Why gape you for your sovereign's overthrow-
My diadem, I mean, and guiltless life?
See, monsters, see! I'll wear my crown again.
[Putting on the crown.
What! fear you not the fury of your king?-
But, hapless Edward, thou art fondly1led:
They pass 2 not for thy frowns as late they did,
But seek to make a new-elected king;
Which fills my mind with strange despairing
thoughts,

Which thoughts are martyrèd with endless torments;

And in this torment comfort find I none,
But that I feel the crown upon my head;
And therefore let me wear it yet a while.
Trus. My lord, the parliament must have
present news;

And therefore say, will you resign or no?

[The King rageth. K. Edw. I'll not resign, but, whilst I live, be king.

Traitors, be gone, and join with Mortimer.
Elect, conspire, install, do what you will:
Their blood and yours shall seal these treacheries.
Bish. of Win. 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.
K. Edw. Call thou them back; I have no
power to speak.

Leices. My lord, the king is willing to resign.
Bish. of Win. If he be not, let him choose.
K. Edw. Oh would I might! but heavens and
earth conspire

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 call'd the murderer of a king,
Take it. What! are you mov'd? pity you me?
Then send for unrelenting Mortimer,
And Isabel, whose eyes being turn'd to steel
Will sooner sparkle fire than shed a tear.
Yet stay; for, rather than I'll look on them,
Here, here!-Now, sweet God of heaven,
Make me despise this transitory pomp,
And sit for aye enthronized in heaven!
Come, death, and with thy fingers close my eyes,
Or, if I live, let me forget myself!

Berk. My lord.

Enter BERKELEY.

Will be my death; and welcome shall it be:
To wretched men death is felicity.
Leices. Another post! what news brings he?
K. Edw. Such news as I expect.
Berkeley, come,

Come,

And tell thy message to my naked breast. Berk. My lord, think not a thought so villanous

Can harbour in a man of noble birth.

To do your highness service and devoir,

And save you from your foes, Berkeley would die.

Leices. My lord, the council and the queen commands

That I resign my charge.

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

Berk. Ay, my most gracious lord; so 'tis decreed. K. Edw. [Taking the paper.] By Mortimer, whose name is written here!

Well may I rent his name that rends my heart.
[Tears it.
This poor revenge hath something eas'd 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.

K. 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! K. Edw. Mine enemy hath pitied my estate, And that's the cause that I am now remov'd.' Berk. And thinks your grace that Berkeley will be cruel ?

K. Edw. I know not; but of this am I assur'd, That death ends all, and I can die but once.-Leicester, farewell.

way.

Leices. Not yet, my lord; I'll bear you on your [Exeunt. Enter QUEEN ISABELLA and the younger MORTIMER. Y. Mor. Fair Isabel, now have we our desire; The proud corrupters of the light-brain'd king Have done their homage to the lofty gallows, And he himself lies in captivity.

Be rul'd by me, and we will rule the realm:
In any case take heed of childish fear,
For now we hold an old wolf by the ears,
That, if he slip, will seize upon us both,
And gripe the sorer, being grip'd himself.

sight!

Ah, pardon me! grief makes me lunatic.
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: 3
If with the sight thereof she be not mov'd,
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 transgress'd,
Unless it be with too much clemency?

Trus. And thus, most humbly do we take our leave.

K. Edw. Farewell.

[Exeunt the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER and TRUSSEL with the crown.

I know the next news that they bring

much

To erect your son with all the speed we may,
And that I be protector over him:
For our behoof, 'twill bear the greater sway
Whenas a king's name shall be under-writ.

Q. Isab. 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 depos'd,

And then let me alone to handle him.
Enter Messenger.

Letters! from whence?

Mess. From Killingworth, my lord.

1 Jove-Jehovah, a not uncommon abbreviation of the word with old writers.

2 Whenas-when.

Q. Isab. Oh, happy news! send for the prince my son.

Bish. of Win. Further, or this letter was seal'd, Lord Berkeley came,

So that he now is gone from Killingworth;
And we have heard that Edmund laid a plot
To set his brother free; no more, but so.
The Lord of Berkeley is so pitiful
As Leicester that had charge of him before.

1

Q. Isab. Then let some other be his guardian. Y. Mor. Let me alone; here is the privy-seal.Who's there? Call hither Gurney and Matrevis.[To Attendants within.

