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.

Enter1MortimerandQueenIsabel.

Y. Mor.

• Fair Isabel, now have we our desire;
• The proud corrupters of the light-brained king
• Have done their homage to the lofty gallows,
• And he himself lies in captivity.
• Be ruled by me, and we will rule the realm.
• In any case take heed of childish fear,
• For now we hold an old wolf1 by the ears,
• That, if he slip, will seize upon us both,
• And gripe the sorer, being grip'd himself.
• Think therefore, madam, that [it] imports us2 much

  10

• To erect your son with all the speed we may,
• And that I be protector over him;
• For our behoof, 'twill3 bear the greater sway
• Whenas a king's name shall be under writ.

Queen.

• Sweet Mortimer, the life of Isabel,
• Be thou persuaded that I love thee well,
• And therefore, so the prince my son be safe,
• Whom I esteem as dear as these mine eyes,
• Conclude against his father what thou wilt,
• And I myself will willingly subscribe.

  20

Y. Mor.

• First would I hear news he were deposed,
• And then let me alone to handle him.
• Enter Messenger.
• Letters! from whence?

Mess.

• From Killingworth, my lord.

Queen.

• How fares my lord the king?

Mess.

• In health, madam, but full of pensiveness.

Queen.

• Alas, poor soul, would I could ease his grief!
• EnterWinchester1with the Crown.
• Thanks, gentle Winchester. [To the Messenger.] Sirrah, be gone.
• [Exit Messenger.

Winch.

• The king hath willingly resigned his crown.

Queen.

• O happy news! send for the prince, my son.

Winch.

• Further, or this letter2 was sealed, Lord Berkeley came,

  30

• So that he now is gone from Killingworth;
• And we have heard that Edmund laid a plot
• To set his brother free; no more but so.
• The Lord of Berkeley is so [as?] pitiful

Queen.

• Then let some other be his guardian.

Y. Mor.

• Let me alone, here is the privy seal.
• [ExitWinchester.
• Who's there?—call hither Gurney and Matrevis.
• To dash the heavy-headed Edmund's drift,
• Berkeley shall be discharged, the king removed,

  40

• And none but we shall know where he lieth.3

Queen.

• But, Mortimer, as long as he survives,
• What safety rests for us, or for my son?

Y. Mor.

• Speak, shall he presently be despatched and die?

Queen.

• I would he were, so 'twere not by my means.
• EnterMatrevisandGurney.

Y. Mor.

• Enough.—
• Matrevis, write a letter presently
• Unto the Lord of Berkeley from ourself
• That he resign the king to thee and Gurney;
• And when 'tis done, we will subscribe our name.

  50

Mat.

• It shall be done, my lord.

Y. Mor.

• Gurney.

Gur.

• My lord.

Y. Mor.

• As thou intend'st to rise by Mortimer,
• Who now makes Fortune's wheel turn as he please,
• Seek all the means thou canst to make him droop,
• And neither give him kind word nor good look.

Gur.

• I warrant you, my lord.

Y. Mor.

• And this above the rest: because we hear
• That Edmund casts to work his liberty,
• Remove him still from place to place by night,
• Till at the last he come to Killingworth,

  60

• And then from thence to Berkeley back again;
• And by the way, to make him fret the more,
• Speak curstly to him; and in any case
• Let no man comfort him if he chance to weep,
• But amplify his grief with bitter words.

Mat.

• Fear not, my lord, we'll do as you command.

Y. Mor.

• So now away; post thitherwards amain.

Queen.

• Whither goes this letter? to my lord the king?
• Commend me humbly to his majesty,
• And tell him that I labour all in vain

  70

• To ease his grief, and work his liberty;
• And bear him this as witness of my love. [Gives a ring.

Mat.

• I will, madam.
• [ExeuntMatrevisandGurney; manentIsabelandMortimer.
• Enter the Young Prince, and theEarlofKenttalking with him.

Y. Mor.

• Finely dissembled? Do so still, sweet queen
• Here comes the young prince with the Earl of Kent.

Queen.

• Something he whispers in his childish ears.

Y. Mor.

• If he have such access unto the prince,
• Our plots and stratagems will soon be dashed.

Queen.

• Use Edmund friendly as if all were well.

Y. Mor.

• How fares my honourable lord of Kent?

  80

Kent.

• In health, sweet Mortimer: how fares your grace?

Queen.

• Well, if my lord your brother were enlarged.

Kent.

• I hear of late he hath deposed himself.

Queen.

• The more my grief.

Y. Mor.

• And mine.

Kent.

• Ah, they do dissemble!
• [Aside,

Queen.

• Sweet son, come hither, I must talk with thee.

Y. Mor.

• You being his uncle, and the next of blood,
• Do look to be protector o'er the prince.

Kent.

• Not I, my lord; who should protect the son.

  90

• But she that gave him life? I mean the queen.

Prince.

• Mother, persuade me not to wear the crown
• Let him be king—I am too young to reign.

Queen.

• But be content, seeing 'tis1 his highness' pleasure.

Prince.

• Let me but see him first, and then I will.

Kent.

• Ay, do, sweet nephew.

Queen.

• Brother, you know it is impossible.

Prince.

• Why, is he dead?

Queen.

• No, God forbid.

Kent.

• I would those words proceeded from your heart.

  100

Y. Mor.

• Inconstant Edmund, dost thou favour him,
• That wast a cause of his imprisonment?

Kent.

• The more cause have I now to make amends

Y. Mor.

• I tell thee, 'tis not meet that one so false
• Should come about the person of a prince.
• My lord, he hath betrayed the king his brother,
• And therefore trust him not.

Prince.

• But he repents, and sorrows for it now.

Queen.

• Come, son, and go with this gentle lord and me

Prince.

• With you I will, but not with Mortimer.

  110

Y. Mor.

• Why, youngling, 'sdain'st thou so of Mortimer?
• Then I will carry thee by force away.

Prince.

• Help, uncle Kent, Mortimer will wrong me.

Queen.

• Brother Edmund, strive not; we are his friends;
• Isabel is nearer than the Earl of Kent.

Kent.

• Sister, Edward is my charge, redeem him.

Queen.

• Edward is my son, and I will keep him.

Kent.

• Mortimer shall know that he hath wrongèd me!—
• Hence will I haste to Killingworth Castle,
• And rescue aged Edward from his foes,

  120

• To be revenged on Mortimer and thee.
• [Aside. Exeunt omnes

[1]Scene: the royal palace, London.

[1]An allusion to the Greek proverb, τήνλύκoν τῶνὼτων ἔχω

[2]So eds. 1612, 1622—Ed. 1598 “as”

[3]So eds. 1612, 1622.—Ed. 1598 “will,”

[1]The entrance and exit of Winchester are not marked in the old eds. I have followed Dyce.

[2]Dyce proposed to omit the word “letter.”

[3]Mr. Fleay reads:—

• “And where he lieth none but we shall know.”
• A critic in the Athenœum (No. 2977) suggests—
• “And none but we shall know where Edward lies.”

[1]Ed. 1598 “it,”—Eds. 1612, 1622, “it is.”