Edward II

it was not thought upon.
Nay, more, when he shall know it lies in us
To banish him, and then to call him home,
’Twill make him vail the top flag of his pride,
And fear to offend the meanest nobleman. Elder Mortimer But how if he do not, nephew? Younger Mortimer

Then may we with some colour rise in arms;
For, howsoever we have borne it out,
’Tis treason to be up against the king;
So shall we have the people of our side,
Which, for his father’s sake, lean to the king,
But cannot brook a night-grown mushroom,
Such a one as my Lord of Cornwall is,
Should bear us down of the nobility:
And, when the commons and the nobles join,
’Tis not the king can buckler Gaveston;
We’ll pull him from the strongest hold he hath.
My lords, if to perform this I be slack,
Think me as base a groom as Gaveston.

Lancaster On that condition Lancaster will grant. Warwick And so will Pembroke and I. Elder Mortimer And I. Younger Mortimer

In this I count me highly gratified,
And Mortimer will rest at your command.

Queen Isabella

And when this favour Isabel forgets,
Then let her live abandoned and forlorn.⁠—
But see, in happy time, my lord the king,
Having brought the Earl of Cornwall on his way,
Is new returned. This news will glad him much:
Yet not so much as me; I love him more
Than he can Gaveston: would he loved me
But half so much! then were I treble-blest.

Re-enter King Edward, mourning. King Edward

He’s gone, and for his absence thus I mourn:
Did never sorrow go so near my heart
As doth the want of my sweet Gaveston;
And, could my crown’s revenue bring him back,
I would freely give it to his enemies,
And think I gained, having bought so dear a friend.

Queen Isabella Hark, how he harps upon his minion! King Edward

My heart is as an anvil unto sorrow,
Which beats upon it like the Cyclops’ hammers,
And with the noise turns up my giddy brain,
And makes me frantic for my Gaveston.
Ah, had some bloodless Fury rose from hell,
And with my kingly sceptre struck me dead,
When I was forced to leave my Gaveston!

Lancaster Diablo, what passions call you these? Queen Isabella My gracious lord, I come to bring you news. King Edward That you have parled with your Mortimer? Queen Isabella That Gaveston, my lord, shall be repealed. King Edward Repealed! the news is too sweet to be true. Queen Isabella But will you love me, if you find it so? King Edward If it be so, what will not Edward do? Queen Isabella For Gaveston, but not for Isabel. King Edward

For thee, fair queen, if thou lov’st Gaveston;
I’ll hang a golden tongue about thy neck,
Seeing thou hast pleaded with so good success.

Queen Isabella

No other jewels hang about my neck
Than these, my lord; nor let me have more wealth
Than I may fetch from this rich treasury.
O, how a kiss revives poor Isabel!

King Edward

Once more receive my hand; and let this be
A second marriage ’twixt thyself and me.

Queen Isabella

And may it prove more happy than the first!
My gentle lord, bespeak these nobles fair,
That wait attendance for a gracious look,
And on their knees salute your majesty.

King Edward

Courageous Lancaster, embrace thy king;
And, as gross vapours perish by the sun,
Even so let hatred with thy sovereign’s smile:
Live thou with me as my companion.

Lancaster This salutation overjoys my heart. King Edward

Warwick shall be my chiefest counsellor:
These silver hairs will more adorn my court
Than gaudy silks or rich embroidery.
Chide me, sweet Warwick, if I go astray.

Warwick Slay me, my lord, when I offend your grace. King Edward

In solemn triumphs and in public shows
Pembroke shall bear the sword before the king.

Pembroke And with this sword Pembroke will fight for you. King Edward

But wherefore walks young Mortimer aside?
Be thou commander of our royal fleet;
Or, if that lofty office like thee not,
I make thee here Lord Marshal of the realm.

Younger Mortimer

My lord, I’ll marshal so your enemies,
As England shall be quiet, and you safe.

King Edward

And as for you, Lord Mortimer of Chirke,
Whose great achievements in our foreign war
Deserve no common place nor mean reward,
Be you the general of the levied troops
That now are ready to assail the Scots.

Elder Mortimer

In this your grace hath highly honoured me,
For with my nature war doth best agree.

Queen Isabella

Now is the king of England rich and strong,
Having the love of his renowned peers.

King Edward

Ay, Isabel, ne’er was my heart so light.⁠—
Clerk of the crown, direct our warrant forth,
For Gaveston, to Ireland!

Enter Beaumont with warrant.

Beaumont, fly
As fast as Iris or Jove’s Mercury.

Beaumont It shall be done, my gracious lord. Exit. King Edward

Lord Mortimer, we leave you to your charge.
Now let us in, and feast it royally.
Against our friend the Earl of Cornwall comes
We’ll have a general tilt and tournament;
And then his marriage shall be solemnised;
For wot you not that I have made him sure
Unto our cousin, the Earl of Gloucester’s heir?

Lancaster Such news we hear, my lord. King Edward

That day, if not for him, yet for my sake,
Who in the triumph will be challenger,
Spare for no cost; we will requite your love.

Warwick In this or aught your highness shall command us. King Edward Thanks, gentle Warwick. Come, let’s in and revel. Exeunt all except the Elder Mortimer and the Younger Mortimer. Elder Mortimer

Nephew, I must to Scotland; thou stay’st here.
Leave now to oppose thyself against the king:
Thou seest by nature he is mild and calm;
And, seeing his mind so dotes on Gaveston,
Let him without controlment have his will.
The mightiest kings have had their minions;
Great Alexander loved Hephaestion,
The conquering Hercules for Hylas wept,
And for Patroclus stern Achilles drooped.
And not kings only, but the wisest men;
The Roman Tully loved Octavius,
Grave Socrates wild Alcibiades.
Then let his grace, whose youth is flexible,
And promiseth as much as we can wish,
Freely enjoy that vain lightheaded earl;
For riper years will wean him from such toys.

Younger Mortimer

Uncle, his wanton humour grieves not me;
But this I scorn, that one so basely-born
Should by his sovereign’s favour grow