The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume II Part 34

Unto the walls of York the Scots make[229] road, And unresisted drive[230] away rich spoils.

_Y. Mor._ The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas,[231]

While in the harbour ride thy ships unrigged.

_Lan._ What foreign prince sends thee amba.s.sadors?

_Y. Mor._ Who loves thee, but a sort of flatterers?

_Lan._ Thy gentle queen, sole sister to Valois, 170 Complains that thou hast left her all forlorn.

_Y. Mor._ Thy court is naked, being bereft of those That make a king seem glorious to the world; I mean the peers, whom thou should'st dearly love: Libels are cast again[232] thee in the street: Ballads and rhymes made of thy overthrow.

_Lan._ The Northern borderers seeing their houses burnt, Their wives and children slain, run up and down, Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston.

_Y. Mor._ When wert thou in the field with banner spread, 180 But once? and then thy soldiers marched like players, With garish robes, not armour; and thyself, Bedaubed with gold, rode laughing at the rest, Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest, Where women's favours hung like labels down.

_Lan._ And thereof came it, that the fleering[233] Scots, To England's high disgrace, have made this jig; _Maids_[234] _of England, sore may you mourn, For your lemans you have lost at Bannocksbourn, With a heave and a ho._ 190 _What weeneth the King of England, So soon to have won Scotland?

With a rombelow?_[235]

_Y. Mor._ Wigmore[236] shall fly, to set my uncle free.

_Lan._ And when 'tis gone, our swords shall purchase more.

If ye be moved, revenge it if you can; Look next to see us with our ensigns spread.

[_Exeunt_ n.o.bles.

_Edw._ My swelling heart for very anger breaks!

How oft have I been baited by these peers, And dare not be revenged, for their power is great! 200 Yet, shall the crowing of these c.o.c.kerels 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 Gaveston Will be the ruin of the realm and you, For now the wrathful n.o.bles threaten wars, And therefore, brother, banish him for ever.

_Edw._ Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston? 210

_Kent._ I, and it grieves me that I favoured him.

_Edw._ Traitor, begone! whine thou with Mortimer.

_Kent._ So will I, rather than with Gaveston.

_Edw._ Out of my sight, and trouble me no more!

_Kent._ No marvel though thou scorn thy n.o.ble peers, When I thy brother am rejected thus. [_Exit._

_Edw._ Away!

Poor Gaveston, that has no friend but me, Do what they can, we'll live in Tynemouth here, And, so I walk with him about the walls, 220 What care I though the Earls begirt us round-- Here cometh she that's cause of all these jars.

_Enter the_ QUEEN, _with_ King's Niece, _two_ Ladies, GAVESTON, BALDOCK, _and_ YOUNG SPENCER.

_Queen._ My lord, 'tis thought the Earls are up in arms.

_Edw._ I, and 'tis likewise thought you favour 'em.[237]

_Queen._ Thus do you still suspect me without cause?

_Lady._ Sweet uncle! speak more kindly to the queen.

_Gav._ My lord, dissemble with her, speak her fair.

_Edw._ Pardon me, sweet, I forgot myself.

_Queen._ Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.

_Edw._ The younger Mortimer is grown so brave, 230 That to my face he threatens civil wars.

_Gav._ Why do you not commit him to the Tower?

_Edw._ I dare not, for the people love him well.

_Gav._ Why then we'll have him privily made away.

_Edw._ Would Lancaster and he had both caroused A bowl of poison to each other's health!

But let them go, and tell me what are these.

_Lady._ Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd,-- May't please your grace to entertain them now.

_Edw._ Tell me, where wast thou born? what is thine arms? 240

_Bald._ My name is Baldock, and my gentry I fetch from Oxford, not from heraldry.

_Edw._ The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn.

Wait on me, and I'll see thou shall not want.

_Bald._ I humbly thank your majesty.

_Edw._ Knowest thou him, Gaveston?

_Gav._ I, my lord; His name is Spencer, he is well allied; For my sake, let him wait upon your grace; Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.

_Edw._ Then, Spencer, wait upon me, for his sake 250 I'll grace thee with a higher style ere long.

_Y. Spen._ No greater t.i.tles happen unto me, Than to be favoured of your majesty.

_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 deceased.

_Gav._ I know, my lord, many will stomach me, But I respect neither their love nor hate.

_Edw._ The headstrong barons shall not limit me; 260 He that I list to favour shall be great.

Come, let's away; and when the marriage ends, Have at the rebels, and their 'complices!