ARUN. His majesty, hearing that you had taken Gaveston, Intreateth you by me, but that he may See him before he dies; for why he says, And sends you word, he knows that die he shall; He will be mindful of the courtesy. WAR. How now? GAV. Renowned Edward, how thy name Revives poor Gaveston! WAR. No, it needeth not; Arandel, we will gratify the king In other matters, he must pardon us in this. GAV. Why, my lord of Warwick, Will these delays beget me any hopes? I know it, lords, it is this life Yet grant king Edward this. you aim at, Y. MOR. Shalt thou appoint what we shall grant? Soldiers, away with him: Thus we'll gratify the king, We'll send his head by thee; let him bestow His tears on that, for that is all he gets Of Gaveston, or else his senseless trunk. LAN. Not so, my lords, lest he bestow more cost In burying him, than he hath ever earn'd. ARUN. My lords, it is his majesty's request, And on the honour of a king he swears, He will but talk with him, and send him back. WAR. When, can you tell? Arundel, no; we wot, He that the care of his realm remits, And drives his nobles to these exigents ARUN. Then if you will not trust his grace in keep, My lords, I will be pledge for his return. Y. MOR. It is honourable in thee to offer this; But for we know thou art a noble gentleman, We will not wrong thee so, To make away a true man for a thief. GAV. How meanest thou, Mortimer? this is overbase. Y.MOR. Away, base groom, robber of king's renown, Question with thy companions and thy mates. PEм. My lord Mortimer, and you, my lords, each one, To gratify the king's request therein, Desires to see the man before his death, To carry him, and bring him back again; WAR. Pembroke, what wilt thou do? PEM. My lords, I will not over-woo your honours, But if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner, Upon my oath, I will return him back. ARUN. My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this? Y. MOR. How say you, my lord of Warwick ? I know how 'twill prove. PEM. Then give him me. GAV. Sweet sovereign, yet I come To see thee ere I die. WAR. Not yet perhaps, If Warwick's wit and policy prevail. Y. MOR. My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him to you; Return him on your honour. Sound, away. [Exeunt all but Pembroke, Matrevis, Gaveston, and Pembroke's Men. PEM. [To Matrevis.] My lord, you shall go with me. My house is not far hence; out of the way A little, but our men shall go along. Sir, must not come so near to baulk their lips. MAT. "Tis very kindly spoke, my lord of Pembroke; Your honour hath an adamant of power To draw a prince. PEM. So, my lord. Come hither James: I do commit this Gaveston to thee, Be thou this night his keeper, in the morning We will discharge thee of thy charge; be gone. HORSE-BOY. My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham. [Exeunt. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. Enter GAVESTON mourning, and the Earl of Pembroke's Men. GAV. O treacherous Warwick! thus to wrong thy friend. JAMES. I see it is your life these arms pursue. Centre of all my bliss? And ye be men, Enter WARWICK and his company. Strive you no more—I will have that Gaveston. JAMES. Your lordship doth dishonour to yourself, And wrong our lord, your honourable friend. WAR. No, James, it is my country's cause I follow. Go, take the villain; soldiers, come away, We'll make quick work. Commend me to your master, t My friend, and tell him that I watch'd it well. GAV. Treacherous earl, shall I not see the king? WAR. The king of heaven perhaps, no other king. Away! [Exeunt Warwick and his men with Gaves. JAMES. Come, fellows, it booteth not for us to strive, We will in haste go certify our lord. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Enter KING EDWARD and Young SPENCER, with drums and fifes. EDW. I long to hear an answer from the barons, Touching my friend, my dearest Gaveston. Ah! Spencer, not the riches of my realm My lovely Pierce of Gaveston again! Y. SPEN. Were I king Edward, England's sovereign, Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain, Great Edward Longshank's issue, would I bear |