Here is the form of Gaveston's exile
LAN : Here is the form of Gaveston's exile.
May it please your lordship to subscribe your name.
A. OF CANT : Give me the paper.
[Subscribes, as do the rest]
LAN : Quick, quick, my lord, I long to write my name.
WAR : But I long more to see him banish'd hence.
Y. MOR : The name of Mortimer shall fright the King,
Unless he be declin'd from that base peasant.
[Enter the King and Gaveston (and Kent. Edward seats Gaveston by him on the throne)]
K. EDW : What, are you mov'd that Gaveston sits here?
It is our pleasure, we will have it so!
LAN : Your Grace doth well to place him by your side,
For nowhere else the new earl is so safe.
E. MOR : What man of noble birth can brook this sight?
Quam male conveniunt!
See what a scornful look the peasant casts!
PEMBROKE : Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants?
WAR : Ignoble vassal, that like Phaeton
Aspir'st unto the guidance of the sun!
Y. MOR : Their downfall is at hand, their forces down —
We will not thus be fac'd and over-peer'd.
K. EDW : Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer!
E. MOR : Lay hands on that traitor Gaveston!
[Attendants hold Gaveston]
KENT : Is this the duty that you owe your King?
WAR : We know our duties, let him know his peers.
K. EDW : Whither will you bear him? Stay, or ye shall die!
E. MOR : We are no traitors: therefore threaten not.
GAV : No, threaten not, my lord, but pay them home.
Were I a king . . .
Y. MOR : Thou villain, wherefore talk'st thou of a king
That hardly art a gentleman by birth!
K. EDW : Were he a peasant, being my minion,
I'll make the proudest of you stoop to him.
LAN : My lord, you may not thus disparage us!
Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston!
E. MOR : And with the Earl of Kent that favors him.
[Attendants remove Kent and Gaveston]
K. EDW : Nay, then, lay violent hands upon your King.
Here, Mortimer, sit thou in Edward's throne.
Warwick and Lancaster, wear you my crown.
Was ever king thus over-rul'd as I?
LAN : Learn then to rule us better, and the realm.
Y. MOR : What we have done our heart blood shall maintain.
WAR : Think you that we can brook this upstart pride?
K. EDW : Anger and wrathful fury stops my speech.
A. OF CANT : Why are you mov'd? Be patient, my lord,
And see what we your counsellors have done.
[Gives him document exiling Gaveston]
Y. MOR : My lords, now let us all be resolute:
And either have our wills, or lose our lives.
K. EDW : Meet you for this, proud over-daring peers?
Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me,
This isle shall fleet upon the ocean
And wander to the unfrequented Inde.
A. OF CANT : You know that I am legate to the Pope.
On your allegiance to the see of Rome
Subscribe as we have done to his exile.
Y. MOR : Curse him, if he refuse; and then may we
Depose him and elect another king!
K. EDW : Ay, there it goes! But yet I will not yield.
Curse me, depose me, do the worst you can!
LAN : Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight.
A. OF CANT : Remember how the bishop was abus'd.
Either banish him that was the cause thereof,
Or I will presently discharge these lords
Of duty and allegiance due to thee.
K. EDW : [aside] (It boots me not to threat. I must speak fair.
The legate of the Pope will be obey'd.)
— My lord, [ to Archbishop ] you shall be Chancellor of the realm;
Thou, Lancaster, High Admiral of our fleet;
Young Mortimer and his uncle shall be earls;
And you, Lord Warwick, President of the North;
And thou [ to Pembroke ] of Wales. If this content you not,
Make several kingdoms of this monarchy
And share it equally amongst you all —
So I may have some nook or corner left
To frolic with my dearest Gaveston.
A. OF CANT : Nothing shall alter us. We are resolv'd.
LAN : Come, come, subscribe.
Y. MOR : Why should you love him whom the world hates so
K. EDW : Because he loves me more than all the world!
Ah, none but rude and savage-minded men
Would seek the ruin of my Gaveston!
You that be noble-born should pity him.
WAR : You that are princely-born should shake him off.
For shame subscribe, and let the lown depart.
E. MOR : Urge him, my lord.
A. OF CANT : Are you content to banish him the realm?
K. EDW : I see I must, and therefore am content.
Instead of ink I'll write it with my tears. [ Subscribes ]
Y. MOR : The King is love-sick for his minion.
K. EDW : 'Tis done — and now, accursed hand, fall off!
LAN : Give it me. I'll have it publish'd in the streets.
Y. MOR : I'll see him presently dispatch'd away.
A. OF CANT : Now is my heart at ease.
WAR : And so is mine.
