SCENE ONE

A ball in Gloucester's bouse .
Enter the YOUNGER SPENSER and BALDOCK . BALDOCK :
Spenser,
Seeing that our lord the Earl of Gloucester's dead,
Which of the nobles dost thou mean to serve? YOUNGER SPENSER :
Not Mortimer, nor any of his side,
Because the king and he are enemies.
Baldock, learn this of me: a factious lord
Shall hardly do himself good, much less us;
But he that hath the favour of a king
May with one word advance us while we live.
The liberal Earl of Cornwall is the man
On whose good fortune Spenser's hope depends. BALDOCK :
What, mean you then to be his follower? YOUNGER SPENSER :
No, his companion; for he loves me well,
And would have once preferr'd me to the king. BALDOCK :
But he is banish'd; there's small hope of him. YOUNGER SPENSER :
Ay, for a while, but, Baldock, mark the end.
A friend of mine told me in secrecy
That he's repeal'd and sent for back again;
And even now a post came from the court
With letters to our lady from the king,
And, as she read, she smil'd; which makes me think
It is about her lover Gaveston. BALDOCK :
'Tis like enough; for, since he was exil'd,
She neither walks abroad nor comes in sight.
But I had thought the match had been broke off,
And that his banishment had chang'd her mind. YOUNGER SPENSER :
Our lady's first love is not wavering.
My life for thine, she will have Gaveston. BALDOCK :
Then hope I by her means to be preferr'd,
Having read unto her since she was a child. YOUNGER SPENSER :
Then, Baldock, you must cast the scholar off,
And learn to court it like a gentleman.
'Tis not a black coat and a little band,
A velvet-cap'd cloak, fac'd before with serge,
And smelling to a nosegay all the day,
Or holding of a napkin in your hand,
Or saying a long grace at a table's end,
Or making low legs to a nobleman,
Or looking downward, with your eyelids close,
And saying, 'Truly, an't may please your honour,'
Can get you any favour with great men.
You must be proud, bold, pleasant, resolute,
And now and then stab, as occasion serves. BALDOCK :
Spenser, thou know'st I hate such formal toys,
And use them but of mere hypocrisy.
Mine old lord, whiles he liv'd, was so precise,
That he would take exceptions at my buttons,
And, being like pins' heads, blame me for the bigness;
Which made me curate-like in mine attire,
Though inwardly licentious enough,
And apt for any kind of villainy.
I am none of these common pedants, I,
That cannot speak without propterea quod . YOUNGER SPENSER :
But one of those that saith qua doquidem ,
And hath a special gift to form a verb. BALDOCK :
Leave off this jesting; here my lady comes.
Enter KING EDWARD'S NIECE . 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 ; ÔÇô
This argues the entire love of my lord; ÔÇô
( Reads ) When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart!
But rest 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 SPENSER :
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 SPENSER :
I humbly thank your ladyship. NIECE :
Come, lead the way: I long till I am there.
Exeunt .

