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    Contents:
  • Act One
  • Act 2
  • Act 3
  • Act 4
  • Act 5

    • Christopher Marlowe, Edward II

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    Table of ContentsGo to Next

      [DRAMATIS PERSONAE

    • KING EDWARD THE SECOND
    • PRINCE EDWARD, his son, afterwards KING EDWARD THE THIRD
    • KENT, brother to KING EDWARD THE SECOND
    • GAVESTON
    • ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
    • BISHOP OF COVENTRY
    • BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
    • WARWICK
    • LANCASTER
    • PEMBROKE
    • ARUNDEL
    • LEICESTER
    • BERKELEY (spelled 'Bartley')
    • MORTIMER the elder
    • MORTIMER the younger, his nephew
    • SPENSER the elder
    • SPENSER the younger, his son
    • BALDOCK
    • BEAUMONT
    • TRUSSEL
    • GURNEY
    • MALTRAVERS
    • LIGHTBORN
    • SIR JOHN OF HAINAULT
    • LEVUNE
    • RICE AP HOWEL
    • 1st Poor Man
    • 2nd Poor Man
    • 3rd Poor Man
    • Guard
    • Horse Boy
    • Herald
    • Monk
    • Abbott
    • Mower
    • Lord 1
    • Lord 2
    • Lord 3
    • Souldier
    • Messenger
    • James
    • Champion
    • Abbot, Monks, Heralds, Lords, JAMES, Mower, Champion, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants
    • QUEEN ISABELLA, wife to KING EDWARD THE SECOND
    • Niece to KING EDWARD THE SECOND, daughter to the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER
    • Ladies]

    Act One

    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.1'
    Ah words that make me surfet with delight:
    What greater blisse can hap to Gaveston,
    5
    Then live and be the favorit of a king?
    Sweete prince I come, these these2 thy amorous lines,
    Might have enforst me to have swum3 from France,
    And like Leander gaspt upon the sande,
    So thou wouldst smile and take me in thy4 armes.
    10
    The sight of London to my5 exiled eyes,
    Is as Elizium6 to a new come soule.7
    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 die8,
    15
    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 knee9 shall bowe to none but to the king.10
    20
    As11 for the multitude that12 are but sparkes,
    Rakt13 up in embers of their povertie,
    Tanti14: Ile fawne15 first on the winde,
    That glaunceth at my lips and flieth away:
    Enter three poore men.
    But how now, what are these?
    Poore men16
    25
    Such17 as desire your18 worships service.
    Gaveston
    What canst thou doe?
    1. poore man19
    I can ride.
    Gaveston
    But I have no horses20. What art thou?
    2. poore man21
    A traveller.
    Gaveston
    30
    Let me see, thou wouldst do well
    To waite at my trencher, and tell me lies at dinner time22,
    And as I like your discoursing, ile have you.
    And what art thou?
    3. poore man23
    A souldier, that hath serv'd against the Scot.
    Gaveston
    35
    Why there are hospitals for such as you,
    I have no warre, and therefore sir be gone.
    3. poore man24
    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,
    40
    As if a Goose should25 play the Porpintine26,
    And dart27 her plumes, thinking to pierce my brest,
    But yet it is no paine to speake men faire,
    Ile flatter these28, and make them live in hope:
    You know that I came lately out of France,
    45
    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
    We29 will wait heere about the court.
    Exeunt.30
    Gaveston
    50
    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 is31 his delight,
    55
    Therefore ile have Italian maskes by night,
    Sweete speeches, comedies, and pleasing showes,
    And in the day when he shall walke abroad,
    Like Sylvian32 Nimphes my pages shall be clad,
    My men like Satyres grazing33 on the lawnes,
    60
    Shall with their Goate34 feete daunce an35 antick hay.36
    Sometime37 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,
    65
    To hide those parts which38 men delight to see,
    Shall bathe him in a spring, and there hard39 by,
    One like Actaeon peeping through the grove,
    Shall by the angrie goddesse be transformde,
    And running in the likenes of an Hart,
    70
    By yelping hounds puld downe, and40 seeme to die.41
    Such things as these best please his majestie,42
    My lord. Heere comes the king and43 the nobles44
    From the parlament, ile stand aside.
    Enter the King, 45Lancaster46, Mortimer senior, Mortimer junior, Edmund Earle of Kent, Guie Earle of 47Warwicke48, &c.
    Edward
    Lancaster.
    Lancaster
    75
    My Lorde.
    Gaveston
    That Earle of 49Lancaster50 do I abhorre.
    Edward
    Will you not graunt me this?--51In spight of them [Aside.]