PEMB : This will be good news to the common sort.
E. MOR : Be it or no, he shall not linger here.
[Exeunt Nobles]
K. EDW : How fast they run to banish him I love!
They would not stir, were it to do me good.
Why should a king be subject to a priest?
Proud Rome, that hatchest such imperial grooms,
For these thy superstitious taper-lights,
Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze,
I'll fire thy crazed buildings and enforce
The papal towers to kiss the lowly ground!
With slaughter'd priests may Tiber's channel swell,
And banks rais'd higher with their sepulchers!
As for the peers that back the clergy thus,
If I be King, not one of them shall live.
[Enter Gaveston]
GAV : My lord, I hear it whisper'd everywhere
that I am banish'd and must fly the land.
K. EDW : 'Tis true, sweet Gaveston. — O! were it false!
The legate of the Pope will have it so —
And thou must hence, or I shall be depos'd.
But I will reign to be reveng'd of them!
And therefore, sweet friend, take it patiently.
Live where thou wilt, I'll send thee gold enough;
And long thou shalt not stay, or if thou dost,
I'll come to thee. My love shall ne'er decline!
GAV : Is all my hope turn'd to this hell of grief?
K. EDW : Rend not my heart with thy too-piercing words —
Thou from this land, I from myself am banish'd.
GAV : To go from hence grieves not poor Gaveston —
But to forsake you, in whose gracious looks
The blessedness of Gaveston remains:
For nowhere else seeks he felicity.
K. EDW : And only this torments my wretched soul
That, whether I will or no, thou must depart.
Be governor of Ireland in my stead,
And there abide till fortune call thee home.
Here, take my picture, and let me wear thine.
[They exchange pictures and embrace]
O, might I keep thee here as I do this,
Happy were I, but now most miserable!
GAV : 'Tis something to be pitied of a king.
K. EDW : Thou shalt not hence — I'll hide thee, Gaveston.
GAV : I shall be found, and then 'twill grieve me more.
K. EDW : Kind words and mutual talk makes our grief greater:
Therefore, with dumb embracement, let us part.
Stay, Gaveston, I cannot leave thee thus.
GAV : For every look, my lord drops down a tear.
Seeing I must go, do not renew my sorrow.
K. EDW : The time is little that thou hast to stay,
And, therefore, give me leave to look my fill.
But come, sweet friend, I'll bear thee on thy way.
GAV : The peers will frown.
K. EDW : I pass not for their anger. Come, let's go.
that we might as well return as go!
[Enter Queen Isabella]
Q. ISAB : Whither goes my lord?
K. EDW : Fawn not on me, French strumpet! Get thee gone!
Q. ISAB : On whom but on my husband should I fawn?
GAV : On Mortimer, with whom, ungentle Queen —
I say no more. Judge you the rest, my lord.
Q. ISAB : In saying this, thou wrong'st me, Gaveston.
Is't not enough that thou corrupt'st my lord,
And art a bawd to his affections,
But thou must call mine honor thus in question?
GAV : I mean not so. Your Grace must pardon me.
K. EDW : Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer:
And by thy means is Gaveston exil'd.
But I would wish thee reconcile the lords —
Or thou shalt ne'er be reconcil'd to me.
Q. ISAB : Your Highness knows, it lies not in my power.
K. EDW : Away then! touch me not, come, Gaveston.
Q. ISAB : Villain, 'tis thou that robb'st me of my lord!
GAV : Madam, 'tis you that rob me of my lord!
K. EDW : Speak not unto her, let her droop and pine.
Q. ISAB : Wherein, my lord, have I deserv'd these words?
Witness the tears that Isabella sheds;
Witness this heart that sighing for thee breaks,
How dear my lord is to poor Isabel!
K. EDW : And witness Heaven how dear thou art to me!
There weep. For till my Gaveston be repeal'd,
Assure thyself thou com'st not in my sight.
[Exeunt Edward and Gaveston]
Q. ISAB : O miserable and distressed Queen!
Would when I left sweet France and was embark'd
That charming Circes walking on the waves
Had chang'd my shape, or at the marriage-day
The cup of Hymen had been full of poison!
Or with those arms that twin'd about my neck
I had been stifled, and not liv'd to see
The King my lord thus to abandon me!
Like frantic Juno will I fill the earth
With ghastly murmur of my sighs and cries,
For never doted Jove on Ganymede
So much as he on cursed Gaveston.
But that will more exasperate his wrath.
I must entreat him, I must speak him fair,
And be a means to call home Gaveston —
And yet he'll ever dote on Gaveston!
