CANTERBURY
But yet lift not your swords against the king.
LANCASTER
No, but we’ll lift Gaveston from hence.
WARWICK
And war must be the means, or he’ll stay still.
QUEEN
Then let him stay, for, rather than my lord
Shall be oppressed by civil mutinies,
I will endure a melancholy life,
And let him frolic with his minion.
CANTERBURY
My lords, to ease all this, but hear me speak.
We and the rest that are his counsellors
Will meet and with a general consent
70 Confirm his banishment with our hands and seals.
LANCASTER
What we confirm the king will frustrate.
MORTIMER
Then may we lawfully revolt from him.
WARWICK
But say, my lord, where shall this meeting be?
CANTERBURY At the New Temple.
MORTIMER Content.
CANTERBURY
And in the meantime I’ll entreat you all
To cross to Lambeth and there stay with me.
LANCASTER Come then, let’s away.
80 MORTIMER Madam, farewell.
QUEEN
Farewell, sweet Mortimer, and for my sake
Forbear to levy arms against the king.
MORTIMER
Ay, if words will serve; if not, I must.
[Exeunt.]
[Scene 3]
Enter GAVESTON and the EARL OF KENT.
GAVESTON
Edmund, the mighty prince of Lancaster,
That hath more earldoms than an ass can bear,
And both the Mortimers, two goodly men,
With Guy of Warwick, that redoubted knight,
5 Are gone towards Lambeth. There let them remain.
Exeunt.
[Scene 4]
Enter NOBLES [LANCASTER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, MORTIMER SENIOR, MORTIMER JUNIOR and the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, attended by GUARDS].
LANCASTER [presenting a document]
Here is the form of Gaveston’s exile.
May it please your lordship to subscribe your name.
CANTERBURY Give me the paper.
[He signs the document.]
LANCASTER
Quick, quick, my lord, I long to write my name.
WARWICK
But I long more to see him banished hence.
MORTIMER
The name of Mortimer shall fright the king,
Unless he be declined from that base peasant.
Enter the KING and GAVESTON [and KENT. The KING sits on the throne with GAVESTON at his side].
EDWARD
What? Are you moved that Gaveston sits here?
It is our pleasure, we will have it so.
LANCASTER
10 Your grace doth well to place him by your side,
For nowhere else the new earl is so safe.
MORTIMER SENIOR
What man of noble birth can brook this sight?
Quam male conveniunt!
See what a scornful look the peasant casts.
PEMBROKE
Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants?
WARWICK
Ignoble vassal, that like Phaethon
Aspir’st unto the guidance of the sun!
MORTIMER
Their downfall is at hand, their forces down;
We will not thus be faced and overpeered.
EDWARD
20 Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer!
MORTIMER SENIOR
Lay hands on that traitor Gaveston!
[They seize GAVESTON.]
KENT
Is this the duty that you owe your king?
WARWICK
We know our duties. Let him know his peers.
EDWARD
Whither will you bear him? Stay, or ye shall die.
MORTIMER SENIOR
We are no traitors; therefore threaten not.
GAVESTON [to the KING]
No, threaten not, my lord, but pay them home.
Were I a king –
MORTIMER
Thou villain, wherefore talks thou of a king,
That hardly art a gentleman by birth?
EDWARD
Were he a peasant, being my minion,
30 I’ll make the proudest of you stoop to him.
LANCASTER
My lord, you may not thus disparage us.
Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston!
MORTIMER SENIOR
And with the earl of Kent that favours him.
[Exeunt KENT and GAVESTON, guarded.]
EDWARD
Nay, then lay violent hands upon your king.
Here, Mortimer, sit thou in Edward’s throne;
Warwick and Lancaster, wear you my crown.
Was ever king thus overruled as I?
LANCASTER
Learn then to rule us better, and the realm.
MORTIMER
40 What we have done, our heart-blood shall maintain.
WARWICK
Think you that we can brook this upstart pride?
EDWARD
Anger and wrathful fury stops my speech.
CANTERBURY
Why are you moved? Be patient, my lord,
And see what we your counsellors have done.
MORTIMER
My lords, now let us all be resolute,
And either have our wills or lose our lives.
EDWARD
Meet you for this, proud overdaring peers?
Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me,
This isle shall fleet upon the ocean
50 And wander to the unfrequented Inde.
CANTERBURY
You know that I am legate to the Pope.
On your allegiance to the See of Rome,
Subscribe as we have done to his exile.
[They present the document to the KING.]
MORTIMER [to CANTERBURY]
Curse him if he refuse, and then may we
Depose him and elect another king.
EDWARD
Ay, there it goes, but yet I will not yield,
Curse me, depose me, do the worst you can.
LANCASTER
Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight.
CANTERBURY
Remember how the bishop was abused.
Either banish him that was the cause thereof,
60 Or I will presently discharge these lords
Of duty and allegiance due to thee.
