K. Edw.

And what is yours, my lord of Lancaster?

Lan. My lord, mine's more obscure than
Mortimer's.

Pliny reports there is a flying fish
Which all the other fishes deadly hate,
And therefore, being pursued, it takes
the air:

No sooner is it up, but there's a fowl
That seizeth it; this fish, my lord, I bear:
The motto this: Undique mors est.30
K. Edw. Proud Mortimer! ungentle Lan-
caster!

Is this the love you bear your sovereign? Is this the fruit your reconcilement bears?

Can you in words make show of amity, And in your shields display your rancorous minds!

What call you this but private libelling Against the Earl of Cornwall and my brother?

Q. Isab. Sweet husband, be content; they all love you.

K. Edw.

They love me not that hate my Gaveston.

I am that cedar, shake me not too much; And you the eagles; soar ye ne'er so high,

I have the jesses 31 that will pull you

down;

31 straps round a hawk's legs, to which the leash was fastened.

Frolics not more to see the painted spring,

Than I do to behold your majesty. K. Edw. Will none of you salute my Gaveston?

Lan. Salute him? yes. Welcome, Lord Chamberlain !

Y. Mor. Welcome is the good Earl of Cornwall!

War. Welcome, Lord Governor of the Isle of Man!

Pem. Welcome, Master Secretary!
Kent. Brother, do you hear them?

K. Edw. Still will these earls and barons use me thus?

Gav. My lord, I cannot brook these injuries.

Q. Isab. (Aside.) Ay me,

poor soul, when these begin to jar.

K. Edw. Return it to their throats, I'll be thy warrant.

Gav. Base, leaden earls, that glory in your birth,

Go sit at home and eat your tenants'

K. Edw. Yes, more than thou canst answer, though he live.

Dear shall you both abye 33 this riotous

deed.

Out of my presence! Come not near the court!

Y. Mor. I'll not be barr'd the court for Gaveston.

Lan. We'll hale him by the ears unto the block.

K. Edw. Look to your own heads; his is sure enough.

War. Look to your own crown, if you back him thus.

Kent. Warwick, these words do ill beseem thy years.

K. Edw. Nay, all of them conspire to cross me thus;

But if I live, I'll tread upon their heads

That think with high looks thus to tread me down.

Come, Edmund, let's away and levy

Scots.

34 VOW.

K. Edw. Shall I still be haunted thus? Y. Mor. Nay, now you are here alone, I'll speak my mind.

Lan. And so will I, and then, my lord, farewell.

Y. Mor. The idle triumphs, masques, lascivious shows,

And prodigal gifts bestow'd on Gaveston,

Have drawn thy treasury dry, and made thee weak;

The murmuring commons, overstretched, [break.]37

Lan. Look for rebellion, look to be depos'd.

Thy garrisons are beaten out of France, And, lame and poor, lie groaning at the gates;

The wild O'Neill, with swarms of Irish kerns,38

Lives uncontroll'd within the English

For your lemans 42 you have lost at
Bannocksbourn,-43

With a heave and a ho! What weeneth 44 the King of Eng. land,

So soon to have won Scotland?-
With a rombelow!

Y. Mor. Wigmore 45 shall fly, to set my uncle free.

Lan. And when 't is gone, our swords

shall purchase more.

If ye be mov'd, revenge it as you can; Look next to see us with our ensigns spread.

Exit with Young Mortimer. K. Edw. My swelling heart for very anger breaks!

How oft have I been baited by these peers,

And dare not be reveng'd, for their power is great!

Yet, shall the crowing of these cockerels

Affright a lion? Edward, unfold thy paws,

And let their lives' blood slake thy fury's hunger.

If I be cruel and grow tyrannous, Now let them thank themselves, and rue too late.

Kent. My lord, I see your love to Gaves

Isab. Thus do you still suspect me without cause?

Niece. Sweet uncle, speak more kindly to the queen.

Gav.

My lord, dissemble with her, speak her fair.

Q. Isab. Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.

K. Edw. The younger Mortimer is grown so brave,

That to my face he threatens civil wars. Gav. Why do you not commit him to the Tower?

K. Edw. I dare not, for the people love him well.

Gav. Why, then we'll have him privily made away.

K. Edw. Would Lancaster and he had both carous'd

A bowl of poison to each other's health!

Than to be favored of your majesty! K. Edw. Cousin, this day shall be your marriage-feast.

And, Gaveston, think that I love thee well

To wed thee to our niece, the only heir Unto the Earl of Gloucester late deceas'd.

Gav. I know, my lord, many will stomach 47 me,

But I respect neither their love nor hate.

K. Edw. The headstrong barons shall not limit me;

He that I list to favor shall be great. Come, let's away; and when the marriage ends,

Have at the rebels, and their 'complices!

And in your quarrel and the realm's behoof

Will be the first that shall adventure life. Lan. I fear me, you are sent of policy, To undermine us with a show of love. War. He is your brother; therefore have

we cause

To cast 48 the worst, and doubt of your revolt.

Kent. Mine honor shall be hostage of my truth;

If that will not suffice, farewell, my lords.

Y. Mor. Stay, Edmund; never was Plantagenet

False to his word, and therefore trust we thee.

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 Tynemouth frolics with the king.

Let us with these our followers scale the
walls,

And suddenly surprise them unawares.
Y. Mor. I'll give the onset.
War.

And I'll follow thee. Y. Mor. This tattered ensign of my ancestors,

Which swept the desert shore of that dead sea

Whereof we got the name of Mortimer,49 Will I advance upon these castle-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.

Exeunt.