I have my wish, in that I joy thy sight; 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. 150 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 pleased with kingly regiment.1 Fear'st thou thy person? thou shalt have a guard. Wouldst thou be loved and feared? receive my seal; Gav. It shall suffice me to enjoy your love, Enter the BISHOP OF COVENTRY. Edw. Whither goes my lord of Coventry so fast? 160 170 1 Rule. Cf. 1 Tamburlaine, i. 1, l. 119. Bish. To celebrate your father's exequies. But is that wicked Gaveston returned? Edw. I, priest, and lives to be revenged 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. 180 Bish. I did no more than I was bound to do; And, Gaveston, unless thou be reclaimed, 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. Edw. Throw off his golden mitre, rend his stole, And in the channel 1 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 revenged on him for my exile. 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. 190 Gav. He shall to prison, and there die in bolts. 1 Kennel, gutter. Cf. Jew of Malta, v. 1, l. 91. 200 2 Dyce proposed to read "Prut prut!" others suppose that the Edw. But in the meantime, 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 1 beseem his holiness. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter both the MORTIMERS, WARWICK, and LANCASTER. War. 'Tis true, the bishop is in the Tower, And goods and body given to Gaveston. Lan. What will they tyrannise upon the church? Ah, wicked king! accursed Gaveston! This ground, which is corrupted with their steps, Shall be their timeless 3 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? E. Mor. An earl! 10 bishop is playing on the word "convey," which was a cant term for "steal." Cf. Richard II. iv. 1, l. 113: "Bol. Go, some of you, convey him to the Tower. King. O good! convey! conveyers are you all.” 1 So eds. 1612, 1622.-Ed. 1598 omits "best." 2 Scene: Westminster. 3 Untimely. War. I, and besides Lord Chamberlain of the realm, And Secretary too, and Lord of Man. 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: War. Thus leaning on the shoulder of the king, 1 20 E. Mor. Doth no man take exceptions at the slave? Lan. All stomach 1 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'd hale him from the bosom of the king, And at the court-gate hang the peasant up; 30 Enter the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY and a War. Here comes my Lord of Canterbury's grace. Lan. His countenance bewrays he is displeased. Archbish. First were his sacred garments rent and torn, Then laid they violent hands upon him; next 1 Are angry at him. We have the word again later in the play— "I know, my lord, many will stomach me. 2 Old eds. "Weele." VOL. II. I Himself imprisoned, and his goods asseized: [Exit Messenger. Lan. My lord, will you take arms against the king? Archbish. What need I? God himself is up in arms, 40 When violence is offered to the church. Y. Mor. Then will you join with us, that be his peers, To banish or behead that Gaveston? Archbish. 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? To live in grief and baleful discontent; He claps his cheek, and hangs about his neck, E. Mor. Is it not strange, that he is thus bewitched? That sly inveigling Frenchman we'll exile, Or lose our lives; and yet ere that day come 50 1 It is not absolutely necessary to suppose that there is an allusion to any particular forest. What the queen means is that she is seeking solitude. |