SCENE TWO

Before Tynemouth Castle .
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 wrack'd upon the sea. QUEEN ISABELLA :
Look, Lancaster, how passionate he is,
And still his mind runs on his minion! LANCASTER :
My lord, ÔÇô KING EDWARD :
How now! what news? Is Gaveston arriv'd? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Nothing but Gaveston! What m ans our grace?
You have matt rs 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? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
A homely one, my lord, not worth the telling. KING EDWARD :
Prithee, let me know it. YOUNGER 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 fow!
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. YOUNGER 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 comes!
Enter GAVESTON . KING EDWARD :
My Gaveston!
Welcome to Tynemouth! 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 sure 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! YOUNGER 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 ( aside ):
Ay me, poor soul, when these begin to jar! 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 . 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. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Villain, thy life! unless I miss mine aim.
Wounds GAVESTON . QUEEN ISABELLA :
Ah, furious Mortimer, what hast thou done? YOUNGER 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 aby this riotous deed:
Out of my presence! Come not near the court. YOUNGER 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. YOUNGER 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. YOUNGER 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 . YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Letters! From whence? MESSENGER :
From Scotland, my lord.
Giving letters to MORTIMER . LANCASTER :
Why, how now, cousin! How fares all our friends? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
My uncle's taken prisoner by the Scots. LANCASTER :
We'll have him ransom'd, man: be of good cheer. YOUNGER 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 Pembroke and myself
Will to Newcastle here, and gather head. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
About it, then, and we will follow you. LANCASTER :
Be resolute and full of secrecy. WARWICK :
I warrant you.
Exit with PEMBROKE . YOUNGER 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. Holla! who's there?
Enter GUARD . YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Ay, marry, such a guard as this doth well. LANCASTER :
Lead on the way. GUARD :
Whither will your lordships? YOUNGER 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. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
May we not?
Enter KING EDWARD and KENT . KING EDWARD :
How now!
What noise is this? Who have we there? Is't you?
Going . YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Nay, stay, my lord; I come to bring you news.
Mine uncle's taken prisoner by the Scots. KING EDWARD :
Then ransom him. LANCASTER :
'Twas in your wars; you should ransom him. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
And you shall ransom him, or else ÔÇô KENT :
What, Mortimer, you will not threaten him? KING EDWARD :
Quiet yourself, you shall have the broad seal,
To gather for him th[o]roughout the realm. LANCASTER :
Your minion Gaveston hath taught you this. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
My lord, the family of the Mortimers
Are not so poor, but, would they sell their land,
'Twould levy men enough to anger you.
We never beg, but use such prayers as these.
Laying bold of his sword . KING EDWARD :
Shall I still be haunted thus? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Nay, now you are here alone, I'll speak my mind. LANCASTER :
And so will I, and then, my lord, farewell. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
The idle triumphs, masques, lascivious shows,
And prodigal gifts bestow'd on Gaveston,
Have drawn thy treasury dry, and made thee weak;
The murmuring commons, overstretched, break. LANCASTER :
Look for rebellion, look to be depos'd.
Thy garrisons are beaten out of France,
And lame and poor lie groaning at the gates.
The wild O'Neill, with swarms of Irish kerns,
Lives uncontroll'd within the English pale.
Unto the walls of York the Scots make road,
And, unresisted, drive away rich spoils. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas,
While in the harbour ride thy ships unrigg'd. LANCASTER :
What foreign prince sends thee ambassadors? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Who loves thee, but a sort of flatterers? LANCASTER :
Thy gentle queen, sole sister of Valois,
