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 III.

Enter1Matrevis and Gurneywith theKing.

Mat.

• My lord, be not pensive, we are your friends;
• Men are ordained to live in misery,
• Therefore come,—dalliance dangereth our lives.

Edw.

• Friends, whither must unhappy Edward go?
• Will hateful Mortimer appoint no rest?
• Must I be vexèd like the nightly bird,
• Whose sight is loathsome to all wingèd fowls?
• When will the fury of his mind assuage?
• When will his heart be satisfied with blood?
• If mine will serve, unbowel straight this breast,

  10

• And give my heart to Isabel and him;

Gur.

• Not so, my liege, the queen hath given this charge
• To keep your grace in safety;
• Your passions make your dolours to increase.

Edw.

• This usage makes my misery to increase.
• But can my air2 of life continue long
• When all my senses are annoyed with stench?
• Within a dungeon England's king is kept,
• Where I am starved for want of sustenance.

  20

• My daily diet is heart-breaking sobs,
• That almost rent the closet of my heart;
• Thus lives old1 Edward not relieved by any,
• And so must die, though pitièd by many.
• O, water, gentle friends, to cool my thirst,
• And clear my body from foul excrements!

Mat.

• Here's channel water, as your charge is given;
• Sit down, for we'll be barbers to your grace.

Edw.

• Traitors, away! what, will you murder me,
• Or choke your sovereign with puddle water?

  30

Gur.

• No;
• But wash your face, and shave away your beard,
• Lest you be known and so be rescuèd.

Mat.

• Why strive you thus? your labour is in vain?

Edw.

• The wren may strive against the lion's strength.
• But all in vain: so vainly do I strive
• To seek for mercy at a tyrant's hand.
• [They wash him with puddle water, and shave his beard away.
• Immortal powers! that knows the painful cares
• That waits upon my poor distressèd soul!
• O level all your looks upon these daring men,

  40

• That wrongs their liege and sovereign, England's king.
• O Gaveston, 'tis for thee that I am wronged,
• For me, both thou and both the Spencers died!
• And for your sakes a thousand wrongs I'll take.
• The Spencers' ghosts, wherever they remain,
• Wish well to mine; then tush, for them I'll die.

Mat.

• 'Twixt theirs and yours shall be no enmity.
• Come, come away; now put the torches out,
• We'll enter in by darkness to Killingworth.
• EnterKent
• Gur, How now, who comes there?

  50

Mat.

• Guard the king sure; it is the Earl of Kent
• Enter Soldiers.

Edw.

• O gentle brother, help to rescue me!

Mat.

• Keep them asunder; thrust in the king.

Kent.

• Soldiers, let me but talk to him one word.

Gur.

• Lay hands upon the earl for his assault.

Kent.

• Lay down your weapons, traitors, yield the king.

Mat.

• Edmund, yield thou thyself, or thou shalt die.

Kent.

• Base villains, wherefore do you gripe me thus!

Gur.

• Bind him and so convey him to the court.

Kent.

• Where is the court but here? here is the king;

  60

• And I will visit him; why stay you me?

Mat.

• The court is where Lord Mortimer remains;
• Thither shall your honour go; and so farewell.
• [ExeuntMatrevis and Gurney, with the King. Kent and the Soldiers remain.

Kent.

• O miserable is that commonweal,
• Where lords keeps courts, and kings are locked in prison

Sol.

• Wherefore stay we? on, sirs, to the court.

Kent.

• Ay, lead me whither you will, even to my death,
• Seeing that my brother cannot be released
• [Exeunt

[1]Scene. precincts of Kenlworth Castle.

[2]Aura vitæ.

[1]Edward II. was only forty-three when he was murdered. Stow often speaks of Edward II. as the “old king.” Malone on Richard II., 1 r (“Old John of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaster”), remarks:—“Our ancestors, in their estimate of old age, appear to have reckoned somewhat differently from us, and to have considered men as old whom we should esteem middle-aged. With them every man that had passed fifty seems to have been accounted an old man. … I believe this is made to arise from its being customary to enter into life in former times at an earlier period than we do now. Those who were married at fifteen had at fifty been masters of a house and family for thirty-five years.”