To dash the heavy-headed Edmund's drift, Berkeley shall be discharg'd, the king remov'd, And none but we shall know where he lieth.

Q. Isab. But, Mortimer, as long as he survives, What safety rests for us or for my son?

Y. Mor. Speak, shall he presently be despatch'd and die?

Q. Isab. I would he were, so 'twere not by my

Y. Mor. As thou intend'st to rise by Mortimer, Who now makes Fortune's wheel turn as he please,

Seek all the means thou canst to make him droop, And neither give him kind word nor good look.

Gur. I warrant you, my lord.

Y. Mor. And this above the rest: because we hear

That Edmund casts to work his liberty,
Remove him still from place to place by night,
Till at the last he come to Killingworth,
And then from thence to Berkeley back again;
And by the way, to make him fret the more,
Speak curstly to him; and in any case
Let no man comfort him, if he chance to weep,
But amplify his grief with bitter words.

Mat. Fear not, my lord; we'll do as you command.

Y. Mor. So, now away! post thitherwards amain.

Q. Isab. Whither goes this letter? to my lord the king?

Commend me humbly to his majesty,
And tell him that I labour all in vain

ears.

Y. Mor. If he have such access unto the prince,

Our plots and stratagems will soon be dash'd. Q. Isab. Use Edmund friendly, as if all were well.

Y. Mor. How fares my honourable Lord of Kent?

Kent. In health, sweet Mortimer.-How fares your grace?

Q. Isab. Well, if my lord your brother were enlarg'd.

Kent. I hear of late he hath depos'd himself.
Q. Isab. The more my grief.
Y. Mor. And mine.

Kent. Ah, they do dissemble!

[Aside.

Q. Isab. Sweet son, come hither; I must talk with thee.

Y. Mor. You, being his uncle and the next of blood,

Do look to be protector o'er the prince.

Kent. Not I, my lord: who should protect the

Let him be king; I am too young to reign.

Q. Isab. But be content, seeing 'tis his highness' pleasure.

P. Edw. Let me but see him first, and then I will.

Kent. Ay, do, sweet nephew.

Q. Isab. Brother, you know it is impossible.
P. Edw. Why, is he dead?

Q. Isab. No; God forbid!

Kent. I would those words proceeded from your heart!

Y. Mor. Inconstant Edmund, dost thou favour him,

That wast a cause of his imprisonment?

Kent. The more cause have I now to make amends.

Q. Isab. Come, son, and go with this gentle lord and me.

P. Edw. With you I will, but not with Mortimer.

Y. Mor. Why, youngling, 'sdain'st thou so of Mortimer?

Then I will carry thee by force away.

P. Edw. Help, uncle Kent! Mortimer will wrong me.

Q. Isab. Brother Edmund, strive not; we are his friends;

Isabel is nearer than the Earl of Kent.

Kent. Sister, Edward is my charge; redeem him.

1 enlarg'd-set at large.

Light. Relent! ha ha! I use much to relent. Y. Mor. Well, do it bravely, and be secret. Light. You shall not need to give instructions; "Tis not the first time I have kill'd a man: I learn'd in Naples how to poison flowers; To strangle with a lawn thrust through the throat;

To pierce the wind-pipe with a needle's point;
Or, whilst one is asleep, to take a quill
And blow a little powder in his ears;
Or open his mouth, and pour quicksilver down.
But yet I have a braver way than these.

Y. Mor. What's that?

Light. Nay, you shall pardon me; none shall know my tricks.

Y. Mor. I care not how it is, so it be not spied. Deliver this to Gurney and Matrevis:

[Gives letter. At every ten-mile end thou hast a horse: Take this away, and never see me more!

Light. No?

Y. Mor. No; unless thou bring me news of Edward's death.

Light. That will I quickly do. lord.

Farewell, my [Exit.

Y. Mor. The prince I rule, the queen do I command,

And with a lowly congè2 to the ground
The proudest lords salute me as I pass;

I seal, 1 cancel, I do what I will.
Fear'd am I more than lov'd;-let me be fear'd,
And, when I frown, make all the court look pale.
I view the prince with Aristarchus'3 eyes,
Whose looks were as a breeching to a boy.
They thrust upon me the protectorship,
And sue to me for that that I desire;

While at the council-table, grave enough,
And not unlike a bashful Puritan,
First I complain of embecility,
Saying it is onus quam gravissimum; 5
Till, being interrupted by my friends,
Suscepi that provinciam, as they term it;
And, to conclude, I am Protector now.
Now is all sure: the queen and Mortimer
Shall rule the realm, the king; and none rule us.
Mine enemies will I plague, my friends advance;
And what I list command who dare control?
Major sum quam cui possit fortuna nocere."
And that this be the coronation-day,
It pleaseth me and Isabel the queen.

