Edward the Second Part 6

_Niece._ Sweet uncle, speak more kindly to the queen.

_Gav._ My lord, dissemble with her; speak her fair.

_K. Edw._ Pardon me, sweet; I forgot myself.

_Q. Isab._ Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.

_K. Edw._ The younger Mortimer is grown so brave, That to my face he threatens civil wars.

_Gav._ Why do you not commit him to the Tower?

_K. Edw._ I dare not, for the people love him well.

_Gav._ Why, then, we'll have him privily made away.

_K. Edw._ Would Lancaster and he had both carous'd A bowl of poison to each other's health!

But let them go, and tell me what are these.

_Niece._ Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd: May't please your grace to entertain them now.

_K. Edw._ Tell me, where wast thou born? what is thine arms?

_Bald._ My name is Baldock, and my gentry I fetch from Oxford, not from heraldry.

_K. Edw._ The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn.

Wait on me, and I'll see thou shalt not want.

_Bald._ I humbly thank your majesty.

_K. Edw._ Knowest thou him, Gaveston.

_Gav._ Ay, my lord; His name is Spenser; he is well allied: For my sake let him wait upon your grace; Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.

_K. Edw._ Then, Spenser, wait upon me for his sake: I'll grace thee with a higher style ere long.

_Y. Spen._ No greater t.i.tles happen unto me Than to be favour'd of your majesty!

_K. 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 Unto the Earl of Glocester late deceas'd.

_Gav._ I know, my lord, many will stomach me; But I respect neither their love nor hate.

_K. Edw._ The headstrong barons shall not limit me; 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._

_Enter_ KENT, LANCASTER, _the younger_ MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, _and others._

_Kent._ My lords, of love to this our native land, I come to join with you, and leave the king; And in your quarrel, and the realm's behoof, Will be the first that shall adventure life.

_Lan._ I fear me, you are sent of policy, To undermine us with a show of love.

_War._ He is your brother; therefore have we cause To cast the worst, and doubt of your revolt.

_Kent._ Mine honour shall be hostage of my truth: If that will not suffice, farewell, my lords.

_Y. Mor._ Stay, Edmund: never was Plantagenet False of his word; and therefore trust we thee.

_Pem._ But what's the reason you should leave him now?

_Kent._ I have inform'd the Earl of Lancaster.

_Lan._ And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this, That Gaveston is secretly arriv'd, And here in Tynmouth frolics with the king.

Let us with these our followers scale the walls, And suddenly surprise them unawares.

_Y. Mor._ I'll give the onset.

_War._ And I'll follow thee.

_Y. Mor._ This tatter'd ensign of my ancestors, Which swept the desert sh.o.r.e of that Dead Sea Whereof we got the name of Mortimer, Will I advance upon this castle ['s] walls-- Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport, And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston!

_Lan._ None be so hardy as to touch the king; But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends. [_Exeunt._

_Enter, severally_ KING EDWARD _and the younger_ SPENSER.

_K. Edw._ O, tell me, Spenser, where is Gaveston?

_Y. Spen._ I fear me he is slain, my gracious lord.

_K. Edw._ No, here he comes; now let them spoil and kill.

_Enter_ QUEEN ISABELLA, KING EDWARD'S Niece, GAVESTON, _and_ n.o.bles.

Fly, fly, my lords; the earls have got the hold; Take s.h.i.+pping, and away to Scarborough: Spenser and I will post away by land.

_Gav._ O, stay, my lord! they will not injure you.

_K. Edw._ I will not trust them. Gaveston, away!

_Gav._ Farewell, my lord.

_K. Edw._ Lady, farewell.

_Niece._ Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.

_K. Edw._ Farewell, sweet Gaveston; and farewell, niece.

_Q. Isab._ No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen?

_K. Edw._ Yes, yes, for Mortimer your lover's sake.

_Q. Isab._ Heavens can witness, I love none but you.

[_Exeunt all except Queen Isabella._ From my embracements thus he breaks away.

