiss not my hand;
140 Embrace me, Gaveston, as I do thee.
[They embrace.]
Why shouldst thou kneel? Knowest thou not who I am?
Thy friend, thy self, another Gaveston.
Not Hylas was more mourned of Hercules
Than thou hast been of me since thy exile.
GAVESTON
And since I went from hence, no soul in hell
Hath felt more torment than poor Gaveston.
EDWARD
I know it. Brother, welcome home my friend.
Now let the treacherous Mortimers conspire,
And that high-minded earl of Lancaster;
150 I have my wish, in that I joy thy sight,
And sooner shall the sea O’erwhelm my land
Than bear the ship that shall transport thee hence.
I here create thee Lord High Chamberlain,
Chief Secretary to the state and me,
Earl of Cornwall, King and Lord of Man.
GAVESTON
My lord, these titles far exceed my worth.
KENT
Brother, the least of these may well suffice
For one of greater birth than Gaveston.
EDWARD
Cease, brother, for I cannot brook these words.
160 Thy worth, sweet friend, is far above my gifts,
Therefore, to equal it, receive my heart.
If for these dignities thou be envied,
I’ll give thee more, for but to honour thee
Is Edward pleased with kingly regiment.
Fear’st thou thy person? Thou shalt have a guard.
Wants thou gold? Go to my treasury.
Wouldst thou be loved and feared? Receive my seal,
Save or condemn, and in our name command
Whatso thy mind affects or fancy likes.
GAVESTON
170 It shall suffice me to enjoy your love,
Which whiles I have, I think myself as great
As Caesar riding in the Roman street
With captive kings at his triumphant car.
Enter the BISHOP OF COVENTRY.
EDWARD
Whither goes my lord of Coventry so fast?
COVENTRY
To celebrate your father’s exequies.
But is that wicked Gaveston returned?
EDWARD
Ay, priest, and lives to be revenged on thee
That wert the only cause of his exile.
GAVESTON
’Tis true, and, but for reverence of these robes,
180 Thou shouldst not plod one foot beyond this place.
COVENTRY
I did no more than I was bound to do,
And, Gaveston, unless thou be reclaimed,
As then I did incense the Parliament,
So will I now, and thou shalt back to France.
GAVESTON
Saving your reverence, you must pardon me.
[He lays hold of him.]
EDWARD
Throw off his golden mitre, rend his stole,
And in the channel christen him anew.
KENT
Ah, brother, lay not violent hands on him,
For he’ll complain unto the see of Rome.
GAVESTON
Let him complain unto the see of hell,
190 I’ll be revenged on him for my exile.
EDWARD
No, spare his life, but seize upon his goods;
Be thou lord bishop, and receive his rents,
And make him serve thee as thy chaplain.
I give him thee; here, use him as thou wilt.
GAVESTON
He shall to prison, and there die in bolts.
EDWARD
Ay, to the Tower, the Fleet, or where thou wilt.
COVENTRY
For this offence be thou accurst of God.
EDWARD [calling to ATTENDANTS]
Who’s there? Convey this priest to the Tower.
200 COVENTRY True, true.
[Exit the BISHOP OF COVENTRY, guarded.]
EDWARD
But in the meantime, Gaveston, away,
And take possession of his house and goods.
Come follow me, and thou shalt have my guard
To see it done and bring thee safe again.
GAVESTON
What should a priest do with so fair a house?
A prison may beseem his holiness.
[Exeunt.]
[Scene 2]
Enter both the MORTIMERS, WARWICK, and LANCASTER.
WARWICK
’Tis true, the bishop is in the Tower,
And goods and body given to Gaveston.
LANCASTER
What, will they tyrannize upon the Church?
Ah, wicked king! Accursèd Gaveston!
This ground, which is corrupted with their steps,
Shall be their timeless sepulchre or mine.
MORTIMER
Well, let that peevish Frenchman guard him sure;
Unless his breast be sword-proof, he shall die.
MORTIMER SENIOR
How now, why droops the earl of Lancaster?
MORTIMER
10 Wherefore is Guy of Warwick discontent?
LANCASTER
That villain Gaveston is made an earl.
MORTIMER SENIOR An earl!
WARWICK
Ay, and besides, Lord Chamberlain of the realm,
And Secretary too, and Lord of Man.
MORTIMER SENIOR
We may not, nor we will not suffer this.
Why post we not from hence to levy men?
LANCASTER
‘My lord of Cornwall’ now at every word!
And happy is the man whom he vouchsafes,
For vailing of his bonnet, one good look.
Thus, arm in arm, the king and he doth march;
20 Nay more, the guard upon his lordship waits,
And all the court begins to flatter him.
WARWICK
Thus leaning on the shoulder of the king,
He nods, and scorns, and smiles at those that pass.
MORTIMER SENIOR
Doth no man take exceptions at the slave?
LANCASTER
All stomach him, but none dare speak a word.
MORTIMER
Ah, that bewrays their baseness, Lancaster.
Were all the earls and barons of my mind,
We’ld hale him from the bosom of the king,
And at the court-gate hang the peasant up,
30 Who, swoll’n with venom of ambitious pride,
Will be the ruin of the realm and us.
Enter the [ARCH]BISHOP OF CANTERBURY [and an ATTENDANT].
WARWICK
Here comes my lord of Canterbury’s grace.
LANCASTER
His countenance bewrays he is displeased.
CANTERBURY [to his ATTENDANT]
First were his sacred garments rent and torn,
Then laid they violent hands upon him, next
Himself imprisoned and his goods asseized.
This certify the Pope. Away, take horse.
[Exit ATTENDANT.]
LANCASTER [to CANTERBURY]
My lord, will you take arms against the king?
CANTERBURY
40 What need I? God himself is up in arms
When violence is offered to the Church.
MORTIMER
Then will you join with us that be his peers
To banish or behead that Gaveston?
CANTERBURY
What else, my lords? For it concerns me near;
The bishopric of Coventry is his.
Enter the QUEEN.
MORTIMER
Madam, whither walks your majesty so fast?
QUEEN
Unto the forest, gentle Mortimer,
To live in grief and baleful discontent,
For now my lord the king regards me not,
50 But dotes upon the love of Gaveston.
He claps his cheeks and hangs about his neck,
Smiles in his face and whispers in his ears,
And when I come he frowns, as who should say,
‘Go whither thou wilt, seeing I have Gaveston.’
MORTIMER SENIOR
Is it not strange that he is thus bewitched?
MORTIMER
Madam, return unto the court again.
That sly, inveigling Frenchman we’ll exile
Or lose our lives; and yet ere that day come,
The king shall lose his crown, for we have power,
60 And courage too, to be revenged at full.
The Complete Plays Page 39