[Trumpets within. The trumpets sound; I must go take my place. Enter KING EDWARD THE THIRD, QUEEN ISABELLA, the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, Champion, and Nobles.

Archb. of Cant. Long live King Edward, by the grace of God

King of England and Lord of Ireland!

Cham. If any Christian, Heathen, Turk, or
Jew,

Dares but affirm that Edward's not true king,
And will avouch his saying with the sword,
I am the Champion that will combat him.
Y. Mor. None comes: sound trumpets!
K. Edw. Third. Champion, here's to thee.

[Gives purse.

Q. Isab. Lord Mortimer, now take him to your charge.

Enter Soldiers with KENT prisoner.

Y. Mor. What traitor have we there with blades and bills?

First Sold. Edmund the Earl of Kent.

K. Edw. Third. What hath he done? First Sold. 'A would have taken the king away perforce,

As we were bringing him to Killingworth.

Y. Mor. Did you attempt his rescue Edmund ? Speak.

Kent. Mortimer, I did; he is our king, And thou compell'st this prince to wear the

crown.

Y. Mor. Strike off his head; he shall have martial law.

Kent. Strike off my head! base traitor, I defy thee!

K. Edw. Third. My lord, he is my uncle, and shall live.

Y. Mor. My lord, he is your enemy, and shall die.

Kent. Stay, villains!

K. Edw. Third. Sweet mother, if I cannot pardon him,

Entreat my Lord Protector for his life.

Q. Isab. Son, be content: I dare not speak a word.

K. Edw. Third. Nor I: and yet, methinks, I

should command:

But, seeing I cannot, I'll entreat for him.
My lord, if you will let my uncle live,
I will requite it when I come to age.

Y. Mor. 'Tis for your highness' good, and for the realm's.

How often shall I bid you bear him hence? Kent. Art thou king? must I die at thy command?

Y. Mor. At our command. Once more, away with him.

Kent. Let me but stay and speak; I will not go:

Either my brother or his son is king,

And none of both them thirst for Edmund's blood:

And therefore, soldiers, whither will you hale me?

[Soldiers hale KENT away, and carry him to be beheaded.

K. Edw. Third. What safety may I look for at his hands,

If that my uncle shall be murder'd thus?

Q. Isab. Fear not, sweet boy; I'll guard thee from thy foes:

Had Edmund liv'd, he would have sought thy death.

Come, son, we'll ride a-hunting in the park.

K. Edw. Third. And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us?

Q. Isab. He is a traitor; think not on him: Come. [Exeunt.

Enter MATREVIS and GURNEY.
Mat. Gurney, I wonder the king dies not,
Being in a vault up to the knees in water,
To which the channels' of the castle run,
From whence a damp continually ariseth,
That were enough to poison any man,
Much more a king, brought up so tenderly.
Gur. And so do I, Matrevis: yesternight
I open'd but the door to throw him meat,
And I was almost stifled with the savour.
Mat. He hath a body able to endure

1 channels-kennels.

More than we can inflict: and therefore now Let us assail his mind another while.

So that, for want of sleep and sustenance,
My mind's distemper'd, and my body's numb'd,

Mat. But stay; who's this?

Enter LIGHTBORN.

Light. My Lord Protector greets you.

[Gives letter. Gur. What's here? I know not how to construe it.

Mat. Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce;1

Eduardum occidere nolite timere,2

That's his meaning.

Light. Know you this token? I must have the king. [Gives token. Mat. Ay, stay a while; thou shalt have answer straight.

This villain's sent to make away the king.
Gur. I thought as much.

Mat. And, when the murder's done,

See how he must be handled for his labour,-
Pereat iste! Let him have the king;
What else?-Here is the keys, this is the lake:
Do as you are commanded by my lord.

Light. I know what I must do. Get you away:
Yet be not far off; I shall need your help:
See that in the next room I have a fire,
And get me a spit, and let it be red-hot.
Mat. Very well.