Complains that thou hast left her all forlorn. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Thy court is naked, being bereft of those
That make a king seem glorious to the world,
I mean the peers, whom thou shouldst dearly love.
Libels are cast again thee in the street;
Ballads and rhymes made of thy overthrow. LANCASTER :
The northern borderers, seeing their houses burnt,
Their wives and children slain, run up and down,
Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
When wert thou in the field with banner spread?
But once, and then thy soldiers march'd like players,
With garish robes, not armour; and thyself,
Bedaub'd with gold, rode laughing at the rest,
Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest,
Where women's favours hung like labels down. LANCASTER :
And thereof came it that the fleering Scots,
To England's high disgrace, have made this jig:
Maids of England, sore may you mourn ,
For your lemans you have lost at Bannocksbourn ,
With a heave and a ho!
What weeneth the king of England
So soon to have won Scotland!
With a rombelow! YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Wigmore shall fly to set my uncle free. LANCASTER :
And when 'tis gone our swords shall purchase more.
If you be mov'd, revenge it as you can:
Look next to see us with our ensigns spread.
Exit with YOUNGER MORTIMER . KING EDWARD :
My swelling heart for very anger breaks:
How oft have I been baited by these peers,
And dare not be reveng'd, for their power is great!
Yet, shall the crowing of these cockerels
Affright a lion? Edward, unfold thy paws,
And let their lives' blood slake thy fury's hunger.
If I be cruel and grow tyrannous,
Now let them thank themselves, and rue too late. KENT :
My lord, I see your love to Gaveston
Will be the ruin of the realm and you,
For now the wrathful nobles threaten wars,
And therefore, brother, banish him for ever. KING EDWARD :
Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston? KENT :
Ay, and it grieves me that I favour'd him. KING EDWARD :
Traitor, be gone! Whine thou with Mortimer. KENT :
So will I, rather than with Gaveston. KING EDWARD :
Out of my sight, and trouble me no more! KENT :
No marvel though thou scorn thy noble peers,
When I thy brother am rejected thus. KING EDWARD :
Away!
Exit KENT .
Poor Gaveston, that hast no friend but me!
Do what they can, we'll live in Tynemouth here,
And so I walk with him about the walls,
What care I though the earls begirt us round?
Here comes she that is cause of all these jars.
Enter QUEEN ISABELLA , with EDWARD'S NIECE , two LADIES , GAVESTON , BALDOCK , and the YOUNGER SPENSER . QUEEN ISABELLA :
My lord, 'tis thought the earls are up in arms. KING EDWARD :
Ay, and 'tis likewise thought you favour him. QUEEN ISABELLA :
Thus do you still suspect me without cause? NIECE :
Sweet uncle, speak more kindly to the queen. GAVESTON :
My lord, dissemble with her; speak her fair. KING EDWARD :
Pardon me, sweet; I forgot myself. QUEEN ISABELLA :
Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel. KING EDWARD :
The younger Mortimer is grown so brave,
That to my face he threatens civil wars. GAVESTON :
Why do you not commit him to the Tower? KING EDWARD :
I dare not, for the people love him well. GAVESTON :
Why, then, we'll have him privily made away. KING EDWARD :
Would Lancaster and he had both carous'd
A bowl of poison to each other's health!
But let them go, and tell me what are these. NIECE :
Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd:
May't please your grace to entertain them now. KING EDWARD :
Tell me, where wast thou born? What is thine arms? BALDOCK :
My name is Baldock, and my gentry
I fetch'd from Oxford, not from heraldry. KING EDWARD :
The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn.
Wait on me, and I'll see thou shalt not want. BALDOCK :
I humbly thank your majesty. KING EDWARD :
Knowest thou him, Gaveston? GAVESTON :
Ay, my lord.
His name is Spenser; he is well allied;
For my sake let him wait upon your grace.
Scarce shall you find a man of more desert. KING EDWARD :
Then, Spenser, wait upon me; for his sake
I'll grace thee with a higher style ere long. YOUNGER SPENSER :
No greater titles happen unto me
Than to be favour'd of your majesty! KING EDWARD :
Cousin, this day shall be your marriage feast.
And, Gaveston, think that I love thee well,
To wed thee to our niece, the only heir
Unto the Earl of Gloucester late deceas'd. GAVESTON :
I know, my lord, many will stomach me,
But I respect neither their love nor hate. KING EDWARD :
The headstrong barons shall not limit me;
He that I list to favour shall be great.
Come, let's away, and, when the marriage ends,
Have at the rebels and their complices!
Exeunt .

