You must be proud, bold, pleasant, resolute, BALD. Spencer, thou know'st I hate such formal toys, And use them but of mere hypocrisy. Mine old lord while he liv'd was so precise, That he would take exceptions at my buttons, And being like pins' heads, blame me for the big ness; Which made me curate-like in mine attire, I am none of these common pedants, I, That cannot speak without propterea quod. Y. SPEN. But one of those that saith, quandoquidem, And hatra special gift to form a verb. BALD. Leave off this jesting, here my lady comes. Enter the LADY. LADY. The grief for his exile was not so much, As is the joy of his returning home. This letter came from my sweet Gaveston: What need'st thou, love, thus to excuse thyself? I will not long be from thee, though I die. [Reads. When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart: [Reads. But stay thee here where Gaveston shall sleep. Now to the letter of my lord the king. He wills me to repair unto the court, And meet my Gaveston: why do I stay, Who's there, Baldock? See that my coach be ready, I must hence. BALD. It shall be done, madam. [Exit. LADY. And meet me at the park-pale presently. Spencer, stay you and bear me company, For I have joyful news to tell thee of; SPEN. I knew the king would have him home again. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter EDWARD, the QUEEN, LANCASTER, MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, ATTENDANTS. KENT, and EDW. The wind is good, I wonder why he stays; I fear me he is wreck'd upon the sea. QUEEN. Look, Lancaster, how passionate he is, And still his mind runs on his minion! LAN. My lord. EDW. How now! what news? is Gaveston arriv'd? your grace? You have matters of more weight to think upon; The king of France sets foot in Normandy. EDW. A trifle! we'll expel him when we please. But tell me, Mortimer, what's thy device, Against the stately triumph we decreed? Y. MOR. A homely one, my lord, not worth the telling. EDW. Pray thee let me know it. Y. MOR. But seeing you are so desirous, thus it is: A lofty cedar-tree, fair flourishing, On whose top-branches kingly eagles perch, EDW. And what is your's, my lord of Lancaster? mer's. Pliny reports, there is a flying fish Which all the other fishes deadly hate, And therefore being pursued, it takes the air: No sooner is it up, but there's a fowl That seizeth it: this fish, my lord, I bear, The motto this: Undique mors est. EDW. Proud Mortimer! ungentle Lancaster! And in your shields display your rancorous minds? Against the earl of Cornwall and my brother? QUEEN. Sweet husband, be content, they all love you. Edw. They love me not that hate my Gaveston. I am that cedar, shake me not too much; And you the eagles; soar ye ne'er so high, Though thou compar'st him to a flying fish, Nor foulest harpy that shall swallow him. Y. MOR. If in his absence thus he favours him, What will he do whenas he shall be present? LAN. That shall we see; look where his lordship comes. Enter GAVESTON. EDW. My Gaveston! welcome to Tinmouth! wel come to thy friend! Thy absence made me droop, and pine away; For as the lovers of fair Danae, When she was lock'd up in a brazen tower, GAV. Sweet lord and king, your speech pre venteth mine, Yet have I words left to express my joy: * Or jesses. The shepherd nipt with biting winter's rage, EDW. Will none of you salute my Gaveston? KENT. Brother, do you hear them? EDW. Still will these earls and barons use me thus? GAV. My lord, I cannot brook these injuries. QUEEN. Ah me! poor soul, when these begin to jar. EDW. Return it to their throats, I'll be thy warrant. GAV. Base, leaden earls, that glory in your birth, Go sit at home and eat your tenants' beef; And come not here to scoff at Gaveston, Whose mounting thoughts did never creep so low As to bestow a look on such as you. LAN. Yet I disdain not to do this for you. [Draws. EDW. Treason! treason! where's the traitor? PEM. Here! here! king: Convey hence Gaveston; they'll murder him. GAV. The life of thee shall salve this foul disgrace. Y. MOR. Villain! thy life, unless I miss mine aim. [Offers to stab him. QUEEN. Ah! furious Mortimer, what hast thou done? |