Edward II by Christopher Marlowe, Arthur Henry Bullen
Act II
SCENE I
[Enter Young Spencer and Baldock.]
BALD Spencer, Seeing that our lord the Earl of Gloucester's dead, Which of the nobles dost thou mean to serve?
Y. SPEN 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 Spencer's hope depends.
BALD What, mean you then to be his follower?
Y. SPEN No, his companion; for he loves me well, And would have once preferred me to the king.
BALD But he is banished; there's small hope of him.
Y. SPEN I, for a while; but, Baldock, mark the end. A friend of mine told me in secresy That he's repealed, and sent for back again; And even now a post came from the court With letters to our lady from the king; And as she read she smiled, which makes me think It is about her lover Gaveston.
BALD 'Tis like enough; for since he was exiled She neither walks abroad, nor comes in sight. But I had thought the match had been broke off, And that his banishment had changed her mind.
Y. SPEN Our lady's first love is not wavering; My life for thine she will have Gaveston.
BALD Then hope I by her means to be preferred, Having read unto her since she was a child.
Y. SPEN 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 caped cloak, faced 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.
BALD Spencer, thou know'st I hate such formal toys, And use them but of mere hypocrisy. Mine old lord while he lived 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.
Y. SPEN But one of those that saith, quandoquidem, And hath a special gift to form a verb.
BALD Leave off this jesting, here my lady comes.
[Enter the Lady.]
LADY 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 could'st not come and visit me: I will not long be from thee, though I die. [Reads. This argues the entire love of my lord; When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart: [Reads. But stay thee here where Gaveston shall sleep. 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.
BALD It shall be done, madam. [Exit.
LADY And meet me at the park-pale presently. Spencer, 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.
SPEN I knew the king would have him home again.
LADY If all things sort out, as I hope they will, Thy service, Spencer, shall be thought upon.
SPEN I humbly thank your ladyship.
LADY Come, lead the way; I long till I am there. [Exeunt.
SCENE II
[Enter Edward, the Queen, Lancaster, Young Mortimer, Warwick, Pembroke, Kent, and Attendants.]
EDW The wind is good, I wonder why he stays; I fear me he is wrecked upon the sea.
QUEEN Look, Lancaster, how passionate he is, And still his mind runs on his minion!
LAN My lord.
EDW How now! what news? is Gaveston arrived?
Y. MOR Nothing but Gaveston! what means your grace? You have matters of more weight to think upon; The King of France sets foot in Normandy.
EDW A trifle! we'll expel him when we please. But tell me, Mortimer, what's thy device Against the stately triumph we decreed?
Y. MOR A homely one, my lord, not worth the telling.
EDW Pray thee let me know it.
Y. MOR 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 into the highest bough of all: The motto, Æque tandem.
EDW And what is yours, my lord of Lancaster?
LAN 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 pursued, 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 Sweet husband, be content, they all love you.
EDW 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. Though thou compar'st him to a flying fish, And threatenest death whether he rise or fall, 'Tis not the hugest monster of the sea, Nor foulest harpy that shall swallow him.
Y. MOR If in his absence thus he favours him, What will he do whenas he shall be present?
LAN That shall we see; look where his lordship comes.
[Enter Gaveston.]
EDW My Gaveston! Welcome to Tynemouth! welcome to thy friend! Thy absence made me droop and pine away; For, as the lovers of fair Danae, When she was locked up in a brazen tower, Desired her more, and waxed 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.
GAV 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.
EDW Will none of you salute my Gaveston?
LAN Salute him? yes; welcome, Lord Chamberlain!
Y. MOR Welcome is the good Earl of Cornwall!
WAR Welcome, Lord Governor of the Isle of Man!
PEM Welcome, Master Secretary!
KENT Brother, do you hear them?
EDW Still will these earls and barons use me thus.
GAV My lord, I cannot brook these injuries.
QUEEN Aye me, poor soul, when these begin to jar. [Aside.
EDW Return it to their throats, I'll be thy warrant.
GAV 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.
LAN Yet I disdain not to do this for you. [Draws.
EDW Treason! treason! where's the traitor?