EDWARD [aside]
It boots me not to threat, I must speak fair.
The legate of the Pope will be obeyed.
[To CANTERBURY]
My lord, you shall be Chancellor of the realm,
Thou, Lancaster, High Admiral of our fleet,
Young Mortimer and his uncle shall be earls,
And you, Lord Warwick, President of the North,
[to PEMBROKE]
And thou of Wales. If this content you not,
Make several kingdoms of this monarchy
70 And share it equally amongst you all,
So I may have some nook or corner left
To frolic with my dearest Gaveston.
CANTERBURY
Nothing shall alter us, we are resolved.
LANCASTER Come, come, subscribe.
MORTIMER
Why should you love him whom the world hates so?
EDWARD
Because he loves me more than all the world.
Ah, none but rude and savage-minded men
Would seek the ruin of my Gaveston.
80 You that be noble born should pity him.
WARWICK
You that are princely born should shake him off.
For shame, subscribe, and let the lown depart.
MORTIMER SENIOR [to CANTERBURY]
Urge him, my lord.
CANTERBURY
Are you content to banish him the realm?
EDWARD
I see I must, and therefore am content.
Instead of ink, I’ll write it with my tears.
[He writes.]
MORTIMER
The king is lovesick for his minion.
EDWARD
’Tis done, and now, accursèd hand, fall off!
LANCASTER [taking the document]
Give it me. I’ll have it published in the streets.
MORTIMER
90 I’ll see him presently dispatched away.
CANTERBURY
Now is my heart at ease.
WARWICK And so is mine.
PEMBROKE
This will be good news to the common sort.
MORTIMER SENIOR
Be it or no, he shall not linger here.
Exeunt NOBLES.
EDWARD
How fast they run to banish him I love!
They would not stir, were it to do me good.
Why should a king be subject to a priest?
Proud Rome, that hatchest such imperial grooms,
For these thy superstitious taper lights,
Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze,
100 I’ll fire thy crazèd buildings and enforce
The papal towers to kiss the lowly ground,
With slaughtered priests make Tiber’s channel swell,
And banks raised higher with their sepulchres.
As for the peers that back the clergy thus,
If I be king, not one of them shall live.
Enter GAVESTON.
GAVESTON
My lord, I hear it whispered everywhere
That I am banished and must fly the land.
EDWARD
’Tis true, sweet Gaveston. O, were it false!
The legate of the Pope will have it so,
And thou must hence or I shall be deposed.
110 But I will reign to be revenged of them;
And therefore, sweet friend, take it patiently.
Live where thou wilt, I’ll send thee gold enough;
And long thou shalt not stay, or, if thou dost,
I’ll come to thee; my love shall ne’er decline.
GAVESTON
Is all my hope turned to this hell of grief?
EDWARD
Rend not my heart with thy too-piercing words;
Thou from this land, I from myself am banished.
GAVESTON
To go from hence grieves not poor Gaveston,
But to forsake you, in whose gracious looks
120 The blessedness of Gaveston remains,
For nowhere else seeks he felicity.
EDWARD
And only this torments my wretched soul,
That, whether I will or no, thou must depart.
Be governor of Ireland in my stead,
And there abide till fortune call thee home.
Here, take my picture and let me wear thine.
[They exchange pictures.]
O, might I keep thee here as I do this,
Happy were I, but now most miserable.
GAVESTON
130 ’Tis something to be pitied of a king.
EDWARD
Thou shalt not hence; I’ll hide thee, Gaveston.
GAVESTON
I shall be found, and then ’t will grieve me more.
EDWARD
Kind words and mutual talk makes our grief greater;
Therefore with dumb embracement let us part.
[They embrace, GAVESTON starts to leave.]
Stay, Gaveston, I cannot leave thee thus.
GAVESTON
For every look, my lord, drops down a tear;
Seeing I must go, do not renew my sorrow.
EDWARD
The time is little that thou hast to stay,
And therefore give me leave to look my fill.
140 But come, sweet friend, I’ll bear thee on thy way.
GAVESTON The peers will frown.
EDWARD
I pass not for their anger. Come, let’s go.
O, that we might as well return as go!
Enter EDMUND [,EARL OF KENT] and QUEEN ISABEL.
QUEEN Whither goes my lord?
EDWARD
Fawn not on me, French strumpet; get thee gone.
QUEEN
On whom but on my husband should I fawn?
GAVESTON
On Mortimer, with whom, ungentle queen –
I say no more; judge you the rest, my lord.
QUEEN
In saying this, thou wrong’st me, Gaveston.
150 Is’t not enough that thou corrupts my lord And art a bawd to his affections,
But thou must call mine honour thus in question?
GAVESTON
I mean not so, your grace must pardon me.
EDWARD
Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer,
And by thy means is Gaveston exiled;
But I would wish thee reconcile the lords,
Or thou shalt ne’er be reconciled to me.
