90

Winch. This answer we'll return, and so farewell. Leices. Call them again, my lord, and speak them fair; For if they go, the prince shall lose his right.

Edw. Call thou them back, I have no power to speak.
Leices. My lord, the king is willing to resign.

Winch. If he be not, let him choose.

Edw. O would I might! but heavens and earth con

spire

To make me miserable!

Here receive my crown;

Receive it? no, these innocent hands of mine

Shall not be guilty of so foul a crime.

He of you all that most desires my blood,

And will be called the murderer of a king,

100

Take it. What, are you moved? pity you me?
Then send for unrelenting Mortimer,

And Isabel, whose eyes, being turned to steel,
Will sooner sparkle fire than shed a tear.

Yet stay, for rather than I'll look on them,

Here, here!

[He gives them the crown.

Now, sweet God of heaven,

Make me despise this transitory pomp,

And sit for aye enthronizèd in heaven!

Come, death, and with thy fingers close my eyes,

Or if I live, let me forget myself.1

Winch. My lord.

Edw. Call me not lord; away-out of my sight: Ah, pardon me : grief makes me lunatic!

110

1 In old eds. after this line the entrance of Berkeley is marked. I have followed Dyce in giving the words " My lord" to Winchester, and in placing Berkeley's entrance after line 127.

VOL. II.

Let not that Mortimer protect my son;
More safety there is in a tiger's jaws,
Than his embracements-bear this to the queen,
Wet with my tears, and dried again with sighs;

[Gives a handkerchief.

If with the sight thereof she be not moved,
Return it back and dip it in my blood.
Commend me to my son, and bid him rule
Better than I. Yet how have I transgressed,
Unless it be with too much clemency?

120

Trus. And thus most humbly do we take our leave. [Exeunt BISHOP and TRUSSEL.

Edw. Farewell; I know the next news that they bring Will be my death; and welcome shall it be;

To wretched men, death is felicity.

Enter BERKELEY, who gives a paper to LEICESTER.

Leices. Another post! what news brings he?

Edw. Such news as I expect-come, Berkeley, come,

And tell thy message to my naked breast.

Berk. My lord, think not a thought so villainous

Can harbour in a man of noble birth.

To do your highness service and devoir,

And save you from your foes, Berkeley would die.

130

Leices. My lord, the council of1 the queen commands That I resign my charge.

Edw. And who must keep me now? Must you, my lord?

1 Eds. 1612, 1622, "and."

Berk. I, my most gracious lord-so 'tis decreed. Edw. [taking the paper.] By Mortimer, whose name is written here!

Well may I rent his name that rends my heart!

140

[Tears it.

This poor revenge has something eased my mind.

So may his limbs be torn, as is this paper!

Hear me, immortal Jove, and grant it too!

Berk. Your grace must hence with me to Berkeley straight.

Edw. Whither you will, all places are alike,

And every earth is fit for burial.

Leices. Favour him, my lord, as much as lieth in you.
Berk. Even so betide my soul as I use him.
Edw. Mine enemy hath pitied my estate,

And that's the cause that I am now removed.

150

Berk. And thinks your grace that Berkeley will be

cruel?

Edw. I know not; but of this am I assured,

That death ends all, and I can die but once.

Leicester, farewell!

Leices. Not yet, my lord; I'll bear you on your way.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II.

Enter1 MORTIMER and QUEEN ISABEL.

Y. Mor. Fair Isabel, now have we our desire, The proud corrupters of the light-brained king

1 Scene: the royal palace, London.

Have done their homage to the lofty gallows,
And he himself lies in captivity.

Be ruled by me, and we will rule the realm.

In any case take heed of childish fear,

For now we hold an old wolf1 by the ears,
That, if he slip, will seize upon us both,

And gripe the sorer, being grip'd himself.

Think therefore, madam, that [it] imports us 2 much
To erect your son with all the speed we may,
And that I be protector over him ;

For our behoof, 'twill 3 bear the greater sway
Whenas a king's name shall be under writ.

Queen. Sweet Mortimer, the life of Isabel,
Be thou persuaded that I love thee well,
And therefore, so the prince my son be safe,
Whom I esteem as dear as these mine eyes,
Conclude against his father what thou wilt,
And I myself will willingly subscribe.

Y. Mor. First would I hear news he were deposed, And then let me alone to handle him.

Enter Messenger.

Letters! from whence?

Mess. From Killingworth, my lord,

Queen. How fares my lord the king?

Mess. In health, madam, but full of pensiveness. Queen. Alas, poor soul, would I could ease his grief!

1 An allusion to the Greek proverb, τὸν λύκον τῶν ὤτων ἔχω.

2 So eds. 1612, 1622.-Ed. 1598 “as."

3 So eds. 1612, 1622,-Ed. 1598 "will,"

Enter WINCHESTER1 with the Crown.

Thanks, gentle Winchester. [To the Messenger.] Sirrah, [Exit Messenger.

be gone.

Winch. The king hath willingly resigned his crown. Queen. O happy news! send for the prince, my son. Winch. Further, or this letter 2 was sealed, Lord

Berkeley came,

So that he now is gone from Killingworth;

30

And we have heard that Edmund laid a plot
To set his brother free; no more but so.
The Lord of Berkeley is so [as ?] pitiful
As Leicester that had charge of him before.
Queen. Then let some other be his guardian.
Y. Mor. Let me alone, here is the privy seal.
[Exit WINCHESter.
Who's there?-call hither Gurney and Matrevis.
To dash the heavy-headed Edmund's drift,
Berkeley shall be discharged, the king removed,
And none but we shall know where he lieth.3

Queen. But, Mortimer, as long as he survives,

What safety rests for us, or for my son ?

40

Y. Mor. Speak, shall he presently be despatched and die?

Queen. I would he were, so 'twere not by my means.

1 The entrance and exit of Winchester are not marked in the old

eds. I have followed Dyce.

2 Dyce proposed to omit the word "letter."

3 Mr. Fleay reads :

And where he lieth none but we shall know."