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PEM. But what's the reason you should leave him

now?

KENT. I have inform'd the earl of Lancaster.

LAN. And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this, That Gaveston is secretly arriv'd,

And here in Tinmouth frolicks with the king.
Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprize them unawares.

Y. MOR. I'll give the onset.

WAR. And I'll follow thee.

Y. MOR. This totter'd ensign of my ancestors,
Which swept the desert shore of that dead sea,
Whereof we got the name of Mortimer,

Will I advance upon this castle's walls.
Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport,
And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston!

LAN. None be so hardy as to touch the king;
But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Enter the KING and SPENCER, to them GAVESTON,

&c.

EDW. O tell me, Spencer, where is Gaveston?

SPEN. I fear me he is slain, my gracious lord.

EDW. No, here he comes; now let them spoil and

kill.

Fly, fly, my lords, the earls have got the hold,

Take shipping and away to Scarborough,

Spencer and I will post away by land.

GAV. O stay, my lord, they will not injure you.
EDW. I will not trust them; Gaveston, away!
GAV. Farewell,
my lord.
EDW. Lady, farewell.

LADY. Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.
EDW. Farewell, sweet Gaveston, and farewell, niece.
QUEEN. No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen?
EDW. Yes, yes, for Mortimer, your lover's sake.
[Exeunt all but Isabel.

QUEEN. Heaven can witness, I love none but you
From my embracements thus he breaks away.
O that mine arms could close this isle about,
That I might pull him to me where I would!
Or that these tears, that drizzle from mine eyes,
Had power to mollify his stony heart,

That when I had him we might never part.

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LAN. I wonder how he 'scap'd!

Y. MOR. Who's this, the Queen?

QUEEN. Aye, Mortimer, the miserable Queen, Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted, And body with continual mourning wasted: These hands are tir'd with haling of my lord From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston, And all in vain; for, when I speak him fair, He turns away, and smiles upon his minion.

Y. MOR. Cease to lament, and tell us where's the king?

QUEEN. What would you with the king, is't him

you seek?

VOL. II.

4

LAN. No, madam, but that cursed Gaveston.
Far be it from the thought of Lancaster,
To offer violence to his sovereign.

We would but rid the realm of Gaveston :

Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.
QUEEN. He's gone by water unto Scarborough ;
Pursue him quickly, and he cannot 'scape;
The king hath left him, and his train is small.
WAR. Forslow* no time, sweet Lancaster, let's
march.

Y. MOR. How comes it that the king and he are parted?

QUEEN. That thus your army, going several ways, Might be of lesser force: and with the power That he intendeth presently to raise,

Be easily suppress'd; therefore be gone.

Y. MOR. Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy; Let's all aboard, and follow him amain.

LAN. The wind that bears him hence will fill our

sails:

Come, come aboard, 'tis but an hour's sailing.

Y. MOR. Madam, stay you within this castle here.

QUEEN. NO, Mortimer, I'll to my lord the king. Y. MOR. Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough. QUEEN. You know the king is so suspicious, As if he hear I have but talk'd with you, Mine honour will be call'd in question; And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.

Forslow no time-Lose no time.

Y. MOR. Madam, I cannot stay to answer you, But think of Mortimer as he deserves.

[Exeunt Barons.

QUEEN. So well hast thou deserv'd, sweet Mortimer,

As Isabel could live with thee for ever.
In vain I look for love at Edward's hand,
Whose eyes are fix'd on none but Gaveston:
Yet once more I'll importune him with prayer,
If he be strange and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France,
And to the king my brother there complain,
How Gaveston hath robb'd me of his love:
But yet I hope my sorrows will have end,
And Gaveston this blessed day be slain.

SCENE IV.

Enter GAVESTON, pursued.

[Exit.

GAV. Yet, lusty lords, I have escap'd your hands, Your threats, your larums, and your hot pursuits; And though divorced from King Edward's eyes, Yet liveth Pierce of Gaveston unsurpriz'd, Breathing, in hope (malgrado all your beards, That muster rebels thus against your king) To see his royal sovereign once again.

Enter the NOBLES.

WAR. Upon him, soldiers, take away his weapons. Y. MOR. Thou proud disturber of thy country's peace,

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Corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils,
Base flatterer, yield! and were it not for shame,
Shame and dishonour to a soldier's name,

Upon my weapon's point here shouldst thou fall,
And welter in thy gore.

LAN. Monster of men! 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.
GAV. My lords!-

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.

Enter EARL of ARUNDEL.

LAN. How now, my lord of Arundel?

ARUN. My lords, king Edward greets you all by me. WAR. Arundel, say your message.

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