PEM Here! here! king.
EDW .] Convey hence Gaveston; they'll murder him.
GAV The life of thee shall salve this foul disgrace.
Y. MOR Villain! thy life, unless I miss mine aim. [Offers to stab him.
QUEEN Ah! furious Mortimer, what hast thou done?
Y. MOR No more than I would answer, were he slain. [Exit Gaveston with Attendants.
EDW 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.
Y. MOR I'll not be barred the court for Gaveston.
LAN We'll hale him by the ears unto the block.
EDW Look to your own heads; his is sure enough.
WAR Look to your own crown, if you back him thus.
KENT Warwick, these words do ill beseem thy years.
EDW 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 the King, Queen, and Kent.
WAR Let's to our castles, for the king is moved.
Y. MOR Moved may he be, and perish in his wrath!
LAN 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.
Y. MOR By heaven, the abject villain shall not live!
WAR I'll have his blood, or die in seeking it.
PEM The like oath Pembroke takes.
LAN And so doth Lancaster. Now send our heralds to defy the king; And make the people swear to put him down.
[Enter Messenger.]
Y. MOR Letters! from whence?
MESS From Scotland, My lord. [Giving letters to Mortimer.
LAN Why, how now, cousin, how fares all our friends?
Y. MOR My uncle's taken prisoner by the Scots.
LAN We'll have him ransomed, man; be of good cheer.
Y. MOR 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.
LAN Do, cousin, and I'll bear thee company.
WAR Meantime, my lord of Pembroke and myself Will to Newcastle here, and gather head.
Y. MOR About it then, and we will follow you.
LAN Be resolute and full of secrecy.
WAR I warrant you. [Exit with Pembroke.
Y. MOR Cousin, and if he will not ransom him, I'll thunder such a peal into his ears, As never subject did unto his king.
LAN Content, I'll bear my part—Holla! whose there? [Guard appears. Enter Guard.
Y. MOR I, marry, such a guard as thus doth well.
LAN Lead on the way.
GUARD Whither will your lordships?
Y. MOR Whither else but to the king.
GUARD His highness is disposed to be alone.
LAN Why, so he may, but we will speak to him.
GUARD You may not in, my lord.
Y. MOR May we not?
[Enter Edward and Kent.]
EDW How now! what noise is this? GOING ve we there, is't you? [Going.
Y. MOR Nay, stay, my lord, I come to bring you news; Mine uncle's taken prisoner by the Scots.
EDW Then ransom him.
LAN 'Twas in your wars; you should ransom him.
Y. MOR And you shall ransom him, or else——
KENT What! Mortimer, you will not threaten him?
EDW Quiet yourself, you shall have the broad seal, To gather for him th[o]roughout the realm.
LAN Your minion Gaveston hath taught you this.
Y. MOR 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.
EDW Shall I still be haunted thus?
Y. MOR Nay, now you're here alone, I'll speak my mind.
LAN And so will I, and then, my lord, farewell.
Y. MOR The idle triumphs, masks, lascivious shows, And prodigal gifts bestowed on Gaveston, Have drawn thy treasury dry, and made thee weak; The murmuring commons, overstretchèd, break.
LAN Look for rebellion, look to be deposed; Thy garrisons are beaten out of France, And, lame and poor, lie groaning at the gates. The wild Oneyl, with swarms of Irish kerns, Lives uncontrolled within the English pale. Unto the walls of York the Scots make road, And unresisted drive away rich spoils.
Y. MOR The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas, While in the harbour ride thy ships unrigged.
LAN What foreign prince sends thee ambassadors?
Y. MOR Who loves thee, but a sort of flatterers?
LAN Thy gentle queen, sole sister to Valois, Complains that thou hast left her all forlorn.
Y. MOR Thy court is naked, being bereft of those That make a king seem glorious to the world; I mean the peers, whom thou should'st dearly love: Libels are cast again thee in the street: Ballads and rhymes made of thy overthrow.
LAN The Northern borderers seeing their houses burnt, Their wives and children slain, run up and down, Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston.