SCENE THREE

Near Tynemouth Castle .
Enter KENT , LANCASTER , the YOUNGER MORTIMER , WARWICK , PEMBROKE , and others . KENT :
My lords, of love to this our native land,
I come to join with you, and leave the king;
And in your quarrel, and the realm's behoof,
Will be the first that shall adventure life. LANCASTER :
I fear me you are sent of policy,
To undermine us with a show of love. WARWICK :
He is your brother, therefore have we cause
To cast the worst, and doubt of your revolt. KENT :
Mine honour shall be hostage of my truth:
If that will not suffice, farewell, my lords. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Stay, Edmund: never was Plantagenet
False of his word, and therefore trust we thee. PEMBROKE :
But what's the reason you should leave him now? KENT :
I have inform'd the Earl of Lancaster. LANCASTER :
And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this,
That Gaveston is secretly arriv'd,
And here in Tynemouth frolics with the king.
Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprise them unawares. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
I'll give the onset. WARWICK :
And I'll follow thee. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
This totter'd ensign of my ancestors,
Which swept the desert shore of that Dead Sea
Whereof we got the name of Mortimer,
Will I advance upon this castle walls ÔÇô
Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport,
And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston! LANCASTER :
None be so hardy as to touch the king;
But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends.
Exeunt .

SCENE FOUR

In Tynemouth Castle .
Enter, severally , KING EDWARD and the YOUNGER SPENSER . KING EDWARD :
O, tell me, Spenser, where is Gaveston? YOUNGER SPENSER :
I fear me he is slain, my gracious lord. KING EDWARD :
No, here he comes; now let them spoil and kill.
Enter QUEEN ISABELLA , KING EDWARD'S NIECE , GAVESTON , and NOBLES .
Fly, fly, my lords! The earls have got the hold.
Take shipping, and away to Scarborough.
Spenser and I will post away by land. GAVESTON :
O, stay, my lord! They will not injure you. KING EDWARD :
I will not trust them, Gaveston; away! GAVESTON :
Farewell, my lord. KING EDWARD :
Lady, farewell. NIECE :
Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again. KING EDWARD :
Farewell, sweet Gaveston; and farewell, niece. QUEEN ISABELLA :
No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen? KING EDWARD :
Yes, yes, for Mortimer your lover's sake. QUEEN ISABELLA :
Heavens can witness, I love none but you.
Exeunt all except QUEEN ISABELLA .
From my embracements thus he breaks away.
O, that mine arms could close this isle about,
That I might pull him to me where I would!
Or that these tears, that drizzle from mine eyes,
Had power to mollify his stony heart,
That, when I had him, we might never part!
Enter LANCASTER , WARWICK , the YOUNGER MORTIMER , and others. Alarums within . LANCASTER :
I wonder how he scap'd. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Who's this? The queen! QUEEN ISABELLA :
Ay, Mortimer, the miserable queen,
Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted,
And body with continual mourning wasted.
These hands are tir'd with haling of my lord
From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston;
And all in vain, for, when I speak him fair,
He turns away and smiles upon his minion. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Cease to lament, and tell us where's the king? QUEEN ISABELLA :
What would you with the king? Is't him you seek? LANCASTER :
No, madam, but that cursed Gaveston.
Far be it from the thought of Lancaster
To offer violence to his sovereign!
We would but rid the realm of Gaveston:
Tell us where he remains, and he shall die. QUEEN ISABELLA :
He's gone by water unto Scarborough.
Pursue him quickly, and he cannot scape;
The king hath left him, and his train is small. WARWICK :
Forslow no time, sweet Lancaster; let's march. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
How comes it that the king and he is parted? QUEEN ISABELLA :
That this your army, going several ways,
Might be of lesser force, and with the power
That he intendeth presently to raise,
Be easily suppress'd: and therefore be gone. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy:
Let's all aboard, and follow him amain. LANCASTER :
The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails.
Come, come, aboard! Tis but an hour's sailing. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Madam, stay you within this castle here. QUEEN ISABELLA :
No, Mortimer, I'll to my lord the king. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough. QUEEN ISABELLA :
You know the king is so suspicious
As, if he hear I have but talk'd with you,
Mine honour will be call'd in question;
And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Madam, I cannot stay to answer you,
But think of Mortimer as he deserves.
Exeunt all except QUEEN ISABELLA . QUEEN ISABELLA :
So well hast thou deserv'd, sweet Mortimer,
As Isabel could live with thee for ever.
In vain I-look for love at Edward's hand,
Whose eyes are fix'd on none but Gaveston.
Yet once more I'll importune him with prayers:
If he be strange, and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France,
And to the king my brother there complain
How Gaveston hath robb'd me of his love.
But yet, I hope, my sorrows will have end,
And Gaveston this blessed day be slain.
Exit.