    Ile have my will, and these two Mortimers,
    That crosse me thus, shall know I am displeasd.
    Mortimer senior
    80
    If you love us my lord, hate Gaveston.
    Gaveston
    That villaine Mortimer, ile be his death.
    Mortimer
    Mine unckle heere, this Earle, and I my selfe,
    Were sworne to52 your father at his death,
    That he should nere returne into the realme:
    85
    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
    90
    Mort 53dieu.
    Edward
    Well Mortimer, ile make thee rue these words,
    Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king?
    Frownst thou thereat,54 aspiring Lancaster,
    The sworde shall plane55 the furrowes of thy browes,
    95
    And hew these knees that now are growne so stiffe.56
    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,
    100
    That naturally would love and honour you,57
    But for that base and obscure Gaveston:58
    Foure Earldomes have I besides Lancaster,
    59Darbie, 60 61Salsburie, 6263Lincolne, 6465Leicester, 66
    These will I sell to give my souldiers paye,
    105
    Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realme.67
    Therefore if he be come, expell him straight.
    Kent68
    Barons and Earls, your pride hath made me mute69,
    But now ile speake, and to the proofe I hope:
    I do remember in my fathers dayes,
    110
    Lord Percie70 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,
    115
    And Mowberie and he were reconcild:
    Yet dare you brave the king unto his face.71
    Brother revenge it, and let these their heads,
    Preach72 upon poles for trespasse of their tongues.
    Warwicke
    O our heads?73
    Edward
    120
    I yours, and therefore I would wish you graunt.
    Warwicke
    Bridle thy anger gentle Mortimer.
    Mortimer
    I cannot, nor I will not, I must speake.74
    Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads,
    And strike off his that makes you threaten us.
    125
    Come unckle, let us leave the75 brainsick king,
    And henceforth parle with our naked swords.
    Mortimer senior
    Wilshire hath men enough to save our heads.
    Warwicke
    All Warwickshire will love76 him for my sake.
    Lancaster
    And Northward Gaveston77 hath many friends.78
    130
    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:
    135
    Am79 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
    140
    What Gaveston, welcome: kis80 not my hand,
    Embrace me Gaveston as I do thee:
    Why shouldst thou kneele, 81knowest thou not who I am?
    Thy friend, thy selfe, another Gaveston.82
    145
    Not Hilas was more mourned of83 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.84
    150
    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 orewhelme85 my86 land,
    Then beare the ship that shall transport thee hence:
    155
    I heere create thee87 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.
    Kent88
    Brother, the least of these may well suffice
    160
    For one of greater birth then Gaveston.
    Edward
    Cease brother, for I cannot brooke these words:89
    Thy woorth sweet friend is far above my guifts,
    Therefore to equall it receive my hart.90
    If for these dignities thou be envied91,
    165
    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:92
    Wouldst thou be lovde and fearde? receive my seale93,
    170
    Save or condemne, and in our name commaund,
    What so94 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 streete95,
    175
    With captive kings at his triumphant Carre.
    Enter the Bishop of 96Coventrie97.
    Edward
    whether98 goes my Lord of 99Coventrie100 so fast?
    Bishop
    To celebrate your fathers exequies,
    But is that wicked Gaveston returnd?
    Edward
    I priest, and lives to be revengd on thee,
    180
    That wert the onely cause of his exile.
    Gaveston
    Tis true, and but for reverence of these101 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,
    185
    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.
    Kent102
    190
    Ah brother, lay not violent103 hands on him,
    For heele complaine unto the sea of 104Rome105.
    Gaveston
    Let him complaine unto the sea of hell,
    Ile be revengd on him for my exile.
    Edward
    No106, spare his life, but seaze upon his goods,
    195
    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,107 to the tower, the fleete, or where thou wilt.
    Bishop
    200
    For this offence be thou accurst of God.
    Edward
    Whose there? conveie this priest to108 the tower.
    Bishop
    True, true109.
    [Exit guarded.]
    Edward
    But in the meane time Gaveston away,
    And take possession of his house and goods:110
    205
    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 may111 beseeme112 his holinesse.
    [Exeunt.]

