Enter GAVESTON, reading on a letter that was brought him from the King Gaveston. 66 Y FATHER is deceas'd! Come, Gaveston, "M And share the kingdom with thy dearest friend." What greater bliss can hap to Gaveston Than live and be the favourite of a king! Sweet prince, I come; these, these thy amorous lines 5 So thou would'st smile, and take me in thine arms. Enter three Poor Men But how now, what are these? POOR MEN. Such as desire your worship's service. IST P. MAN. I can ride. GAV. But I have no horses.-What art thou? 2ND P. MAN. A traveller. GAV. Let me see: thou would'st do well To wait at my trencher and tell me lies at dinner time; And what art thou? 3RD P. MAN. A soldier, that hath serv'd against the Scot. GAV. Why, there are hospitals for such as you. I have no war, and therefore, sir, begone. 3RD P. MAN. Farewell, and perish by a soldier's hand, That would'st reward them with an hospital. GAV. 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. I'll flatter these, and make them live in hope.- [Aside.] 1 Dyce emends to lie. Die may be used in the sense of "swoon." And yet I have not view'd my lord the king; ALL. We thank your worship. GAV. I have some business: leave me to myself. Therefore I'll have Italian masks by night, By yelping hounds pull'd down, and seem to die;- Exeunt. [Retires.] Enter KING EDWARD, LANCASTER, the Elder MORTIMER, Young MORTIMER; EDMUND, EARL of KENT; GUY. EARL of WARWICK, and [Attendants] K. EDW. Lancaster! LAN. My lord. GAV. That Earl of Lancaster do I abhor. [Aside.] K. EDW. Will you not grant me this?-In spite of them I'll have my will; and these two Mortimers, That cross me thus, shall know I am displeas'd. A rural dance. [Aside.] E. MOR. If you love us, my lord, hate Gaveston. 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, GAV. Mort Dieu! [Aside.] K. Edw. Well, Mortimer, I'll make thee rue 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 these 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, KENT. Barons and earls, your pride hath made me mute; 4 Mowbray, but the Qto. spelling indicates the pronunciation. WAR. O, 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.— E. MOR. Wiltshire hath men enough to save our heads. WAR. All Warwickshire will love him for my sake. LAN. And northward Gaveston hath many friends.— Adieu, my lord; and either change your mind, Or look to see the throne, where you should sit, The glozing" head of thy base minion thrown. Exeunt [all except KING EDWARD, KENT, GAV- K. EDW. I cannot brook these haughty menaces. 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 handEmbrace 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 more mourn'd 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 joy thy sight; And sooner shall the sea o'erwhelm my land, Than bear the ship that shall transport thee hence. This line and the next are ironical. • Flattering. • Contend. |