WAR. And to behold so sweet a sight as that, There's none here, but would run his horse to death. Y. MOR. But, madam, would you have us call him home? QUEEN. Aye, Mortimer, for till he be restor❜d, The angry king hath banish'd me the court; And, therefore, as thou lov'st and tender'st me, Be thou my advocate unto these peers. Y. MOR. What! would you have me plead for Gaveston ? E. Mon. Plead for him that will, I am resolv'd. LAN. And so am I, my lord; dissuade the queen. QUEEN. O Lancaster! let him dissuade the king, For 'tis against my will he should return. WAR. Then speak not for him, let the peasant go. QUEEN. 'Tis for myself I speak, and not for him. PEM. No speaking will prevail, and therefore cease. Y. MOR. Fair queen, forbear to angle for the fish Which, being caught, strikes him that takes it dead; I mean that vile torpedo, Gaveston, That now I hope floats on the Irish seas. QUEEN. Sweet Mortimer, sit down by me awhile, And I will tell thee reasons of such weight, As thou wilt soon subscribe to his repeal. Y. Mon. It is impossible; but speak your mind. QUEEN. Then thus, but none shall hear it but ourselves. LAN. My lords, albeit the queen win Mortimer, Will you be resolute, and hold with me? E. MOR. Not I, against my nephew. PEM. Fear not, the queen's words cannot alter him. WAR. No, do but mark how earnestly she pleads. LAN. And see how coldly his looks make denial. WAR. She smiles, now for my life his mind is chang'd. LAN. I'll rather lose his friendship I, than grant. Y. MOR. Well, of necessity it must be so. My lords, that I abhor base Gaveston I hope your honours make no question, And therefore, though I plead for his repeal, "Tis not for his sake, but for our avail: Nay, for the realms behoof, and for the king's. LAN. Fie, Mortimer, dishonour not thyself! Can this be true, 'twas good to banish him? And is this true, to call him home again? Such reasons make white black, and dark night day. Y. MOR. My lord of Lancaster, mark the respect. LAN. In no respect can contraries be true. QUEEN. Yet, good my lord, hear what he can alledge. WAR. All that he speaks is nothing, we are resolv❜d. Y. MOR. Do you not wish that Gaveston were dead? PEM. I would he were. Y. MOR. Why then, my lord, give me but leave to speak. E. MOR. But, nephew, do not play the sophister. Y. MOR. This which I urge is of a burning zeal To mend the king, and do our country good. Know you not Gaveston hath store of gold, Which may in Ireland purchase him such friends, WAR. Mark you but that, my lord of Lancaster. And none so much as blame the murderer, For purging of the realm of such a plague? LAN. Aye, but how chance this was not done before? upon: Nay, more, when he shall know it lies in us To banish him, and then to call him home, E. MOR. But how if he do not, nephew? Y. MOR. Then may we with some colour rise in arms: For howsoever we have borne it out, 'Tis treason to be up against the king; So we shall have the people on our side, And when the commons and the nobles join, E. MOR. And I. Y. MOR. In this I count me highly gratify'd, EDW. He's gone, and for his absence thus I mourn. Did never sorrow go so near my heart, As doth the want of my sweet Gaveston! And think I gain'd, having bought so dear a friend. And makes me frantick for my Gaveston. LAN. Diablo! what passions call you these? QUEEN. My gracious lord, I come to bring you news. EDW. That you have parley'd with your Mortimer? QUEEN. That Gaveston, my lord, shall be repeal'd. EDW. Repeal'd! the news is too sweet to be true! I'll hang a golden tongue about thy neck, EDW. Once more receive my hand; and let this A second marriage 'twixt thyself and me. QUEEN. And may it prove more happy than the My gentle lord, bespeak these nobles fair, |