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 II.

Enter1Edward, theQueen, Lancaster, YoungMortimer, 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

  10

• 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.

  20

Edw.

• And what is yours, my lord of Lancaster?

Lan.

• My lord, mine's more obscure than Mortimer's.
• Pliny1 reports there is a2 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.3 Proud Mortimer! ungentle Lancaster!
• Is this the love you bear your sovereign?

  30

• 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

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 jesses1 that will pull you down;

  40

• And Æque tandem shall that canker cry
• Unto the proudest peer of Britamy.
• 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,

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.
• EnterGaveston.

Edw.

• My Gaveston!

  50

• 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 fare2 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;

  60

• 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.

  70

Gav.

• My lord, I cannot brook these injuries.

Queen.

• Ay 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?

  80

Pem.

• Here! here! king.1

[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.

  90

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 theKing, Queen, andKent.

War.

• Let's to our castles, for the king is moved.

  100

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.

  110

• 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

  120

• 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 withPembroke.

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.1

Lan.

• Content, I'll bear my part—Holla! who's there?
• [Guard appears.
• Enter Guard.

Y. Mor.

• Ay, marry, such a guard as this doth well.

Lan.

• Lead on the way.

  130

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?
• Enter1EdwardandKent.

Edw.

• How now! what noise is this?
• Who have 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.

  140

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,
• 'Twould2 levy men enough to anger you.

  150

• 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 treasury1 dry, and made thee weak;
• The murmuring commons, overstretchèd, break.2

Lan.

• Look for rebellion, look to be deposed;
• Thy garrisons are beaten out of France,

  160

• And, lame and poor, lie groaning at the gates.
• The wild Oneyl, with swarms of Irish kerns,3
• Lives uncontrolled within the English pale.
• Unto the walls of York the Scots make4 road,
• And unresisted drive5 away rich spoils.

Y. Mor.

• The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas,6
• 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,

  170

• 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 again1 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,

  180

• 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 fleering2 Scots,
• To England's high disgrace, have made this jig;
• Maids3 of England, sore may you mourn,
• For your lemans you have lost at Bannocksbourn,
• With a heave and a ho!

  150

• What weeneth the King of England,
• So soon to have won Scotland?
• With a rombelow!4

Y. Mor.

• Wigmore1 shall fly, to set my uncle free.

Lan.

• And when 'tis gone, our swords shall purchase more.
• If ye be moved, revenge it as 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!

  200

• 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,

Edw.

• Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston?

  210

Kent.

• Ay, 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,

  220

• What care I though the Earls begirt us round?—
• Here cometh she that's cause of all these jars.
• Enter theQueen, with King's Niece, two Ladies, Gaveston, Baldock, andYoungSpencer.

Queen.

• My lord, 'tis thought the Earls are up in arms.

Edw.

• Ay, and 'tis likewise thought you favour 'em.1

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,

  230

• 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?

  240

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.

• Ay, my lord;
• His name is Spencer, he is well allied;

Edw.

• Then, Spencer, wait upon me; for his sake

  250

• 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

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;

  260

• 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.

[1]Scene: before Tynemouth Castle.

[1]Reed refers to Pliny's Nat. Hist., ix, 19; but Pliny merely says that the exocoetus would leap on to a rocky ledge in warm weather and there bask in the sun. It is curious that Dyce, who was such an enthusiast for Athenæus, did not refer his readers to the account of the exocoetus quoted from Clearchus in Deipnos. viii. 5. According to this authority the fish, when basking on the ledge, has to be constantly on his guard against king-fishers and the like, and when he sees them afar, flies leaping and gasping until he dives under the water. Perhaps Marlowe had in his mind some embellished account that he had found in Gesner or Bellonius.

[2]So ed, 1612.—Omitted in ed. 1598.

[3]Old eds. “Edw.” (a misprint for “Edm.”—the prefix in the 4tos. to Kent's speeches.)

[1]Old eds. “gresses” (for “gesses.”)— “Jesses” were the straps round a hawk's legs, with rings (called varvels”) to which the falconer's leash was attached.

[2]So ed. 1622.—Eds. 1598, 1612, “sure.”

[1]Old eds. read:—

• “Pem. Here, here, king: convey hence Gaveston, thaile murder him.”

I have followed Dyce in giving the line “Convey hence Gaveston, &c,” to the king; but I do not agree with him in regarding “king” as a prefix (for in the old copies “Edw.” is always the prefix to the king's speeches).

[1]The reader cannot fail to be reminded of Hotspur:—

• “But I will find him when he lies asleep, And in his ear I'll holla ‘Mortimer!’”

[1]The scene shifts to the interior of Tynemouth Castle.

[2]So ed. 1612.—Ed. 1598 “would.”

[1]So ed. 1612.—Ed. 1598 “thy treasure drie and made the weake.”

[2]So modern editors.—Old eds. “hath.”

[3]Light-armed foot soldiers, poor and undisciplined.—Compare a passage in the Contention of York and Lancaster:—

• “The wild Onele, my lord, is up in arms,
• With troops of Irish kernes that uncontroll'd
• Doth plant themselves within the English pale.”

[4]Old eds. “made.”—“Road,” Inroad.”

[5]Old eds. “drave”

[6]Henry VI., i r:—” Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas.”

[1]Against

[2]Jeering.

[3]This jig (ballad) is taken with slight alteration from Fabyan's “Chronicle,” 11. 169 (ed. 1559).—“The battle of Bannockburn,” says Mr. Fleay, “was fought in 1314. yet is here alluded to in a scene which is made up from narratives of events which occurred between 1309 and 1311. This is a striking instance of Marlowe's carelessness in such matters.”

[4]“Common burdens to songs, see Skelton's Works, ii. 110, ed. Dyce.”—Dyce.

[1]“Ralph de Wigmore, who came into England with the Conqueror, obtained the castle of Wigmore, Co. Hereford, and the Roger Mortimer of this play was summoned to Parliament as 'de Wigmore.'” —Cunningham.

[1]Old eds. “him.”