Y. MOR When wert thou in the field with banner spread, But once? and then thy soldiers marched like players, With garish robes, not armour; and thyself, Bedaubed with gold, rode laughing at the rest, Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest, Where women's favours hung like labels down.
LAN 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?
Y. MOR Wigmore shall fly, to set my uncle free.
LAN And when 'tis gone, our swords shall purchase more. If ye be moved, revenge it if you can; Look next to see us with our ensigns spread. [Exeunt Nobles.
EDW My swelling heart for very anger breaks! How oft have I been baited by these peers, And dare not be revenged, 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.
EDW Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston?
KENT I, and it grieves me that I favoured him.
EDW Traitor, begone! whine thou with Mortimer.
KENT So will I, rather than with Gaveston.
EDW 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. [Exit.
EDW Away! Poor Gaveston, that has 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 cometh she that's cause of all these jars.
[Enter the Queen, with King's Niece, two Ladies, Gaveston, Baldock, and Young Spencer.]
QUEEN My lord, 'tis thought the Earls are up in arms.
EDW I, and 'tis likewise thought you favour 'em.
QUEEN Thus do you still suspect me without cause?
LADY Sweet uncle! speak more kindly to the queen.
GAV My lord, dissemble with her, speak her fair.
EDW Pardon me, sweet, I forgot myself.
QUEEN Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.
EDW The younger Mortimer is grown so brave, That to my face he threatens civil wars.
GAV Why do you not commit him to the Tower?
EDW I dare not, for the people love him well.
GAV Why then we'll have him privily made away.
EDW Would Lancaster and he had both caroused A bowl of poison to each other's health! But let them go, and tell me what are these.
LADY Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd,— May't please your grace to entertain them now.
EDW Tell me, where wast thou born? what is thine arms?
BALD My name is Baldock, and my gentry I fetch from Oxford, not from heraldry.
EDW The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn. Wait on me, and I'll see thou shall not want.
BALD I humbly thank your majesty.
EDW Knowest thou him, Gaveston?
GAV I, my lord; His name is Spencer, he is well allied; For my sake, let him wait upon your grace; Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.
EDW Then, Spencer, wait upon me, for his sake I'll grace thee with a higher style ere long.
Y. SPEN No greater titles happen unto me, Than to be favoured of your majesty.
EDW 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 deceased.
GAV I know, my lord, many will stomach me, But I respect neither their love nor hate.
EDW 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 omnes.
SCENE III
[Enter Lancaster, Young Mortimer, Warwick, Pembroke, and Kent.]
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.
LAN I fear me, you are sent of policy, To undermine us with a show of love.
WAR 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.
Y. MOR Stay, Edmund; never was Plantagenet False of his word, and therefore trust we thee.
PEM But what's the reason you should leave him now?
KENT I have informed the Earl of Lancaster.
LAN And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this, That Gaveston is secretly arrived, And here in Tynemouth frolics with the king. Let us with these our followers scale the walls, And suddenly surprise them unawares.
Y. MOR I'll give the onset.
WAR And I'll follow thee.
Y. MOR This tottered 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['s] walls. Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport, And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston!
LAN None be so hardy as [to] touch the king; But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV
[Enter the King and Young Spencer.]
EDW O tell me, Spencer, where is Gaveston?
SPEN I fear me, he is slain, my gracious lord.
EDW No, here he comes; now let them spoil and kill.
[Enter Queen, King's Niece, Gaveston, and Nobles.]
Fly, fly, my lords, the earls have got the hold; Take shipping and away to Scarborough; Spencer and I will post away by land.
GAV O stay, my lord, they will not injure you.
EDW I will not trust them; Gaveston, away!
GAV Farewell, my lord.
EDW Lady, farewell.
LADY Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.
EDW Farewell, sweet Gaveston; and farewell, niece.
QUEEN No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen?
EDW Yes, yes, for Mortimer, your lover's sake. [Exeunt all but Isabel.
QUEEN Heaven can witness I love none but you: 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 the Barons. Alarums.]
LAN I wonder how he scaped!
Y. MOR Who's this, the queen?
QUEEN I, Mortimer, the miserable queen, Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted, And body with continual mourning wasted: These hands are tired 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.