    1 (period) Q2: om. Q1
    2 these these: these Q2MS
    3 swum: swam Dd1 Ox R
    4 thy: thine Q2 Q3 Q4 Q2MS Dd1-B K
    5 my: mine Ch, Dd3
    6 Elizium: Elizium Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    7 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    8 die: lie S-C
    9 knee: knees Q4
    10 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    11 As: Its Q2MS
    12 that: they Dd1-R C
    13 Rakt: Bakt Q2MS
    14 Tanti: tantam Q2MS
    15 fawne: fanne Q1-4, Dd1-2, S, Ch, Dd3, Bgs, Gl
    16 Poore men: 1st Poor Man Ch
    17 Such: Poor men, such K
    18 your: your your Q2
    19 man: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    20 horses: horse Q2-4, Dd1-B
    21 man: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    22 time: om. Q2MS
    23 man: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    24 3. poore man: Sold. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    25 should: would R, C, B, K
    26 Porpintine: Porcupine O2-4, Dd1+ (-Bgs)
    27 dart: eate Q2MS
    28 these: them Q2MS
    29 We: I Q2MS
    30 (period): exit 3 Q2MS
    31 is: are Q2MS Dd1-R C
    32 Sylvian: Sylvan Q2MS, Dd2+ (-B, Bgs)
    33 grazing: gasing Q2MS
    34 Goate: Goates Q2MS
    35 an: the Q2-4, Dd1-B
    36 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    37 Sometime: Sometimes Dd1- R, C
    38 which: as Q2MS
    39 hard: om. Q2MS
    40 and: shall Dd1-C
    41 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    42 (comma) Q3: (period) Q1 Q2
    43 and: here and B
    44 the nobles: nobles Dd1, Ch, Ox
    45 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    46 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    47 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    48 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    49 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    50 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    51 --: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    52 to: unto Dd1- R, C
    53 Mort : (period) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    54 (comma): om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    55 plane: plaine Q2-4, Dd1-2, S, Dd3
    56 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    57 (comma): (colon) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    58 (colon): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    59 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    60 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    61 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    62 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    63 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    64 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    65 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    66 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    67 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    68 Kent: Edm. Q1 Q2 Q3: Ed. Q4: Edward Dd1-B (-D)
    69 mute: n Q2
    70 Percie: Peirce Q2
    71 (period) Q3: (comma) Q1 Q2
    72 Preach: Perch Dd1 Dd3(qy)
    73 ?: (period) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    74 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    75 the: this Ch
    76 love: leave D, C
    77 Gaveston: Lancaster Ch, Ox, R, D, C
    78 (period) Q3: (comma) Q1 Q2
    79 Am: And Dd2, S, Dd3
    80 kis: nay, kiss Ch
    81 : om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    82 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    83 of: for Q2, Dd1, S: for of O3-4, D: by Ox
    84 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    85 orewhelme: overwhelme Q2-3
    86 my: the Ch
    87 thee: the Q2
    88 Kent: Edm Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    89 (colon) Q3: (comma) Q1 Q2
    90 (period): (comma) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    91 be envied: should'st be envied Ch: envied be Ox
    92 (colon): (comma) Q1: (period) Q2-4
    93 seale: seals C
    94 What so: Whate'er Ch
    95 streete: streets Ch
    96 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    97 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    98 whether: whither Q4, Dd1, (-Bgs)
    99 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    100 om.: om. Q1, Q2-4+-
    101 these: those Ch
    102 Kent: Edm Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    103 violent: valiant S
    104 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    105 om.: om. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
    106 No: Well Ch
    107 (comma) Q3: om. Q1 Q2
    108 to: unto Coll MS
    109 True, true: Do, do Dd1-R: Prut, prut D(qy): Tut, tut Coll
    110 (colon) O3: (comma) Q1 Q2
    111 may: may best Q3-4, Dd1- R, C, B, K
    112 beseeme Q2: be seeme Q1



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