Scene
IV
In Tynemouth Castle.
Enter severally King Edward and the Younger Spenser.
King Edward
O, tell me, Spenser, where is Gaveston?
Younger Spenser
I fear me he is slain, my gracious lord.
King Edward
No, here he comes; now let them spoil and kill.
Enter Queen Isabella, King Edward’s Niece, Gaveston, and Nobles.
Fly, fly, my lords; the earls have got the hold;
Take shipping, and away to Scarborough:
Spenser and I will post away by land.
Gaveston
O, stay, my lord! they will not injure you.
King Edward
I will not trust them. Gaveston, away!
Gaveston
Farewell, my lord.
King Edward
Lady, farewell.
Niece
Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.
King Edward
Farewell, sweet Gaveston; and farewell, niece.
Queen Isabella
No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen?
King Edward
Yes, yes, for Mortimer your lover’s sake.
Queen Isabella
Heavens can witness, I love none but you.
Exeunt all except Queen Isabella.
From my embracements thus he breaks away.
O, that mine arms could close this isle about,
That I might pull him to me where I would!
Or that these tears, that drizzle from mine eyes,
Had power to mollify his stony heart,
That, when I had him, we might never part!
Enter Lancaster, Warwick, the Younger Mortimer, and others. Alarums within.
Lancaster
I wonder how he scaped!
Younger Mortimer
Who’s this? the queen!
Queen Isabella
Ay, Mortimer, the miserable queen,
Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted,
And body with continual mourning wasted:
These hands are tired with haling of my lord
From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston;
And all in vain; for, when I speak him fair,
He turns away, and smiles upon his minion.
Younger Mortimer
Cease to lament, and tell us where’s the king?
Queen Isabella
What would you with the king? is’t him you seek?
Lancaster
No, madam, but that cursed Gaveston:
Far be it from the thought of Lancaster
To offer violence to his sovereign!
We would but rid the realm of Gaveston:
Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.
Queen Isabella
He’s gone by water unto Scarborough:
Pursue him quickly, and he cannot scape;
The king hath left him, and his train is small.
Warwick
Forslow no time, sweet Lancaster; let’s march.
Younger Mortimer
How comes it that the king and he is parted?
Queen Isabella
That thus your army, going several ways,
Might be of lesser force, and with the power
That he intendeth presently to raise,
Be easily suppressed: therefore be gone.
Younger Mortimer
Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy:
Let’s all aboard, and follow him amain.
Lancaster
The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails;
Come, come, aboard! ’tis but an hour’s sailing.
Younger Mortimer
Madam, stay you within this castle here.
Queen Isabella
No, Mortimer; I’ll to my lord the king.
Younger Mortimer
Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough.
Queen Isabella
You know the king is so suspicious
As, if he hear I have but talked with you,
Mine honour will be called in question;
And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.
Younger Mortimer
Madam, I cannot stay to answer you:
But think of Mortimer as he deserves.
Exeunt all except Queen Isabella.
Queen Isabella
So well hast thou deserved, sweet Mortimer,
As Isabel could live with thee forever.
In vain I look for love at Edward’s hand,
Whose eyes are fixed on none but Gaveston.
Yet once more I’ll importune him with prayer:
If he be strange, and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France,
And to the king my brother there complain
How Gaveston hath robbed me of his love:
But yet, I hope, my sorrows will have end,
And Gaveston this blessed day be slain. Exit.