First P. Man. I can ride.

Gav. But I have no horse.-What art thou? Sec. P. Man. A traveller.

Gav. Let me see: thou wouldst do well

To wait at my trencher, and tell me lies at dinner-time;

And, as I like your discoursing, I'll have you.And what art thou?

Third P. Man. A soldier, that hath serv'd against the Scot. :

Gar. Why, there are hospitals for such as you: I have no war; and therefore, sir, be gone. Third P. Man. Farewell; and perish by a soldier's hand,

That wouldst reward them with an hospital!

Cav. Ay, ay, these words of his move me as much

As if a goose should play the porcupine, And dart her plumes, thinking to pierce my breast.

But yet it is no pain to speak men fair;

I'll flatter these, and make them live in hope.[Aside.

You know that I came lately out of France,
And yet I have not view'd my lord the king:
If I speed well, I'll entertain you all.
All. We thank your worship.

Gav. I have some business: leave me to myself.
All. We will wait here about the court.
Gav. Do.
[Exeunt Poor Men.
These are not men for me;
must have wanton poets pleasant wits,
Musicans that with touching of a string
May draw the plant king which way I please
Music and poetry is his delight;

Therefore haveItalian masks by night,
Sweet speeches comedies, and pleasing shows
And in the day when he shall walk abroad,
Like sylvan nymphsny pages shall be clad;
My men, like satyrgrazing on the lawns,
Shall with their goal-feet dance the antic hay;2
Sometime a lovely boy in Dian's shape,
With hair that gilds the water as it glides,
Crownets of pearl about his naked arms,
And in his sportful hands an olive tree,

3

To hide those parts which men delight to see,
Shall bathe him in a spring and there, hard by,
One like Actæon peeping through the grove,
Shall by the angry goddess be transform'd,
And running in the likeness of an hart,
By yelping hounds' pull'd down, shall seem to

die://
Such things as these best please his majesty.-
My lord, here comes the king and the nobles
From the parliament. I'll stand aside.

[Retires.

1 Music and poetry, &c.-'How exactly the author, as the learned Dr. Hurd observes, has painted the humour of the times, which esteemed masks and shows as the Bighest indulgence that could be provided for a luxuriGs and happy monarch, we may see from the enterTainment provided, not many years after, for the reception of King James at Althorp in Northamptonshire, where this very design of Sylvan Nymphs, Saturs, and Arteon, was executed in a Masque by Ben Jonson. [Hurd's] Moral and Political Dialogues, vol. 1, p. 194.' -DODSLEY'S Old Plays.

antic hay-antic here means grotesque, fantastic, and is still used as a noun, meaning grotesque capers; it is the same word as 'antique.' Hay was the name of a round country dance; Shall we go dance the hay?' occurs in England's Helicon; and mention is made of it in Lore's Labour Lost, act v., sc. 1.

Crownet-the diminutive of crown, i.e., coronet. Acton, according to the fable, was a hunter who was transformed by Artemis (Diana) into a stag, and torn to pieces by dogs, for peeping at the goddess and her nymphs bathing.

Gav. That villain Mortimer! I'll be his death. [Aside.

Y. Mor. Mine uncle here, this earl, and I myself,

Were sworn to your father at his death,
That he should ne'er return into the realm:
And know, my lord, ere I will break my oath,
This sword of mine, that should offend your
foes,

Shall sleep within the scabbard at thy need,
And underneath thy banners march who will,
For Mortimer will hang his armour up.
Gav. Mort dieu!

[Aside. K. Edw. Well, Mortimer, I'll make thee ruc these words.

Beseems it thee to contradict thy king?
Frown'st thou thereat, aspiring Lancaster?
The sword shall plane the furrows of thy brows,
And hew theso knees that now are grown so
stiff.

I will have Gaveston; and you shall know
What danger 'tis to stand against your king.

Gav. Well done, Ned!

[Aside.

Lan. My lord, why do you thus incense your peers,

That naturally would love and honour you,
But for that base and obscure Gaveston ?
Four earldoms have I, besides Lancaster,-
Derby, Salisbury, Lincoln, Leicester;
These will I sell, to give my soldiers pay,
Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realm:
Therefore, if he be come, expel him straight.

