White is their hue; and on his silver crest That, satiate with spoil, refuseth blood: But when Aurora mounts the second time, As red as scarlet is his furniture Then must his kindled wrath be quenched with blood, But if these threats move not submission, Black are his colors, black pavilion, His spear, his shield, his horse, his armor, plumes, He raseth all his foes with fire and sword. [I had the same difficulty (or rather much more) in culling a few sane lines from this as from the preceding Play. The lunes of Tamburlaine are perfect "midsummer madness." Nebuchadnazar's are mere modest pretensions compared with the thundering vaunts of this Scythian Shepherd. He comes in (in the Second Part) drawn by conquered kings, and reproaches these pampered jades of Asia that they can draw but twenty miles a day. Till I saw this passage with my own eyes, I never believed that it was anything more than a pleasant burlesque of Mine Ancient's. But I assure my readers that it is soberly set down in a Play which their Ancestors took to be serious. I have subjoined the genuine speech for their amusement. Enter Tamburlaine, drawn in his chariot by Trebizon and Soria, with bits in their mouths, reins in his left hand, in his right hand a whip, with which he scourgeth them. Tamb. Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia: As you ye slaves in mighty Tamburlaine. The headstrong jades of Thrace Alcides tamed, And made so wanton that they knew their strengths, Than you by this unconquer'd arm of mine. Thus am I right the scourge of highest Jove, &c.] EDWARD THE SECOND. A TRAGEDY, BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE. Gaveston shows what pleasures those are which the King chiefly aclights in. Gav. I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits, Musicians, that with touching of a string May draw the pliant King which way I please. By yelping hounds pull'd down, shall seem to die ; The younger Mortin er repines at the insolence of Gaveston. Mort. sen. Nephew I must to Scotland, thou stay'st here. Leave now to oppose thyself against the King. Then let his grace, whose youth is flexible, For riper years will wean him from such toys. Mort. jun. Uncle, his wanton humor grieves not me; But this I scorn, that one so basely born, Should by his sovereign's favor grow so pert, The Barons reproach the King with the calamities which the realm endures from the ascendency of his wicked favorite Gaveston. KING EDWARD, LANCASTER, WARWICK. The MORTIMERS and other LORDS. Mort. jun. Nay, stay, my lord, I come to bring you news. Mine uncle is taken prisoner by the Scots. Edw. Then ransom him. Lan. 'Twas in your wars, you should ransom him. Lan. Your minion Gaveston hath taught you this. We never beg, but use such prayers as these. Mort. jun. Nay, now you are here alone, I'll speak my mind. Mort. The idle triumphs, masks, lascivious shows, And prodigal gifts bestow'd on Gaveston, Have drawn thy treasure dry, and made thee weak Lan. Look for rebellion, look to be depos'd; Thy garrisons are beaten out of France, ; Mort. jun. The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas, While in the harbor ride thy ships unrigg'd. Lan. What foreign prince sends thee embassadors ? Mort. Who loves thee, but a sort of flatterers ? Lan. Thy gentle queen, sole sister to Valoys, Complains that thou hast left her all forlorn. Mort. Thy court is naked, being bereft of those, Ballads and rhimes made of thy overthrow. Lan. The Northern brothers seeing their houses burnt, Their wives and children slain, run up and down Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston. Mort. When wert thou in the field with banner spread? For your lemmons you have lost at Bennock's born, What weened the king of England, So soon to have woon Scotland, With a rombellow ? If Mort. Wigmore* shall fly to set my uncle free. Lan. And when 'tis gone, our swords shall purchase more. ye be mov'd, revenge it as you can ; Look next to see us with our ensigns spread. [Exeunt Nobles. The King being deposed, surrenders his crown into the hands of the Imagine Killingworth castle were your court, Not of compulsion or necessity. Edw. Leister, if gentle words might comfort me, A principal manor belonging to the Mortimers. |