Scene One Enter Gaveston reading on a letter that was brought him from the king. My father is deceast, come Gaveston, And share the kingdom with thy deerest friend . Ah words that make me surfet with delight: What greater blisse can hap to Gaveston, Then live and be the favorit of a king? Sweete prince I come, these these these thy amorous lines, Might have enforst me to have swum swam from France, And like Leander gaspt upon the sande, So thou wouldst smile and take me in thy thine armes. The sight of London to my mine exiled eyes, Is as Elizium Elizium to a new come soule . , Not that I love the citie or the men, But that it harbors him I hold so deare, The king, upon whose bosome let me die lie , And with the world be still at enmitie: What neede the artick people love star-light, To whom the sunne shines both by day and night. Farewell base stooping to the lordly peeres, My knee knees shall bowe to none but to the king . , As Its for the multitude that they are but sparkes, Rakt Bakt up in embers of their povertie, Tanti tantam : Ile fawne fanne Q1-4, Dd1-2, S, Ch, Dd3, Bgs, first on the winde, That glaunceth at my lips and flieth away: Enter three poore men. But how now, what are these? Poore men 1st Poor Man Such Poor men, such as desire your your your worships service. Gaveston What canst thou doe? 1. poore man I can ride. Gaveston But I have no horses horse . What art thou? 2. poore man A traveller. Gaveston Let me see, thou wouldst do well To waite at my trencher, and tell me lies at dinner time , And as I like your discoursing, ile have you. And what art thou? 3. poore man A souldier, that hath serv'd against the Scot. Gaveston Why there are hospitals for such as you, I have no warre, and therefore sir be gone. 3. poore man Sold. Farewell, and perish by a souldiers hand, That wouldst reward them with an hospitall. [Offer to go.] Gaveston I, I, these wordes of his move me as much, As if a Goose should would play the Porpintine Porcupine , And dart eate her plumes, thinking to pierce my brest, But yet it is no paine to speake men faire, Ile flatter these them , and make them live in hope: You know that I came lately out of France, And yet I have not viewd my Lord the king, If I speed well, ile entertaine you all. Omnes We thanke your worship. Gaveston I have some busines, leave me to my selfe. Omnes We I will wait heere about the court. Exeunt . exit 3 Gaveston Do: these are not men for me, I must have wanton Poets, pleasant wits, Musitians, that with touching of a string May draw the pliant king which way I please: Musicke and poetrie is are his delight, Therefore ile have Italian maskes by night, Sweete speeches, comedies, and pleasing showes, And in the day when he shall walke abroad, Like Sylvian Sylvan Nimphes my pages shall be clad, My men like Satyres grazing gasing on the lawnes, Shall with their Goate Goates feete daunce an the antick hay . , Sometime Sometimes Dd1- a lovelie boye in Dians shape, With haire that gilds the water as it glides, Crownets of pearle about his naked armes, And in his sportfull hands an Olive tree, To hide those parts which as men delight to see, Shall bathe him in a spring, and there hard by, One like Actaeon peeping through the grove, Shall by the angrie goddesse be transformde, And running in the likenes of an Hart, By yelping hounds puld downe, and shall seeme to die . , Such things as these best please his majestie , . My lord. Heere comes the king and here and the nobles nobles From the parlament, ile stand aside. Enter the King, Lancaster , Mortimer senior, Mortimer junior, Edmund Earle of Kent, Guie Earle of Warwicke , &c. Edward Lancaster. Lancaster My Lorde. Gaveston That Earle of Lancaster do I abhorre. Edward Will you not graunt me this? — In spight of them[Aside.] Ile have my will, and these two Mortimers, That crosse me thus, shall know I am displeasd. Mortimer senior If you love us my lord, hate Gaveston. Gaveston That villaine Mortimer, ile be his death. Mortimer ju. Mine unckle heere, this Earle, and I my selfe, Were sworne to unto Dd1- your father at his death, That he should nere returne into the realme: And know my lord, ere I will breake my oath, This sword of mine that should offend your foes, Shall sleepe within the scabberd at thy neede, And underneath thy banners march who will, For Mortimer will hang his armor up. Gaveston Mort . dieu. Edward Well Mortimer, ile make thee rue these words, Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king? Frownst thou thereat , aspiring Lancaster, The sworde shall plane plaine the furrowes of thy browes, And hew these knees that now are growne so stiffe . , I will have Gaveston, and you shall know, What danger tis to stand against your king. Gaveston Well doone, Ned. Lancaster My lord, why do you thus incense your peeres, That naturally would love and honour you , : But for that base and obscure Gaveston : , Foure Earldomes have I besides Lancaster, Darbie, Salsburie, Lincolne, Leicester, These will I sell to give my souldiers