The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• 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 I.

Enter1YoungSpencerandBaldock.

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

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• 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.

• Ay, for a while; but, Baldock, mark the end.
• A friend of mine told me in secrecy
• That he's repealed, and sent for back again;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;

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• 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.

  30

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 coat, 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,”

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• 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 whiles 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,

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• 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?

  60

• 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 stay1 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!

  70

• 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,

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.

  80

Spen.

• I humbly thank your ladyship.

Lady.

• Come, lead the way; I long till I am there.
• [Exeunt.

[1]Scene: a hall in Gloucester's mansion.

[1]So ed. 1612.— Omitted in ed. 1598.