Y. MOR Cease to lament, and tell us where's the king?
QUEEN What would you with the king? is't him you seek?
LAN No, madam, but that cursèd 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 He's gone by water unto Scarborough; Pursue him quickly, and he cannot scape; The king hath left him, and his train is small.
WAR Foreslow no time, sweet Lancaster, let's march.
Y. MOR How comes it that the king and he is parted?
QUEEN That thus your army, going several ways, Might be of lesser force: and with the power That he intendeth presently to raise, Be easily suppressed; therefore be gone.
Y. MOR Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy; Let's all aboard, and follow him amain.
LAN The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails: Come, come aboard, 'tis but an hour's sailing.
Y. MOR Madam, stay you within this castle here.
QUEEN No, Mortimer, I'll to my lord the king.
Y. MOR Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough.
QUEEN You know the king is so suspicious, As if he hear I have but talked with you, Mine honour will be called in question; And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.
Y. MOR Madam, I cannot stay to answer you, But think of Mortimer as he deserves. [Exeunt Barons.
QUEEN So well hast thou deserved, sweet Mortimer, As Isabel could live with thee for ever. In vain I look for love at Edward's hand, Whose eyes are fixed on none but Gaveston: Yet once more I'll importune him with prayer, 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 robbed me of his love: But yet I hope my sorrows will have end, And Gaveston this blessèd day be slain. [Exit.
SCENE V
[Enter Gaveston, pursued.]
GAV Yet, lusty lords, I have escaped your hands, Your threats, your larums, and your hot pursuits; And though divorcèd from King Edward's eyes, Yet liveth Pierce of Gaveston unsurprised, Breathing, in hope (malgrado all your beards, That muster rebels thus against your king), To see his royal sovereign once again.
[Enter the Nobles.]
WAR Upon him, soldiers, take away his weapons.
Y. MOR 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 weapons point here should'st thou fall, And welter in thy gore.
LAN Monster of men! That, like the Greekish strumpet, trained 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.
WAR 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.
GAV My lords!—
WAR Soldiers, have him away;— But for thou wert the favourite of a king, Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands —
GAV I thank you all, my lords: then I perceive, That heading is one, and hanging is the other, And death is all.
[Enter Earl of Arundel.]
LAN How now, my lord of Arundel?
ARUN My lords, King Edward greets you all by me.
WAR Arundel, say your message.
ARUN His majesty, Hearing that you had taken Gaveston, Intreateth you by me, but that 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.
WAR How now?
GAV Renownèd Edward, how thy name Revives poor Gaveston!
WAR No, it needeth not; Arundel, we will gratify the king In other matters; he must pardon us in this. Soldiers, away with him!
GAV 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.
Y. MOR 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.
LAN Not so, my lords, lest he bestow more cost In burying him than he hath ever earned.
ARUN 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.
WAR 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.
ARUN Then if you will not trust his grace in keep, My lords, I will be pledge for his return.
Y. MOR '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.
GAV How mean'st thou, Mortimer? that is over-base.
Y. MOR Away, base groom, robber of king's renown, Question with thy companions and mates.
PEM 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.
WAR 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?
PEM 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.
ARUN My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this?
LAN Why, I say, let him go on Pembroke's word.
PEM And you, Lord Mortimer?
Y. MOR How say you, my lord of Warwick?
WAR Nay, do your pleasures, I know how 'twill prove.
PEM Then give him me.
GAV Sweet sovereign, yet I come To see thee ere I die.
WAR Yet not perhaps, If Warwick's wit and policy prevail. [Aside.
Y. MOR My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you; Return him on your honour. Sound, away! [Exeunt all but Pembroke, Arundel, Gaveston, and Pembroke's men.
PEM My lord [of Arundel], 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 to baulk their lips.
ARUN 'Tis very kindly spoke, my lord of Pembroke; Your honour hath an adamant of power To draw a prince.
PEM 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.
GAV Unhappy Gaveston, whither goest thou now? [Exit with James and Pembroke's men.
Horse-boy. My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham. [Exeunt.