QUEEN
Your highness knows it lies not in my power.
EDWARD
Away then, touch me not. Come, Gaveston.
QUEEN [to GAVESTON]
160 Villain, ’tis thou that robb’st me of my lord.
GAVESTON
Madam, ’tis you that rob me of my lord.
EDWARD
Speak not unto her, let her droop and pine.
QUEEN
Wherein, my lord, have I deserved these words?
Witness the tears that Isabella sheds,
Witness this heart that, sighing for thee, breaks,
How dear my lord is to poor Isabel.
EDWARD [pushing her away]
And witness heaven how dear thou art to me.
There weep, for, till my Gaveston be repealed,
Assure thyself thou com’st not in my sight.
Exeunt EDWARD and GAVESTON.
QUEEN
O, miserable and distressèd queen!
170 Would when I left sweet France and was embarked,
That charming Circes, walking on the waves,
Had changed my shape, or at the marriage day
The cup of Hymen had been full of poison,
Or with those arms that twined about my neck
I had been stifled and not lived to see
The king my lord thus to abandon me.
Like frantic Juno will I fill the earth
With ghastly murmur of my sighs and cries,
For never doted Jove on Ganymede
180 So much as he on cursèd Gaveston.
But that will more exasperate his wrath.
I must entreat him, I must speak him fair,
And be a means to call home Gaveston;
And yet he’ll ever dote on Gaveston,
And so am I for ever miserable.
Enter the NOBLES [LANCASTER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, MORTIMER SENIOR and MORTIMER JUNIOR] to the QUEEN.
LANCASTER
Look where the sister of the King of France
Sits wringing of her hands and beats her breast.
WARWICK
The king, I fear, hath ill entreated her.
PEMBROKE
190 Hard is the heart that injures such a saint.
MORTIMER
I know ’tis long of Gaveston she weeps.
MORTIMER SENIOR
Why? He is gone.
MORTIMER [to the QUEEN]
Madam, how fares your grace?
QUEEN
Ah, Mortimer! Now breaks the king’s hate forth,
And he confesseth that he loves me not.
MORTIMER
Cry quittance, madam, then, and love not him.
QUEEN
No, rather will I die a thousand deaths.
And yet I love in vain; he’ll ne’er love me.
LANCASTER
Fear ye not, madam. Now his minion’s gone,
His wa
nton humour will be quickly left.
QUEEN
200 O never, Lancaster! I am enjoined
To sue unto you all for his repeal;
This wills my lord, and this must I perform,
Or else be banished from his highness’ presence.
LANCASTER
For his repeal, madam? He comes not back,
Unless the sea cast up his shipwrack body.
WARWICK
And to behold so sweet a sight as that
There’s none here but would run his horse to death.
MORTIMER
But, madam, would you have us call him home?
QUEEN
Ay, Mortimer, for till he be restored
The angry king hath banished me the court;
210 And therefore, as thou lovest and tend’rest me,
Be thou my advocate unto these peers.
MORTIMER
What, would ye have me plead for Gaveston?
MORTIMER SENIOR
Plead for him he that will, I am resolved.
LANCASTER
And so am I, my lord. Dissuade the queen.
QUEEN
O Lancaster, let him dissuade the king,
For’tis against my will he should return.
WARWICK
Then speak not for him; let the peasant go.
QUEEN
’Tis for myself I speak, and not for him.
PEMBROKE
220 No speaking will prevail, and therefore cease.
MORTIMER
Fair queen, forbear to angle for the fish
Which, being caught, strikes him that takes it dead –
I mean that vile torpedo, Gaveston,
That now, I hope, floats on the Irish seas.
QUEEN
Sweet Mortimer, sit down by me a while,
And I will tell thee reasons of such weight
As thou wilt soon subscribe to his repeal.
MORTIMER
It is impossible, but speak your mind.
QUEEN
Then thus, but none shall hear it but ourselves.
[They talk apart.]
LANCASTER
My lords, albeit the queen win Mortimer,
230 Will you be resolute and hold with me?
MORTIMER SENIOR
Not I against my nephew.
PEMBROKE
Fear not, the queen’s words cannot alter him.
WARWICK
No? Do but mark how earnestly she pleads.
LANCASTER
And see how coldly his looks make denial.
WARWICK
She smiles. Now, for my life, his mind is changed.
LANCASTER
I’ll rather lose his friendship, I, than grant.
MORTIMER [returning to the NOBLES]
Well, of necessity it must be so.
My lords, that I abhor base Gaveston,
240 I hope your honours make no question,
And therefore, though I plead for his repeal,
’Tis not for his sake but for our avail –
Nay, for the realm’s behoof and for the king’s.
LANCASTER
Fie, Mortimer, dishonour not thyself.
The Complete Plays Page 40