Gur. Need you anything besides?

Light. What else? a table and a feather-bed. Gur. That's all?

Light. Ay, ay: so, when I call you, bring it in. Mat. Fear not thou that.

Gur. Here's a light to go into the dungeon. [Exit with MATREVIS.

Light. So now 4

Must I about this gear: ne'er was there any
So finely handled as this king shall be.-
Foh, here's a place indeed, with all my heart!
K. Edw. Who's there? what light is that?
wherefore com'st thou ?

Light. To comfort you, and bring you joyful

news.

K. Edw. Small comfort finds poor Edward in thy looks:

Villain, I know thou com'st to murder me.

Light. To murder you, my most gracious lord! Far is it from my heart to do you harm. The queen sent me to see how you were us'd, For she relents at this your misery: And what eyes can refrain from shedding tears, To see a king in this most piteous state?

K. Edw. Weep'st thou already? list a while to

me,

And then thy heart, were it as Gurney's is,
Or as Matrevis', hewn from the Caucasus,
Yet will it melt ere I have done my tale.
This dungeon where they keep me is the sink
Wherein the filth of all the castle falls.
Light. Oh, villains!

K. Edw. And there, in mire and puddle, have
I stood

This ten days' space, and, lest that I should sleep,

One plays continually upon a drum;

They give me bread and water, being a king;

1 for the nonce-for the occasion. See note 5, p. 55, 1st col.

2. Don't be afraid to slay Edward.' 3.Kill this fellow.'

So now, &c. Of course the scene is supposed to be changed to the dungeon in which Edward is confined. gear-business; Anglo-Saxon, girian, to prepare.

Oh, would my blood dropp'd out from every vein,
As doth this water from my tatter'd robes!
Tell Isabel the queen, I look'd not thus
When for her sake I ran at tilt in France,
And there unhors'd the Duke of Claremont.
Light. Oh, speak no more, my lord! this breaks
my heart.

Lie on this bed, and rest yourself a while.

K. Edw. These looks of thine can harbour naught but death:

I see my tragedy written in thy brows.
Yet stay a while; forbear thy bloody hand,
And let me see the stroke before it comes,
That even then when I shall lose my life,
My mind may be more stedfast on my God.
Light What means your highness to mistrust

me thus?

K. Edw. What mean'st thou to dissemble with me thus ?

Light. These hands were never stained with innocent blood,

Nor shall they now be tainted with a king's.
K. Edw. Forgive my thought for having such
a thought.

One jewel have I left; receive thou this:
Still fear I, and I know not what's the cause,
But every joint shakes as I give it thee.
Oh, if thou harbour's murder in thy heart,
Let this gift change thy mind, and save thy soul!
Know that I am a king: oh, at that name
I feel a hell of grief! Where is my crown?
Gone, gone! and do I remain alive?

Light. You're overwatch'd, my lord: lie down and rest.

K. Edw. But that grief keeps me waking, I should sleep;

For not these ten days have these eyelids clos'd. Now, as I speak, they fall; and yet with fear Open again. Oh, wherefore sit'st thou here?

Light. If you mistrust me, I'll be gone, my lord. K. Edw. No, no; for if thou mean'st to murder

Light. He sleeps.

[Sleeps.

K. Edw. [waking.] Oh, let me not die! yet stay, ob, stay a while!

Light. How now, my lord!

K. Edw. Something still buzzeth in mine ears, And tells me, if I sleep, I never wake: This fear is that which makes me tremble thus; And therefore tell me, wherefore art thou come? Light. To rid thee of thy life.-Matrevis, come!

Enter MATREVIS and GURNEY.

K. Edw. I am too weak and feeble to resist.Assist me, sweet God, and receive my soul! Light. Run for the table.

K. Edw. Oh, spare me, or despatch me in a trice!

Light. So, lay the table down, and stamp on it, But not too hard, lest that you bruise his body.

[EDWARD is murdered by holding him down

on the bed with the table, and stamping on it.2 Mat. I fear me that this cry will raise the town, And therefore let us take horse and away. Light. Tell me, sirs, was it not bravely done? Gur. Excellent well: take this for thy reward. [Stabs LIGHTBORN, who dies.

1 overwatch'd-wearied with too much watching.

2 The red-hot spit,' with which Edward is said to have been murdered, and which is mentioned above, seems not to have been produced on the stage.