Commend me humbly to his majesty,
And tell him that I labour all in vain
To ease his grief and work his liberty;
And bear him this as witness of my love.

Mat. I will, madam.

Y. Mort. Finely dissembled!

queen.

(Gives a ring.) [Exit with Gurney.

Do so still, sweet

Here comes the young prince with the Earl of Kent. Q. Isab. Something he whispers in his childish ears. Y. Mort. If he have such access unto the prince, Our plots and stratagems will soon be dash'd.

Q. Isab. Use Edmund friendly, as if all were well. (Enter Prince Edward, and Kent talking with him.) Y. Mort. How fares my honourable lord of Kent? Kent. In health, sweet Mortimer.- How fares your grace?

Q. Isab. Well, if my lord your brother were enlarg'd.

Kent. I hear of late he hath depos'd himself.
Q. Isab. The more my grief.

Y. Mort. And mine.

Kent. Ah, they do dissemble!

(Aside.)

Q. Isab. Sweet son, come hither; I must talk with

thee.

Y. Mort. You, being his uncle and the next of

blood,

Do look to be protector o'er the prince.

Kent. Not I, my lord; who should protect the son, But she that gave him life? I mean the queen.

P. Edw. Mother, persuade me not to wear the

crown:

Let him be king; I am too young to reign.

Q. Isab. But be content, seeing 'tis his highness' pleasure.

P. Edw. Let me but see him first, and then I will. Kent. Ay, do, sweet nephew.

Q. Isab. Brother, you know it is impossible.

P. Edw. Why, is he dead?

Q. Isab. No, God forbid.

Kent. I would those words proceeded from your heart!

Y. Mort. Inconstant Edmund, dost thou favour him, That wast a cause of his imprisonment ?

Kent. The more cause have I now to make amends. Y. Mort. (aside to Queen Isab.) I tell thee, 'tis not meet that one so false

Should come about the person of a prince. -
My lord, he hath betray'd the king his brother,
And therefore trust him not.

P. Edw. But he repents, and sorrows for it now. Q. Isab. Come, son, and go with this gentle lord and me.

P. Edw. With you I will, but not with Mortimer. Y. Mort. Why, youngling, 'sdain'st thou so of Mortimer?

Then I will carry thee by force away.

P. Edw. Help, Uncle Kent! Mortimer will wrong

me.

1 disdainest,

Q. Isab. Brother Edmund, strive not; we are his friends;

Isabel is nearer than the Earl of Kent.

Kent. Sister, Edward is my charge; redeem him. Q. Isab. Edward is my son, and I will keep him.

Kent. Mortimer shall know that he hath wrongèd me!

Hence will I haste to Killingworth Castle

(Aside.)

And rescue agèd Edward from his foes, To be reveng'd on Mortimer and thee. [Exeunt on one side Queen Isabella, Prince Edward, and Young Mortimer; on the other, Kent.

SCENE III. Near Killingworth Castle. Enter Matrevis and Gurney and Soldiers, with King Edward. Mat. My lord, be not pensive, we are your friends; Men are ordained to live in misery,

Therefore come; dalliance dangereth our lives.

K. Edw. Friends, whither must unhappy Edward go?

Will hateful Mortimer appoint no rest?
Must I be vexèd like the nightly bird,

Whose sight is loathsome to all wingèd fowls?
When will the fury of his mind assuage?
When will his heart be satisfied with blood?
If mine will serve, unbowel straight this breast,
And give my heart to Isabel and him :
It is the chiefest mark they level1 at.

1 aim.

Gur. Not so, my liege; the queen hath given this

charge

To keep your grace in safety;

Your passions make your dolours to increase.

K. Edw. This usage makes my misery increase.
But can my air of life continue long

When all my senses are annoy'd with stench?
Within a dungeon England's king is kept,
Where I am starv'd for want of sustenance;
My daily diet is heart-breaking sobs,
That almost rents 1 the closet of my heart;
Thus lives old Edward not reliev'd by any,
And so must die, though pitièd by many.
O, water, gentle friends, to cool my thirst,
And clear my body from foul excrements!

Mat. Here's channel2 water, as our charge is given: Sit down, for we'll be barbers to your grace.

K. Edw. Traitors, away! what, will you murder me, Or choke your sovereign with puddle water?

Gur. No; but wash your face, and shave away your beard,

Lest you be known, and so be rescued.

Mat. Why strive you thus? your labour is in vain! K. Edw. The wren may strive against the lion's strength,

But all in vain: so vainly do I strive

To seek for mercy at a tyrant's hand.

(They wash him with puddle water, and shave off his beard.)

Immortal powers, that know the painful cares
That wait upon my poor distressed soul,

O level all your looks upon these daring men,
That wrong their liege and sovereign, England's king!
O Gaveston, 'tis for thee that I am wrong'd,
For me, both thou and both the Spencers died!
And for your sakes a thousand wrongs I'll take.
The Spencers' ghosts, wherever they remain,
Wish well to mine; then, tush, for them I'll die.
Mat. 'Twixt theirs and yours shall be no enmity.
Come, come away! now put the torches out:
We'll enter in by darkness to Killingworth.

KING EDWARD THE THIRD

YOUNG, ambitious, and assured of the support of the great nobles, Edward III. was eager for valiant deeds. The French succession was in dispute, and Edward, the only surviving grandson of Philip the Fair, laid claim to the crown. In the first years of the long war that followed, the English were brilliantly successful. At the battle of Cressy (1346), the French forces were driven from the field, and the Black Prince won his spurs.

ACT III

SCENE V. During the Battle of Cressy.

(Drums. Enter King Edward and Audley.)

K. Edw. Lord Audley, whiles our son is in the chase,

Withdraw your powers 1 unto this little hill,

And here a season let us breathe ourselves.

1 forces.