SCENE FIVE

The open country .
Enter GAVESTON , pursued. GAVESTON :
Yet, lusty lords, I have escap'd your hands,
Your threats, your 'larums, and your hot pursuits;
And, though divorced from King Edward's eyes,
Yet liveth Pierce of Gaveston unsurpris'd,
Breathing in hope (malgrado all your beards,
That muster rebels thus against your king)
To see his royal sovereign once again.
Enter WARWICK , LANCASTER , PEMBROKE , the YOUNGER MORTIMER , SOLDIERS , JAMES and other ATTENDANTS OF PEMBROKE . WARWICK :
Upon him, soldiers! Take away his weapons! YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Thou proud disturber of thy country's peace,
Corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils,
Base flatterer, yield! And, were it not for shame,
Shame and dishonour to a soldier's name,
Upon my weapon's point here shouldst thou fall,
And welter in thy gore. LANCASTER :
Monster of men,
That, like the Greekish strumpet, train'd to arms
And bloody wars so many valiant knights,
Look for no other fortune, wretch, than death!
King Edward is not here to buckler thee. WARWICK :
Lancaster, why talk'st thou to the slave?
Go, soldiers, take him hence; for, by my sword,
His head shall off. Gaveston, short warning
Shall serve thy turn: it is our country's cause
That here severely we will execute
Upon thy person. Hang him at a bough. GAVESTON :
My lord! ÔÇô WARWICK :
Soldiers, have him away.
But, for thou wert the favourite of a king,
Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands. GAVESTON :
I thank you all, my lords. Then I perceive
That heading is one, and hanging is the other,
And death is all.
Enter ARUNDEL . LANCASTER :
How now, my Lord of Arundel! ARUNDEL :
My lords, King Edward greets you all by me. WARWICK :
Arundel, say your message. ARUNDEL :
His majesty, hearing that you had taken Gaveston,
Entreateth you by me, yet but he may
See him before he dies; for why, he says,
And sends you word, he knows that die he shall;
And, if you gratify his grace so far,
He will be mindful of the courtesy. WARWICK :
How now! GAVESTON :
Renowmed Edward, how thy name
Revives poor Gaveston! WARWICK :
No, it needeth not:
Arundel, we will gratify the king
In other matters; he must pardon us in this.
Soldiers, away with him! GAVESTON :
Why, my Lord of Warwick,
Will not these delays beget my hopes?
I know it, lords, it is this life you aim at,
Yet grant King Edward this. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Shalt thou appoint
What we shall grant? Soldiers, away with him!
Thus we'll gratify the king:
We'll send his head by thee. Let him bestow
His tears on that, for that is all he gets
Of Gaveston, or else his senseless trunk. LANCASTER :
Not so, my lord, lest he bestow more cost
In burying him than he hath ever earn'd. ARUNDEL :
My lords, it is his majesty's request,
And in the honour of a king he swears,
He will but talk with him, and send him back. WARWICK :
When, can you tell? Arundel, no; we wot,
He that the care of his realm remits,
And drives his nobles to these exigents
For Gaveston, will, if he seize him once,
Violate any promise to possess him. ARUNDEL :
Then, if you will not trust his grace in keep,
My lords, I will be pledge for his return. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
'Tis honourable in thee to offer this;
But, for we know thou art a noble gentleman,
We will not wrong thee so,
To make away a true man for a thief. GAVESTON :
How mean'st thou, Mortimer? That is over-base. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
Away, base groom, robber of kings' renown!
Question with thy companions and thy mates. PEMBROKE :
My Lord Mortimer, and you, my lords, each one,
To gratify the king's request therein,
Touching the sending of this Gaveston,
Because his majesty so earnestly
Desires to see the man before his death,
I will upon mine honour undertake
To carry him, and bring him back again,
Provided this, that you, my Lord of Arundel,
Will join with me. WARWICK :
Pembroke, what wilt thou do?
Cause yet more bloodshed? Is it not enough
That we have taken him, but must we now
Leave him on 'Had I wist,' and let him go? PEMBROKE :
My lords, I will not over-woo your honours,
But, if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner,
Upon mine oath, I will return him back. ARUNDEL :
My Lord of Lancaster, what say you in this? LANCASTER :
Why, I say, let him go on Pembroke's word. PEMBROKE :
And you, Lord Mortimer? YOUNGER MORTIMER :
How say you, my Lord of Warwick? WARWICK :
Nay, do your pleasures: I know how 'twill prove. PEMBROKE :
Then give him me. GAVESTON :
Sweet sovereign, yet I come
To see thee ere I die! WARWICK ( aside ):
Yet not perhaps,
If Warwick's wit and policy prevail. YOUNGER MORTIMER :
My Lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you:
Return him on your honour. Sound, away!
Exeunt all except PEMBROKE , ARUNDEL , GAVESTON , JAMES and other ATTENDANTS OF PEMBROKE . PEMBROKE :
My lord, you shall go with me.
My house is not far hence, out of the way
A little, but our men shall go along.
We that have pretty wenches to our wives,
Sir, must not come so near and balk their lips. ARUNDEL :
'Tis very kindly spoke, my Lord of Pembroke:
Your honour hath an adamant of power
To draw a prince. PEMBROKE :
So, my lord. Come, hither, James:
I do commit this Gaveston to thee;
Be thou this night his keeper; in the morning
We will discharge thee of thy charge. Be gone. GAVESTON :
Unhappy Gaveston, whither go'st thou now?
Exit with JAMES and other ATTENDANTS OF PEMBROKE . HORSE-BOY :
My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham.
Exeunt.