That, like the Greekish strumpet, train'd to arms
And bloody 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.
My lord,-

Gav. 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.

Lan.

Enter ARUNDEL.

How now, my lord of Arundel !

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Arun. My lords, King Edward greets you all by me. War. Arundel, say your message.

Arun. His majesty, hearing that you had taken Gaveston, Entreateth you by me, yet but he may

See him before he dies; for why, he says,

And sends you word, he knows that die he shall;
And if you gratify his grace so far,

He will be mindful of the courtesy.

War. How now?

Gav.

Revives poor Gaveston !

War.

Renowmèd Edward, how thy name

No, it needeth not;

Arundel, we will gratify the king

In other matters; he must pardon us in this.-
Soldiers, away with him!

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Gav.

Why, my lord of Warwick,

Will not these delays beget my hopes?
I know it, lords, it is this life you aim at;
Yet grant King Edward this.

Y. Mor.

Shalt thou appoint

What we shall grant ?—Soldiers, away with him!
Thus we'll gratify the king;

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[To ARUNDEL.

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 in 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

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For Gaveston, will, if he sees him once,
Violate any promise to possess him.

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Arun. Then if you will not trust his grace in keep, My lords, I will be pledge for his return.

Y. Mor. 'Tis 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.

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Gav. How mean'st thou, Mortimer? that is over-base.

Y. Mor. Away, base groom, robber of king's renown! Question with thy companions and mates.

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Pem. My Lord Mortimer, and you, my lords, each one,
To gratify the king's request therein,
Touching the sending of this Gaveston,
Because his majesty so earnestly

Desires to see the man before his death,
I will upon mine honour undertake
To carry him, and bring him back again;

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Provided this, that you, my lord of Arundel,

Will join with me.
War.
Pembroke, what wilt thou do?
Cause yet more bloodshed? is it not enough
That we have taken him, but must we now
Leave him on 'had I wist,' and let him go?

Pem. My lords, I will not over-woo your honours,
But if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner,
Upon mine oath, I will return him back.

Arun. My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this? Lan. Why, I say, let him go on Pembroke's word. Pem. And you, Lord Mortimer?

Y. Mor.

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How say you, my lord of Warwick? War. Nay, do your pleasures, I know how 'twill prove.

Pem. Then give him me.

Gav.

To see thee ere I die.

War.

Sweet sovereign, yet I come

Yet not perhaps,

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[Aside.

If Warwick's wit and policy prevail.

Y. Mor. My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you; Return him on your honour. Sound, away!

[Exeunt all except PEMBROKE, ARUNDEL, GAVESTON,
JAMES, and other Attendants, of PEMBROKE.

Pem. My lord, you shall go with me.
My house is not far hence; out of the way

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A little; but our men shall go along.

We that have pretty wenches to our wives,

Sir, must not come so near to balk their lips.

Arun. '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.

ΙΟΙ

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Gav. Unhappy Gaveston, whither go'st thou now? [Exit with JAMES and other Attendants of PEMBROKE. Horse-boy. My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE 1. Country near Deddington.

Enter GAVESTON mourning, JAMES and other Attendants of PEMBROKE.

Gav. O treacherous Warwick, thus to wrong thy friend! James. I see it is your life these arms pursue.

Gav. Weaponless must I fall, and die in bands?
Oh! must this day be period of my life,

Centre of all my bliss? An ye be men,
Speed to the king.

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War.

Enter WARWICK .and Soldiers.

My lord of Pembroke's men,

Strive you no longer: I will have that Gaveston.

James. Your lordship doth dishonour to yourself,

And wrong our lord, your honourable friend.

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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, My friend, and tell him that I watch'd it well. Come, let thy shadow parley with King Edward. Gav. Treacherous earl, shall not I see the king? War. The King of heaven perhaps, no other king.-Away! [Exeunt WARWICK and Soldiers with GAVESTON. James. Come, fellows; it booted not for us to strive; We will in haste go certify our lord. [Exeunt.

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SCENE II. King's camp, near Boroughbridge, Yorkshire. Enter KING EDWARD, the younger SPENSER, BALDOCK, Noblemen of the king's side, and Soldiers with drums and fifes.

K. Edw. I long to hear an answer from the barons Touching my friend, my dearest Gaveston.

Ah, Spenser, not the riches of my realm
Can ransom him! ah, he is mark'd to die!
I know the malice of the younger Mortimer;
Warwick I know is rough, and Lancaster
Inexorable, and I shall never see

My lovely Pierce of Gaveston again:
The barons overbear me with their pride.

Y. Spen. Were I King Edward, England's sovereign, Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain,

Great Edward Longshanks' issue, would I bear

These braves, this rage, and suffer uncontroll'd
These barons thus to beard me in my land,

In mine own realm? My lord, pardon my speech;

Did you retain your father's magnanimity,
Did you regard the honour of your name,
You would not suffer thus your majesty

Be counterbuff'd of your nobility.

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II

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Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles: 20 No doubt, such lessons they will teach the rest,

As by their preachments they will profit much,

And learn obedience to their lawful king.

K. Edw. Yea, gentle Spenser, we have been too mild,

Too kind to them; but now have drawn our sword,

And if they send me not my Gaveston,

We'll steel it on their crest, and poll their tops.

Bald. This haught resolve becomes your majesty,
Not to be tied to their affection,

As though your highness were a schoolboy still,
And must be aw'd and govern'd like a child.

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