Kent. Barons and earls, your pride hath made

me mute;

But now I'll speak, and to the proof, I hope.
I do remember, in my father's days,
Lord Percy of the North, being highly mov'd,
Brav'd Mowbray in presence of the king;
For which, had not his highness lov'd him well,
He should have lost his head; but with his look
Th' undaunted spirit of Percy was appeas'd,
And Mowbray and he were reconcil'd:
Yet dare you brave the king unto his face.—
Brother, revenge it, and let these their heads
Preach upon poles, for trespass of their tongues.
War. Oh, our heads!

K. Edw. Ay, yours; and therefore I would wish you grant.

War. Bridle thy anger, gentle Mortimer.

Y. Mor. I cannot, nor I will not; I must speak.

Cousin, our hands, I hope, shall fence our heads,
And strike off his that makes you threaten us.-
Come, uncle, let us leave the brain-sick king,
And henceforth parley with our naked swords.
E. Mor. Wiltshire hath men enough to save our
heads.

War. All Warwickshire will love him for my sake.

1 lore-Dyce reads 'leave.'

Lan. And northward Lancaster1 hath many friends.

Adieu, my lord; and either change your mind,
Or look to see the throne, where you should sit,
To float in blood, and at thy wanton head
The glozing head of thy base minion thrown.

[Exeunt all except KING EDWard, Kent,
GAVESTON, and Attendants.

K. Edw. I cannot brook these haughty menaces; Am I a king, and must be overrul'd?Brother, display my ensigns in the field: I'll bandy with the barons and the earls, And either die or live with Gaveston.

Gav. I can no longer keep me from my lord. [Comes forward. K. Edw. What! Gaveston! welcome! Kiss not my hand:

Embrace me, Gaveston, as I do thee.
Why should'st thou kneel? Know'st thou not
who I am?

Thy friend, thyself, another Gaveston:
Not Hylas was mournèd for of Hercules
Than thou hast been of me since thy exile.

Gav. And, since I went from hence, no soul in
hell

Hath felt more torment than poor Gaveston.

K. Edw. I know it.-Brother, welcome home my friend.

Now let the treacherous Mortimers conspire,
And that high-minded Earl of Lancaster:
I have my wish, in that I joys thy sight;
And sooner shall the sea o'erwhelm my land
Than bear the ship that shall transport thee
hence.

I here create thee Lord High Chamberlain,
Chief Secretary to the state and me,
Earl of Cornwall, King and Lord of Man.

Gav. My lord, these titles far exceed my worth. Kent. Brother, the least of these may well suffice

For one of greater birth than Gaveston.

K. Edw. Cease, brother, for I cannot brook these words.

Thy worth, sweet friend, is far above my gifts:
Therefore, to equal it, receive my heart.

If for these dignities thou be envied,"
I'll give thee more; for, but to honour thee,
Is Edward pleas'd with kingly regiment.7
Fear'st thou thy person? thou shalt have a
guard:

Wantest thou gold? go to my treasury:

Would'st thou be lov'd and fear'd? receive my seal,

Save or condemn, and in our name command
What so thy mind affects, or fancy likes.

Gav. It shall suffice me to enjoy your love;
Which whiles I have, I think myself as great
As Cæsar riding in the Roman street,
With captive kings at his triumphal car.

Enter the BISHOP OF COVENTRY.

K. Edw. Whither goes my Lord of Coventry so fast?

1 Lancaster-Old eds. Gaueston.' 2 glozing-flattering.

3 bandy-i.e., oppose with all my force; totis viribus se opponere, says Skinner, voce bandy.'-DODSLEY'S Old Plays.

Allylas, according to the fable, was the friend and perhaps the son of Hercules; he was so beautiful that the naiads stole him, and Hercules tried in vain to find him.

5 joy-enjoy.

6enried-hated.

Bish. of Cov. To celebrate your father's exequies.

But is that wicked Gaveston return'd?

K. Edw. Ay, priest, and lives to be reveng’d on thee,

That wert the only cause of his exile.