And so am I for ever miserable!
May it please your lordship to subscribe your name.
A. OF CANT : Give me the paper.
[Subscribes, as do the rest]
LAN : Quick, quick, my lord, I long to write my name.
WAR : But I long more to see him banish'd hence.
Y. MOR : The name of Mortimer shall fright the King,
Unless he be declin'd from that base peasant.
[Enter the King and Gaveston (and Kent. Edward seats Gaveston by him on the throne)]
K. EDW : What, are you mov'd that Gaveston sits here?
It is our pleasure, we will have it so!
LAN : Your Grace doth well to place him by your side,
For nowhere else the new earl is so safe.
E. MOR : What man of noble birth can brook this sight?
Quam male conveniunt!
See what a scornful look the peasant casts!
PEMBROKE : Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants?
WAR : Ignoble vassal, that like Phaeton
Aspir'st unto the guidance of the sun!
Y. MOR : Their downfall is at hand, their forces down —
We will not thus be fac'd and over-peer'd.
K. EDW : Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer!
E. MOR : Lay hands on that traitor Gaveston!
[Attendants hold Gaveston]
KENT : Is this the duty that you owe your King?
WAR : We know our duties, let him know his peers.
K. EDW : Whither will you bear him? Stay, or ye shall die!
E. MOR : We are no traitors: therefore threaten not.
GAV : No, threaten not, my lord, but pay them home.
Were I a king . . .
Y. MOR : Thou villain, wherefore talk'st thou of a king
That hardly art a gentleman by birth!
K. EDW : Were he a peasant, being my minion,
I'll make the proudest of you stoop to him.
LAN : My lord, you may not thus disparage us!
Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston!
E. MOR : And with the Earl of Kent that favors him.
[Attendants remove Kent and Gaveston]
K. EDW : Nay, then, lay violent hands upon your King.
Here, Mortimer, sit thou in Edward's throne.
Warwick and Lancaster, wear you my crown.
Was ever king thus over-rul'd as I?
LAN : Learn then to rule us better, and the realm.
Y. MOR : What we have done our heart blood shall maintain.
WAR : Think you that we can brook this upstart pride?
K. EDW : Anger and wrathful fury stops my speech.
A. OF CANT : Why are you mov'd? Be patient, my lord,
And see what we your counsellors have done.
[Gives him document exiling Gaveston]
Y. MOR : My lords, now let us all be resolute:
And either have our wills, or lose our lives.
K. EDW : Meet you for this, proud over-daring peers?
Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me,
This isle shall fleet upon the ocean
And wander to the unfrequented Inde.
A. OF CANT : You know that I am legate to the Pope.
On your allegiance to the see of Rome
Subscribe as we have done to his exile.
Y. MOR : Curse him, if he refuse; and then may we
Depose him and elect another king!
K. EDW : Ay, there it goes! But yet I will not yield.
Curse me, depose me, do the worst you can!
LAN : Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight.
A. OF CANT : Remember how the bishop was abus'd.
Either banish him that was the cause thereof,
Or I will presently discharge these lords
Of duty and allegiance due to thee.
K. EDW : [aside] (It boots me not to threat. I must speak fair.
The legate of the Pope will be obey'd.)
— My lord, [ to Archbishop ] you shall be Chancellor of the realm;
Thou, Lancaster, High Admiral of our fleet;
Young Mortimer and his uncle shall be earls;
And you, Lord Warwick, President of the North;
And thou [ to Pembroke ] of Wales. If this content you not,
Make several kingdoms of this monarchy
And share it equally amongst you all —
So I may have some nook or corner left
To frolic with my dearest Gaveston.
A. OF CANT : Nothing shall alter us. We are resolv'd.
LAN : Come, come, subscribe.
Y. MOR : Why should you love him whom the world hates so
K. EDW : Because he loves me more than all the world!
Ah, none but rude and savage-minded men
Would seek the ruin of my Gaveston!
You that be noble-born should pity him.
WAR : You that are princely-born should shake him off.
For shame subscribe, and let the lown depart.
E. MOR : Urge him, my lord.
A. OF CANT : Are you content to banish him the realm?
K. EDW : I see I must, and therefore am content.
Instead of ink I'll write it with my tears. [ Subscribes ]
Y. MOR : The King is love-sick for his minion.
K. EDW : 'Tis done — and now, accursed hand, fall off!
LAN : Give it me. I'll have it publish'd in the streets.
Y. MOR : I'll see him presently dispatch'd away.
A. OF CANT : Now is my heart at ease.
WAR : And so is mine.
