Gav. He shall to prison, and there die in bolts. K. Edw. Ay, to the Tower, the Fleet, or where thou wilt. K. Edw. But in the meantime, Gaveston, away, Gav. What should a priest do with so fair a house? A prison may best beseem his holiness. SCENE II.-WESTMINSTER [Exeunt. Enter on one side the two MORTIMERS; on the other, War. 'Tis true, the bishop is in the Tower, Lan. What will they tyrannise upon the church? Ah, wicked king! accursèd Gaveston ! This ground, which is corrupted with their steps, 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! War. Ay, and besides Lord Chamberlain of the realm, E. Mor. We may not, nor we will not suffer this. Y. Mor. Why post we not from hence to levy men? 2 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, E. Mor. Doth no man take exceptions at the slave? 1 Untimely. 2 Removing it as a mark of respect. 3 i.e. Feel resentment. Were all the earls and barons of my mind, War. Here comes my lord of Canterbury's grace. Enter the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY and an A. of Cant. First were his sacred garments rent and torn, Then laid they violent hands upon him; next Himself imprisoned, and his goods asseized: This certify the Pope;-away, take horse. [Exit Attend. Lan. My lord, will you take arms against the king? A. of Cant. What need I? God himself is up in arms, 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? A. of Cant. What else, my lords? for it concerns me near;· The bishopric of Coventry is his. Enter QUEEN ISABELLA. Y. Mor. Madam, whither walks your majesty so fast? To live in grief and baleful discontent; For now, my lord, the king regards me not, But doats upon the love of Gaveston. He claps his cheeks, and hangs about his neck, E. Mor. Is it not strange that he is thus bewitched? That sly inveigling Frenchman we'll exile, Q. Isab. But yet lift not your swords against the king. I will endure a melancholy life, And let him frolic with his minion. my A. 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. Y. Mor. Then may we lawfully revolt from him. Y. Mor. Content. A. of Cant. And, in the meantime, I'll entreat you all Lan. Come then, let's away. Y. Mor. Madam, farewell! Q. Isab. Farewell, sweet Mortimer; and, for my sake, Y. Mor. Ay, if words will serve; if not, I must. SCENE III Enter GAVESTON and KENT. Gav. Edmund, the mighty Prince of Lancaster, Kent. There let them remain. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. [Exeunt. (THE SCENE IS MORE PROBABLY THE KING'S PALACE AT WESTMINSTER THAN THE NEW TEMPLE, AS PROPOSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP.) Enter LANCASTER, Warwick, PEMBROKE, the Elder MORTIMER, Young MORTIMER the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY and Attendants. Lan. Here is the form of Gaveston's exile: May it please your lordship to subscribe your name. A. of Cant. Give me the paper. [He subscribes, as do the others after him. Enter KING EDWARD, GAVESTON, and KENT. K. Edw. What, are you moved 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 ! See what a scornful look the peasant casts! Pem. Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants? Aspir'st unto the guidance of the sun! Y. Mor. Their downfall is at hand, their forces down: We will not thus be faced and over-peered. 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. K. Edw. Whither will you bear him? Stay, or ye shall die. E. Mor. We are no traitors; therefore threaten not. Gav. No, threaten not, my lord, but pay them home! Were I a king Y. Mor. Thou villain, wherefore talk'st thou of a king, That hardly art a gentleman by birth? K. Edw. Were he peasant, being my minion, I'll make the proudest of you stoop to him. Lan. My lord, you may not thus disparage us. Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston! E. Mor. And with the Earl of Kent that favours him. [Attendants remove KENT and GAVESTON. 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. A. of Cant. Why are you moved? be patient, my lord Y. Mor. My lords, now let us all be resolute, And either have our wills, or lose our lives. K. Edw. Meet you for this, proud overbearing peers? Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me, This isle shall fleet' upon the ocean, And wander to the unfrequented Inde. A. of Cant. You know that I am legate to the Pope; I Float. On your allegiance to the see of Rome, Y. Mor. Curse him, if he refuse; and then may we K. Edw. Ay, there it goes! but yet I will not yield: Lan. Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight. Or I will presently discharge these lords Of duty and allegiance due to thee. K. Edw. It boots me not to threat- I must speak fair: The legate of the Pope will be obeyed. My lord, you shall be Chancellor of the realm; So I may have some nook or corner left, we are resolved. [Aside Y. Mor. Why should you love him whom the world hates so? K. Edw. Because he loves me more than all the world. Ah, none but rude and savage-minded men 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. A. of Cant. Are you content to banish him the realm? Instead of ink I'll write it with my tears. Y. Mor. The king is love-sick for his minion. [Subscribes. K. Edw. 'Tis done - and now, accursed hand, fall off! War. And so is mine. Pem. This will be good news to the common sort. [Exeunt all except KING EDWARD. K. Edw. How fast they run to banish him I love! |