Gav. 'Tis true; and, but for reverence of these robes,

Thou should'st not plod one foot beyond this place.

Bish. of Cov. did no more than I was bound to do:

And, Gaveston, unless thou be reclaim'd,
As then I did incense the parliament,
So will I now, and thou shalt back to France.
Gav. Saving your reverence, you must pardon

me.

K. Edw. Throw off his golden mitre, rend his stole,

And in the channel2 christen him anew.

Kent. Ah, brother, lay not violent hands on him!

For he'll complain unto the see of Rome.

Gav. Let him complain unto the see of hell: I'll be reveng'd on him for my exile.

K. Edw. No, spare his life, but seize upon his goods:

Be thou lord bishop, and receive his rents,
And make him serve thee as thy chaplain:
I give him thee; here, use him as thou wilt.
Gav. He shall to prison, and there die in bolts.
K. Edw. Ay, to the Tower, the Fleet, or where

thou wilt.

Bish. of Cov. For this offence be thou accurs'd of God!

K. Edw. Who's there? Convey this priest to the Tower.

Bish. of Cov. True, true.3

K. Edw. But, in the mean time, Gaveston, away, And take possession of his house and goods. Come, follow me, and thou shalt have my guard To see it done, and bring thee safe again.

Gav. What should a priest do with so fair a house?

A prison may best beseem his holiness.

[Exeunt.

Ah, wicked king! accursed Gaveston!
This ground, which is corrupted with their steps,
Shall be their timeless sepulchre or mine.

Y. Mor. Well, let that peevish Frenchman guard him sure;

Unless his breast be sword-proof, he shall die.
E. Mor. How now! why droops the Earl of
Lancaster?

Y. Mor. Wherefore is Guy of Warwick discontent?

Lan. That villain Gavestone is made an earl. E. Mor. An earl!

War. Ay, and besides, Lord Chamberlain of the realm.

And Secretary too, and Lord of Man.

1 Gav., &c.-'He "lays violent hands" upon the bishop. See p. 103, 1st col.-DODSLEY'S Old Plays. 2 channel-kennel or gutter.

3 True, true. Altered in Dodsley (ed. 1825) to 'Do, do.' Dyce suggests Prut, prut' (an exclamation of

4 timeless-untimely.

E. Mor. We may not nor we will not suffer this. Y. Mor. Why post we not from hence to levy men ?

Lan. My Lord of Cornwall' now at every word;

And happy is the man whom he vouchsafes,
For vailing' of his bonnet one good look.
Thus, arm in arm, the king and he doth march:
Nay more, the guard upon his lordship waits,
And all the court begins to flatter him.

War. Thus leaning on the shoulder of the king, He nods, and scorns, and smiles at those that pass.

E. Mor. Doth no man take exceptions at the slave?

Lan. All stomach2 him, but none dare speak a word.

Y. Mor. Ah, that bewrays their baseness, Lancaster!

Were all the earls and barons of my mind,
We'll hale him from the bosom of the king,
And at the court-gate hang the peasant up,
Who, swoln with venom of ambitious pride,
Will be the ruin of the realm and us.

War. Here comes my Lord of Canterbury's grace.

Lan. His countenance bewrays he is displeas'd. Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, and an Attendant.

Archb. of Cant. First were his sacred garments rent and torn;

Then laid they violent hands upon him; next, Himself imprison'd, and his goods asseiz'd: This certify the Pope: away, take horse.

[Exit Attendant.

Lan. My lord, will you take arms against the king?

Archb. of Cant. What need I? God himself is up in arms

When violence is offer'd to the church.

Y. Mor. Then will you join with us, that be his peers,

To banish or behead that Gaveston?
Archb. of Cant. What else, my lords? for it

concerns me near;

The bishoprick of Coventry is his.

Enter QUEEN ISABELLA.

Y. Mor. Madam, whither walks your majesty so fast?

Q. Isab. Unto the forest, gentle Mortimer,
To live in grief and baleful discontent;
For now my lord the king regards me not,
But dotes upon the love of Gaveston:

He claps his cheeks, and hangs about his neck,
Smiles in his face, and whispers in his ears;
And, when I come, he frowns, as who should say,
Go whither thou wilt, seeing I have Gaveston.'
E. Mor. Is it not strange that he is thus be-
witch'd?