PEMB : This will be good news to the common sort.
E. MOR : Be it or no, he shall not linger here.
[Exeunt Nobles]
K. EDW : How fast they run to banish him I love!
They would not stir, were it to do me good.
Why should a king be subject to a priest?
Proud Rome, that hatchest such imperial grooms,
For these thy superstitious taper-lights,
Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze,
I'll fire thy crazed buildings and enforce
The papal towers to kiss the lowly ground!
With slaughter'd priests may Tiber's channel swell,
And banks rais'd higher with their sepulchers!
As for the peers that back the clergy thus,
If I be King, not one of them shall live.
[Enter Gaveston]
GAV : My lord, I hear it whisper'd everywhere
that I am banish'd and must fly the land.
K. EDW : 'Tis true, sweet Gaveston. — O! were it false!
The legate of the Pope will have it so —
And thou must hence, or I shall be depos'd.
But I will reign to be reveng'd of them!
And therefore, sweet friend, take it patiently.
Live where thou wilt, I'll send thee gold enough;
And long thou shalt not stay, or if thou dost,
I'll come to thee. My love shall ne'er decline!
GAV : Is all my hope turn'd to this hell of grief?
K. EDW : Rend not my heart with thy too-piercing words —
Thou from this land, I from myself am banish'd.
GAV : To go from hence grieves not poor Gaveston —
But to forsake you, in whose gracious looks
The blessedness of Gaveston remains:
For nowhere else seeks he felicity.
K. EDW : And only this torments my wretched soul
That, whether I will or no, thou must depart.
Be governor of Ireland in my stead,
And there abide till fortune call thee home.
Here, take my picture, and let me wear thine.
[They exchange pictures and embrace]
O, might I keep thee here as I do this,
Happy were I, but now most miserable!
GAV : 'Tis something to be pitied of a king.
K. EDW : Thou shalt not hence — I'll hide thee, Gaveston.
GAV : I shall be found, and then 'twill grieve me more.
K. EDW : Kind words and mutual talk makes our grief greater:
Therefore, with dumb embracement, let us part.
Stay, Gaveston, I cannot leave thee thus.
GAV : For every look, my lord drops down a tear.
Seeing I must go, do not renew my sorrow.
K. EDW : The time is little that thou hast to stay,
And, therefore, give me leave to look my fill.
But come, sweet friend, I'll bear thee on thy way.
GAV : The peers will frown.
K. EDW : I pass not for their anger. Come, let's go.
that we might as well return as go!
[Enter Queen Isabella]
Q. ISAB : Whither goes my lord?
K. EDW : Fawn not on me, French strumpet! Get thee gone!
Q. ISAB : On whom but on my husband should I fawn?
GAV : On Mortimer, with whom, ungentle Queen —
I say no more. Judge you the rest, my lord.
Q. ISAB : In saying this, thou wrong'st me, Gaveston.
Is't not enough that thou corrupt'st my lord,
And art a bawd to his affections,
But thou must call mine honor thus in question?
GAV : I mean not so. Your Grace must pardon me.
K. EDW : Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer:
And by thy means is Gaveston exil'd.
But I would wish thee reconcile the lords —
Or thou shalt ne'er be reconcil'd to me.
Q. ISAB : Your Highness knows, it lies not in my power.
K. EDW : Away then! touch me not, come, Gaveston.
Q. ISAB : Villain, 'tis thou that robb'st me of my lord!
GAV : Madam, 'tis you that rob me of my lord!
K. EDW : Speak not unto her, let her droop and pine.
Q. ISAB : Wherein, my lord, have I deserv'd these words?
Witness the tears that Isabella sheds;
Witness this heart that sighing for thee breaks,
How dear my lord is to poor Isabel!
K. EDW : And witness Heaven how dear thou art to me!
There weep. For till my Gaveston be repeal'd,
Assure thyself thou com'st not in my sight.
[Exeunt Edward and Gaveston]
Q. ISAB : O miserable and distressed Queen!
Would when I left sweet France and was embark'd
That charming Circes walking on the waves
Had chang'd my shape, or at the marriage-day
The cup of Hymen had been full of poison!
Or with those arms that twin'd about my neck
I had been stifled, and not liv'd to see
The King my lord thus to abandon me!
Like frantic Juno will I fill the earth
With ghastly murmur of my sighs and cries,
For never doted Jove on Ganymede
So much as he on cursed Gaveston.
But that will more exasperate his wrath.
I must entreat him, I must speak him fair,
And be a means to call home Gaveston —
And yet he'll ever dote on Gaveston!
And so am I for ever miserable!
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