paye, Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realme . , Therefore if he be come, expell him straight. Kent Edm. Ed. Edward Barons and Earls, your pride hath made me mute n , But now ile speake, and to the proofe I hope: I do remember in my fathers dayes, Lord Percie Peirce of the North being highly mov'd, Brav'd Mowberie in presence of the king, For which, had not his highnes lov'd him well, He should have lost his head, but with his looke, The undaunted spirit of Percie was appeasd, And Mowberie and he were reconcild: Yet dare you brave the king unto his face . , Brother revenge it, and let these their heads, Preach Perch upon poles for trespasse of their tongues. Warwicke O our heads ? . Edward I yours, and therefore I would wish you graunt. Warwicke Bridle thy anger gentle Mortimer. Mortimer ju. I cannot, nor I will not, I must speake . , Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads, And strike off his that makes you threaten us. Come unckle, let us leave the this brainsick king, And henceforth parle with our naked swords. Mortimer senior Wilshire hath men enough to save our heads. Warwicke All Warwickshire will love leave him for my sake. Lancaster And Northward Gaveston Lancaster hath many friends . , Adew my Lord, and either change your minde, Or looke to see the throne where you should sit, To floate in bloud, and at thy wanton head, The glozing head of thy base minion throwne. Exeunt Nobiles. Edward I cannot brooke these hautie menaces: Am And I a king and must be over rulde? Brother displaie my ensignes in the field, Ile bandie with the Barons and the Earles, And eyther die, or live with Gaveston. Gaveston I can no longer keepe me from my lord. Edward What Gaveston, welcome: kis nay, kiss not my hand, Embrace me Gaveston as I do thee: Why shouldst thou kneele, knowest thou not who I am? Thy friend, thy selfe, another Gaveston . , Not Hilas was more mourned of for for of by Hercules, Then thou hast beene of me since thy exile. Gaveston And since I went from hence, no soule in hell Hath felt more torment then poore Gaveston. Edward I know it, brother welcome home my friend . , Now let the treacherous Mortimers conspire, And that high minded earle of Lancaster, I have my wish, in that I joy thy sight, And sooner shall the sea orewhelme overwhelme my the land, Then beare the ship that shall transport thee hence: I heere create thee the Lord high Chamberlaine, Cheefe Secretarie to the state and me, Earle of Cornewall, king and lord of Man. Gaveston My lord, these titles far exceed my worth. Kent Edm Brother, the least of these may well suffice For one of greater birth then Gaveston. Edward Cease brother, for I cannot brooke these words : , Thy woorth sweet friend is far above my guifts, Therefore to equall it receive my hart . , If for these dignities thou be envied should'st be envied envied be , Ile give thee more, for but to honour thee, Is Edward pleazd with kinglie regiment. Fearst thou thy person? thou shalt have a guard: Wants thou gold? go to my treasurie : , . Wouldst thou be lovde and fearde? receive my seale seals , Save or condemne, and in our name commaund, What so Whate'er thy minde affectes or fancie likes. Gaveston It shall suffice me to enjoy your love, Which whiles I have, I thinke my selfe as great, As Caesar riding in the Romaine streete streets , With captive kings at his triumphant Carre. Enter the Bishop of Coventrie . Edward whether whither goes my Lord of Coventrie so fast? Bishop To celebrate your fathers exequies, But is that wicked Gaveston returnd? Edward I priest, and lives to be revengd on thee, That wert the onely cause of his exile. Gaveston Tis true, and but for reverence of these those robes, Thou shouldst not plod one foote beyond this place. Bishop I did no more then I was bound to do, And Gaveston unlesse thou be reclaimd, As then I did incense the parlement, So will I now, and thou shalt back to France. Gaveston Saving your reverence, you must pardon me. [Lays hold on him.] Edward Throwe of his golden miter, rend his stole, And in the channell christen him a new. Kent Edm Ah brother, lay not violent valiant hands on him, For heele complaine unto the sea of Rome . Gaveston Let him complaine unto the sea of hell, Ile be revengd on him for my exile. Edward No Well , spare his life, but seaze upon his goods, Be thou lord bishop, and receive his rents, And make him serve thee as thy chaplaine, I give him thee, here use him as thou wilt. Gaveston He shall to prison, and there die in boults. Edward I , to the tower, the fleete, or where thou wilt. Bishop For this offence be thou accurst of God. Edward Whose there? conveie this priest to unto the tower. Bishop True, true Do, do Prut, prut Tut, tut .[Exit guarded.] Edward But in the meane time Gaveston away, And take possession of his house and goods : , Come follow me, and thou shalt have my guarde, To see it done, and bring thee safe againe. Gaveston What should a priest do with so faire a house? A prison may may best Q3-4, Dd1- beseeme be seeme his holinesse. [Exeunt.]