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 V.

Enter1MatrevisandGurney.

Mat.

• Gurney, I wonder the king dies not,
• Being in a vault up to the knees in water,
• To which the channels of the castle run,
• From whence a damp continually ariseth,
• That were enough to poison any man,
• Much more a king brought up so tenderly.

Gur.

• And so do I, Matrevis: yesternight
• I opened but the door to throw him meat,

Mat.

• He hath a body able to endure

  10

• More than we can inflict: and therefore now
• Let us assail his mind another while.

Gur.

• Send for him out thence, and I will anger him.

Mat.

• But stay, who's this?
• EnterLightborn.

Light.

• My Lord Protector greets you.

Gur.

• What's here? I know not how to construe it.

Mat.

• Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce;
• Edwardum occidere nolite timere,
• That's his meaning.

  18

Light.

• Know ye this token? I must have the king.

Mat.

• Ay, stay awhile, thou shalt have answer straight.
• This villain's sent to make away the king.
• [Aside.

Gur.

• I thought as much.
• [Aside.

Mat.

• And when the murder's done,
• See how he must be handled for his labour.
• Pereat iste! Let him have the king.
• [Aside
• What else? here is the keys, this is the lake,1
• Do as you are commanded by my lord.

Light.

• I know what I must do; get you away.
• Yet be not far off, I shall need your help;
• See that in the next room I have a fire,
• And get me a spit, and let it be red-hot.

  30

Mat.

• Very well.

Gur.

• Need you anything besides?

Light.

• What else? A table and a feather-bed.

Gur.

• That's all?

Light.

• Ay, ay; so, when I call you, bring
• It in.

Mat.

• Fear not thou that.

Gur.

• Here's a light,
• To go into the dungeon.
• [Gives light, and exit withMatrevis.

Light.

• So2 now
• Must I about this gear;3 ne'er was there any
• So finely handled as this king shall be.
• Foh, here's a place indeed, with all my heart!

Edw.

• Who's there? what light is that? wherefore com'st thou?

Light.

• To comfort you, and bring you joyful news.

  40

Edw.

• Small comfort finds poor Edward in thy looks.
• Villain, I know thou com'st to murder me.

Light.

• To murder you, my most gracious lord!
• Far is it from my heart to do you harm.
• The queen sent me to see how you were used,
• For she relents at this your misery:
• And what eyes can refrain from shedding tears,
• To see a king in this most piteous state?

Edw.

• Weep'st thou already? list awhile to me.
• And then thy heart, were it as Gurney's is,

  50

• Or as Matrevis', hewn from the Caucasus,
• Yet will it melt, ere I have done my tale.
• This dungeon where they keep me is the sink
• Wherein the filth of all the castle falls.

Light.

• O villains!

Edw.

• And there in mire and puddle have I stood
• This ten days' space; and, lest that I should sleep,
• One plays continually upon a drum.
• They give me bread and water, being a king;
• So that, for want of sleep and sustenance,

  60

• My mind's distempered, and my body's numbed,
• And whether I have limbs or no I know not.
• O, would my blood dropped out from every vein,
• As doth this water from my tattered1 robes.
• Tell Isabel, the queen, I looked not thus,
• When for her sake I ran at tilt in France,
• And there unhorsed the Duke of Cleremont.

Light.

• O speak no more, my lord! this breaks my heart.
• Lie on this bed,1 and rest yourself awhile.

Edw.

• These looks of thine can harbour nought but death:

  70

• I see my tragedy written in thy brows.
• Yet stay; awhile forbear thy bloody hand,
• And let me see the stroke before it comes,
• That2 even then when I shall lose my life,
• My mind may be more steadfast on my God.

Light.

• What means your highness to mistrust me thus?

Edw.

• What mean'st thou to dissemble with me thus?

Light.

• These hands were never stained with innocent blood,
• Nor shall they now be tainted with a king's.

  79

Edw.

• Forgive my thought3 for having such a thought.
• One jewel have I left; receive thou this. [Giving jewel
• Still fear I, and I know not what's the cause,
• But every joint shakes as I give it thee.
• O, if thou harbour'st murder in thy heart,
• Let this gift change thy mind, and save thy soul!
• Know that I am a king: O! at that name
• I feel a hell of grief; where is my crown?
• Gone, gone; and do I remain alive?4

Light.

• You're overwatched, my lord; lie down and rest.

Edw.

• But that grief keeps me waking, I should sleep;

  90

• For not these ten days have these eyes' lids1 closed.
• Now as I speak they fall, and yet with fear
• Open again. O wherefore sitt'st thou here?

Light.

• If you mistrust me, I'll begone, my lord.

Edw.

• No, no, for if thou mean'st to murder me,
• Thou wilt return again, and therefore stay.
• [Sleeps.

Light.

• He sleeps.

Edw.

• [awakes]. O let me not die yet;2 stay, O stay a while!

Light.

• How now, my lord?

Edw.

• Something still buzzeth in mine ears,

  100

• And tells me if I sleep I never wake;
• This fear is that which makes me tremble thus.

Light.

• To rid thee of thy life.—Matrevis, come!
• EnterMatrevisandGurney.

Edw.

• I am too weak and feeble to resist:
• Assist me, sweet God, and receive my soul.

Light.

• Run for the table.

Edw.

• O spare me, or despatch me in a trice.

Light.

• So, lay the table down, and stamp on it,
• But not too hard, lest that you bruise his body.

  110

• [King Edwardis murdered.

Mat.

• I fear me that this cry will raise the town,
• And therefore, let us take horse and away.

Light.

• Tell me, sirs, was it not bravely done?

Gur.

• Excellent well: take this for thy reward.
• [GurneystabsLightborn.
• Come, let us cast the body in the moat,
• And bear the king's to Mortimer our lord:
• Away!
• [Exeunt with the bodies.

[1]Scene: Berkeley Castle.

[1]I.e., the dungeon full of mire and puddle. But perhaps we should read “lock.”

[2]A curtain is drawn and the king is discovered in the dungeon.

[3]Business.

[1]So eds. 1598, 1612.—Ed. 1622 “tottered”

[1]The feather-bed mentioned in l. 32. “It was no doubt thrust upon the stage from the wing after the exit of Gurney and Matrevis.”—Dyce

[2]Old eds. “That and even.”

[3]Mr. Fleay would read “fau't” (i.e. fault), comparing Richard III., ii, 1, 104:—“His fault was thought.”

[4]So ed. 1598.—Omitted in eds. 1612, 1622.

[1]So eds. 1598, 1612 (“eies-lids”).—Ed. 1622 “eye lids.”

[2]Eds. 1598, 1612, “O let me not die, yet stay, O stay a while.” Ed. 1622, “O let me not die yet! O stay a while” (and so Dyce). Mr. Fleay prints:—>

• “Oh!
• Let me not die yet; stay, oh stay a while.”