Y. Mor. Madam, return unto the court again: That sly inveigling Frenchman we'll exile, Or lose our lives; and yet, ere that day come, The king shall lose his crown; for we have power, And courage too, to be reveng'd at full.

Archb. of Cant. But yet lift not your swords against the king.

Lan. No; but we will lift Gaveston from hence. War. And war must be the means, or he'll stay still.

Q. Isab. Then let him stay; for, rather than my lord

Shall be oppress'd with civil mutinies,
I will endure a melancholy life,

And let him frolic with his minion.

Archb. of Cant. My lords, to ease all this but hear me speak:

We and the rest, that are his counsellors,
Will meet, and with a general consent
Confirm his banishment with our hands and seals.
Lan. What we confirm the king will frustrate.
Y. Mor. Then may we lawfully revolt from him.
War. But say, my lord, where shall this meet-
ing be?

Archb. of Cant. At the New Temple.

Y. Mor. Content.

Archb. of Cant. And, in the meantime, I'll entreat you all

To cross to Lambeth, and there stay with me.
Lan. Come, then, let's away.

Y. Mor. Madam, farewell.

Q. Isab. Farewell, sweet Mortimer; and, for my sake,

Forbear to levy arms against the king.

Y. Mor. Ay, if words will serve; if not, I must. [Exeunt.

Enter GAVESTON and KENT.

Gav. Edmund, the mighty prince of Lancaster, That hath more earldoms than an ass can bear, And both the Mortimers, two goodly men, With Guy of Warwick, that redoubted knight, Are gone towards Lambeth: there let them remain. [Exeunt.

Enter LANCASTER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, the elder MORTIMER, the younger MORTIMER, the ARCHBISHOP Of CanterburyY, and Attendants. Lan. Here is the form of Gaveston's exile; May it please your lordship to subscribe your

name.

Archb. of Cant. Give me the paper.

Lan. Quick, quick, my lord! I long to write my name.

War. But I long more to see him banish'd hence.

Y. Mor. The name of Mortimer shall fright the king,

Unless he be declin'd from that base peasant.

Enter KING EDWARD, GAVESTON, and KENT. K. Edw. What are you mov'd that Gaveston sits here?

It is our pleasure; we will have it so. Lan. Your grace doth well to place him by your side,

For nowhere else the new earl is so safe.

E. Mor. What man of noble birth can brook this sight?

Quam male conveniunt! 3

See what a scornful look the peasant casts!
Pem. Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants?
War. Ignoble vassal, that, like Phaeton,
Aspir'st unto the guidance of the sun!

Y. Mor. Their downfall is at hand, their forces down:

We will not thus be fac'd and over-peer'd.
K. Edw. Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer!
E. Mor. Lay hands on that traitor Gaveston!
Kent. Is this the duty that you owe your king?
War. We know our duties: let him know his
peers.

1 railing-lowering.

2 stomach meant to brook or resent; here it means

to be angry at.

3 We'll. Dyce reads 'We'd' here.

1 frolic-play or amuse himself.

2 declin'd from-turned or estranged from.

3 Quam, &c.—'how badly are they matched."

K. Edw. Whither will you bear him? stay, or ye shall die.

E. Mor. We are no traitors; therefore threaten not.

Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston!

E. Mor. And with the Earl of Kent that favours him.

[GAVESTON and KENT are removed. K. Edw. Nay, then, lay violent hands upon your king:

Here, Mortimer, sit thou in Edward's throne;
Warwick and Lancaster, wear you my crown.
Was ever king thus overruled as I?

Lan. Learn, then, to rule us better, and the realm.

Y. Mor. What we have done, our heart-blood shall maintain.

War. Think you that we can brook this upstart pride?

K. Edw. Anger and wrathful fury stops my speech.

Archb. of Cant. Why are you moved? be patient, my lord,

And see what we your counsellors have done.
Y. Mor. My lords, now let us all be resoluto,
And either have our wills, or lose our lives.
K. Edw. Meet you for this, proud over-daring
peers?

Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me,
This isle shall fleet upon the ocean,

1

And wander to the unfrequented Inde.

Archb. of Cant. You know that I am legate to the Pope:

On your allegiance to the see of Rome,
Subscribe, as we have done, to his exile.

Y. Mor. Curse him, if he refuse; and then may

we

Depose him, and elect another king.

K. Edw. Ay, there it goes! but yet I will not yield:

Curse me, depose me, do the worst you can. Lan. Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight.

Archb. of Cant. Remember how the bishop was abus'd:

Either banish him that was the cause thereof,
Or I will presently discharge these lords
Of duty and allegiance due to thee.

K. Edw. It boots 2 me not to threat; I must speak fair:

The legate of the Pope will be obey'd.- [Aside.
My lord, you shall be Chancellor of the realm;
Thou, Lancaster, High-Admiral of our fleet;
Young Mortimer and his uncle shall be earls;
And you, Lord Warwick, President of the North;
And thou of Wales. If this content you not,
Make several kingdoms of this monarchy,
And share it equally amongst you all,

So I may have some nook or corner left,

To frolic with my dearest Gaveston.

Archb. of Cant. Nothing shall alter us; we are resolved.

Lan. Come, come, subscribe.

1 fleet-float; Anglo-Saxon, fleotan, to float.

2 boots-profits; Anglo-Saxon, bot, compensation, betan, to cement, from the same root as better.

Would seek the ruin of my Gaveston!
You that be noble-born should pity him.

War. You that are princely-born should shake him off:

For shame, subscribe, and let the lown depart. E. Mor. Urge him, my lord.

Archb. of Cant. Are you content to banish him the realm?

K. Edw. I see I must, and therefore am content: Instead of ink, I'll write it with my tears.

[Subscribes. Y. Mor. The king is love-sick for his minion. K. Edw. "Tis done: and now accursed hand, fall off!

Lan. Give it me: I'll have it publish'd in the streets.

Y. Mor. I'll see him presently despatch'd away. Archb. of Cant. Now is my heart at ease.

War. And so is mine.

Pem. This will be good news to the common

sort.

E. Mor. Be it or no, he shall not linger here. [Exeunt Nobles.

K. Edw. How fast they run to banish him I love!

They would not stir, were it to do me good.
Why should a king be subject to a priest?
Proud Rome, that hatchest such imperial grooms,"
With these thy superstitious taper-lights,
Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze,
I'll fire thy crazèd buildings, and enforce
Thy papal towers to kiss the lowly ground;
With slaughter'd priests may Tiber's channel
swell,

And banks rais'd higher with their sepulchres!
As for the peers that back the clergy thus,
If I be king, not one of them shall live.

Enter GAVESTON.

Gav. My Lord, I hear it whisper'd everywhere, That I am banish'd and must fly the land.

K. Edw. 'Tis true, sweet Gaveston: Oh were it false!

The legate of the Pope will have it so,
And thou must hence, or I shall be depos'd.
But I will reign to be reveng'd of them;
And therefore, sweet friend, take it patiently.
Live where thou wilt, I'll send thee gold enough;
And long thou shalt not stay; or, if thou dost,
I'll come to thee: my love shall ne'er decline.

Gav. Is all my hope turn'd to this hell of grief? K. Edw. Rend not my heart with thy toopiercing words:

Thou from this land, I from myself am banish'd.
Gav. To go from hence grieves not poor
Gaveston;

But to forsake you, in whose gracious looks
The blessedness of Gaveston remains;
For nowhere else seeks he felicity.

K. Edw. And only this torments my wretched soul,

That, whether I will or no, thou must depart.
Be governor of Ireland in my stead,

And there abide till fortune call thee home.
Here, take my picture, and let me wear thino:
Oh might I keep thee here, as I do this,
Happy were 1! but now most miserable.
Gav. "Tis something to be pitied of a king.

Gav. The peers will frown.

1

K. Edw. I pass not for their anger. Come, let's go:

Oh, that we might as well return as go!