O, that mine arms could close this isle about, That I might pull him to me where I would!

Or that these tears, that drizzle from mine eyes, Had power to mollify his stony heart, That, when I had him, we might never part!

_Enter_ LANCASTER, WARWICK, _the younger_ MORTIMER, _and others. Alarums within._

_Lan._ I wonder how he scap'd.

_Y. Mor._ Who's this? the queen!

_Q. Isab._ Ay, Mortimer, the miserable queen, Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted, And body with continual mourning wasted: These hands are tir'd with haling of my lord From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston; And all in vain; for, when I speak him fair, He turns away, and smiles upon his minion.

_Y. Mor._ Cease to lament, and tell us where's the king?

_Q. Isab._ What would you with the king? is't him you seek?

_Lan._ No, madam, but that cursed Gaveston: Far be it from the thought of Lancaster To offer violence to his sovereign!

We would but rid the realm of Gaveston: Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.

_Q. Isab._ He's gone by water unto Scarborough: Pursue him quickly, and he cannot scape; The king hath left him, and his train is small.

_War._ Forslow no time, sweet Lancaster; let's march.

_Y. Mor._ How comes it that the king and he is parted?

_Q. Isab._ That thus your army, going several ways, Might be of lesser force, and with the power That he intendeth presently to raise, Be easily suppress'd: therefore be gone.

_Y. Mor._ Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy: Let's all aboard, and follow him amain.

_Lan._ The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails; Come, come, aboard! 'tis but an hour's sailing.

_Y. Mor._ Madam, stay you within this castle here.

_Q. Isab._ No, Mortimer; I'll to my lord the king.

_Y. Mor._ Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough.

_Q. Isab._ You know the king is so suspicious As, if he hear I have but talk'd with you, Mine honour will be call'd in question; And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.

_Y. Mor._ Madam, I cannot stay to answer you: But think of Mortimer as he deserves.

[_Exeunt all except Queen Isabella._ _Q. Isab._ So well hast thou deserv'd, sweet Mortimer, As Isabel could live with thee for ever.

In vain I look for love at Edward's hand, Whose eyes are fix'd on none but Gaveston.

Yet once more I'll importune him with prayer: If he be strange, and not regard my words, My son and I will over into France, And to the king my brother there complain How Gaveston hath robb'd me of his love: But yet, I hope, my sorrows will have end, And Gaveston this blessed day be slain. [_Exit._

_Enter_ GAVESTON, _pursued._

_Gav._ Yet, l.u.s.ty lords, I have escap'd your hands, Your threats, your 'larums, and your hot pursuits; And, though divorced from King Edward's eyes, Yet liveth Pierce of Gaveston unsurpris'd, Breathing in hope (malgrado all your beards, That muster rebels thus against your king) To see his royal sovereign once again.

_Enter_ WARWICK, LANCASTER, PEMBROKE, _the younger_ MORTIMER, Soldiers, JAMES _and other_ Attendants _of_ PENBROKE.

_War._ Upon him, soldiers! take away his weapons!

_Y. Mor._ Thou proud disturber of thy country's peace, Corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils, Base flatterer, yield! and, were it not for shame, Shame and dishonour to a soldier's name, Upon my weapon's point here shouldst thou fall, And welter in thy gore.

_Lan._ Monster of men, That, like the Greekish strumpet, train'd to arms And b.l.o.o.d.y wars so many valiant knights, Look for no other fortune, wretch, than death!

King Edward is not here to buckler thee.

_War._ Lancaster, why talk'st thou to the slave?-- Go, soldiers, take him hence; for, by my sword, His head shall off.--Gaveston, short warning Shall serve thy turn: it is our country's cause That here severely we will execute Upon thy person.--Hang him at a bough.

_Gav._ My lord,-- _War._ Soldiers, have him away.-- But, for thou wert the favourite of a king, Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands.

_Gav._ I thank you all, my lords: then I perceive That heading is one, and hanging is the other, And death is all.