The Online Library of Liberty

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• Publisher's Notice
• To My Worthy Friend , Master Thomas Hammon, of Gray's Inn , &c.
• Persons Represented.
• The Jew of Malta.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Edward the Second.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• The Massacre At Paris.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Scene XVII.
• Scene XVIII.
• Scene XIX.
• Scene XX.
• Scene XXI.
• Scene XXII.
• Scene XXIII.
• Scene XXIV.
• The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage.
• Act I.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act II.
• Scene I.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene Iii
• Scene IV.
• Scene V
• Act V.
• Scene I.

SCENE II.

Enter2 both theMortimers, Warwick, andLancaster.

War.

• 'Tis true, the bishop is in the Tower,
• And goods and body given to Gaveston.

Lan.

• What! will they tyrannise upon the church?
• Ah, wicked king! accursed Gaveston!
• This ground, which is corrupted with their steps,
• Shall be their timeless3 sepulchre or mine.

Y. Mor.

• Well, let that peevish Frenchman guard him sure;
• Unless his breast be sword-proof he shall die.

E. Mor.

• How now, why droops the Earl of Lancaster?

Y. Mor.

• Wherefore is Guy of Warwick discontent?

  10

Lan.

• That villain Gaveston is made an earl.

E. Mor.

• An earl!

War.

• Ay, and besides Lord Chamberlain of the realm,
• And Secretary too, and Lord of Man.

E. Mor.

• We may not, nor we will not suffer this.

Y. Mor.

• Why post we not from hence to levy men?

Lan.

• “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.

War.

• Thus leaning on the shoulder of the king,
• He nods and scorns, and smiles at those that pass.

E. Mor.

• Doth no man take exceptions at the slave?

Lan.

• All stomach1 him, but none dare speak a word.

Y. Mor.

• Ah, that bewrays their baseness, Lancaster.
• Were all the earls and barons of my mind,
• We'd2 hale him from the bosom of the king,

• And at the court-gate hang the peasant up;

  30

• Who, swoln with venom of ambitious pride,
• Will be the ruin of the realm and us.
• Enter theArchbishopofCanterburyand a Messenger.

War.

• Here comes my Lord of Canterbury's grace.

Lan.

• His countenance bewrays he is displeased.

Archbish.

• 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 Messenger.

Lan.

• My lord, will you take arms against the king?

Archbish.

• What need I? God himself is up in arms,

  40

• When violence is offered to the church.

Y. Mor.

• Then will you join with us, that be his peers.
• To banish or behead that Gaveston?

Archbish.

• What else, my lords? for it concerns me near;—
• The bishoprick of Coventry is his.
• EnterQueenIsabella.

Y. Mor.

• Madam, whither walks your majesty so fast?

Queen.

• Unto the forest,1 gentle Mortimer,
• To live in grief and baleful discontent;
• For now, my lord, the king regards me not,
• But doats upon the love of Gaveston,

  50

• He claps his cheek, 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.”

E. Mor.

• Is it not strange that he is thus bewitched?

Y. Mor.

• 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,
• And courage too, to be revenged at full.

  60

Archbish.

• But yet lift not your swords against the king.

Lan.

• No; but we will lift Gaveston from hence.

War.

• And war must be the means, or he'll stay still.

Queen.

• Then let him stay; for rather than my lord
• Shall be oppressed with civil mutinies,
• I will endure a melancholy life,

Archbish.

• 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.

Lan.

• What we confirm the king will frustrate.

Y. Mor.

• Then may we lawfully revolt from him.

War.

• But say, my lord, where shall this meeting be?

Archbish.

• At the New Temple.

Y. Mor.

• Content.
• [Archbish.] And, in the meantime, I'll entreat you all
• To cross to Lambeth, and there stay with me.

Lan.

• Come then, let's away.

Y. Mor.

• Madam, farewell!

  80

Queen.

• Farewell, sweet Mortimer; and, for my sake,
• Forbear to levy arms against the king.

Y. Mor.

• Ay, if words will serve; if not, I must.
• [Exeunt.

[2]Scene. Westminster.

[3]Untimely.

[1]Are angry at him. We have the word again later in the play—

• “I know, my lord, many will stomach me.”

[2]Old eds. “Weele.”

[1]It is not absolutely necessary to suppose that there is an allusion to any particular forest. What the queen means is that she is seeking solitude.