Enter EDMUND [EARL OF KENT and] QUEEN ISABELLA.

Q. Isab. Whither goes my lord?

K. Edo. Fawn not on me, French strumpet; get thee gone!

Q. Isab. On whom but on my husband should I fawn?

Gav. On Mortimer; with whom, ungentle
queen-

I say no more-judge you the rest, my lord.
Q. Isab. In saying this, thou wrong'st me,
Gaveston:

Is't not enough that thou corrupt'st my lord,
And art a bawd to his affections,

But thou must call mine honour thus in question?
Gav. I mean not so; your grace must pardon

me.

K. Edw. Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer,

And by thy means is Gaveston exil'd:
But I would wish thee reconcile the lords,
Or thou shalt ne'er be reconcil'd to me.

Q. Isab. Your highness knows, it lies not in my power.

K. Edw. Away, then! touch me not.-Come, Gaveston.

Q. Isab. Villain, 'tis thou that robb'st me of my lord.

Gav. Madam, 'tis you that rob me of my lord. K. Edw. Speak not unto her: let her droop and pine.

Q. Ieab. Wherein, my lord, have I deserv'd these words?

Witness the tears that Isabella sheds,
Witness this heart, that, sighing for thee, breaks,
How dear my lord is to poor Isabel!

K. Edw. And witness heaven how dear thou art to me!

There weep; for, till my Gaveston be repeal'd, Assure thyself thou com'st not in my sight.

[Exeunt KING EDWARD and GAVESTON. Q. Isab. Oh miserable and distressèd queen! Would, when I left sweet France, and was embark'd,

That charming Circe, walking on the waves, Had chang'd my shape! or at the marriage-day The cup of Hymen had been full of poison!

Or with those arms, that twin'd about my neck,

I had been stifled, and not liv'd to see
The king my lord thus to abandon me!
Like frantic Juno, will I fill the earth

With ghastly murmur of my sighs and cries;
For never doted Jove on Ganymede
So much as he on cursed Gaveston:
But that will more exasperate his wrath;
I must entreat him, I must speak him fair,
And be a means to call home Gaveston:
And yet he'll ever dote on Gaveston;
And so am I for ever miserable.

Enter LANCASTER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, the elder MORTIMER, and the younger MORTIMER. Lan. Look, where the sister of the king of France

Sits wringing of her hands, and beats her breast! War. The king, I fear, hath ill-entreated her. Pem. Hard is the heart that injures such a saint.

Y. Mor. I know 'tis 'long of Gaveston she weeps. E. Mor. Why, he is gone.

Y. Mor. Madam, how fares your grace?

Q. Isab. Ah, Mortimer, now breaks the king's hate forth,

And he confesseth that he loves me not!

Y. Mor. Cry quittance, madam, then, and love not him.

Q. Isab. No, rather will I die a thousand deaths: And yet I love in vain; he'll ne'er love me. Lan. Fear ye not, madam; now his minion's gone,

His wanton humour will be quickly left.

Q. Isab. Oh, never, Lancaster! I am enjoin'd To sue unto you all for his repeal:

This wills my lord, and this must I perform,
Or else be banish'd from his highness' presence.
Lan. For his repeal, madam! he comes not
back,

Unless the sea cast up his shipwreck'd body.

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?

Q. Isab. Ay, 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 2 me, Be thou my advocate unto these peers.

Y. Mor. What! would you have me plead for Gaveston?

E. Mor. Plead for him that will, I am resolv'd. Lan. And so am I, my lord: dissuade the

Which, being caught, strikes him that takes it dead;

I mean that vile torpedo, Gaveston,
That now, I hope, floats on the Irish seas.

Q. Isab. Sweet Mortimer, sit down by me a while,

And I will tell thee reasons of such weight
As thou wilt soon subscribe to his repeal.

Y. Mor. It is impossible: but speak your mind. Q. Isab. Then thus;-but none shall hear it but ourselves. [Talks to Y. MOR. apart. Lan. My lords, albeit the queen win Mortimer, Will you be resolute, and hold with me?

1 ill-entreated-ill-treated.

2 tender'st-hast a tender regard for.