Enter KING EDWARD, LEICESTER, the BISHOP of EICES. Be patient, good my lord, cease to lament, Imagine Killingworth Castle were your court, [space, And that you lay for pleasure here a Not of compulsion or necessity. K. Edw. Leicester, if gentle words might comfort me, 1 The scene is an apartment in Kenilworth Castle. 2 Dittany, a species of Origanum. Elizabethan poets often allude to the supposed virtues of this herb. T And that unnatural queen, false Isabel, That thus hath pent and mewed me in a prison; To company my heart with sad laments, That bleeds within me for this strange exchange. To make usurping Mortimer a king? B. of Win. Your grace mistakes; it is for England's good, And princely Edward's right we crave the crown. K. Edw. No, 'tis for Mortimer, not Edward's head; For he's a lamb, encompassèd by wolves, Which in a moment will abridge his life. But if proud Mortimer do wear this crown, Engirt the temples of his hateful head; So shall not England's vine be perishèd, But Edward's name survives, though Edward dies. 1 Rule. Leices. My lord, why waste you thus the time away ? They stay your answer; will you yield your crown ? K. Edw. Ah, Leicester, weigh how hardly I can brook That like a mountain overwhelms my bliss, [Taking off the crown. Two kings in England cannot reign at once. Let never silent night possess this clime : [He puts on the crown. What, fear you not the fury of your king? Which fills my mind with strange despairing thoughts, Which thoughts are martyrèd with endless torments, But that I feel the crown upon my head; And therefore let me wear it yet awhile. Trus. My lord, the parliament must have present news, And therefore say, will you resign or no? [The KING rageth. K. Edw. Call thou them back, I have no power to speak. B. of Win. If he be not, let him choose. K. Edw. O would I might! but heavens and earth conspire To make me miserable! Here receive my crown; Receive it? no, these innocent hands of mine Shall not be guilty of so foul a crime. He of you all that most desires my blood, And will be called the murderer of a king, And Isabel, whose eyes, being turned to steel, [Gives the crown. Now, sweet God of Heaven, Make me despise this transitory pomp, And sit for aye enthronizèd in Heaven! Come, death, and with thy fingers close my eyes, B. of Win. My lord K. Edw. Call me not lord; away-out of my sight: Ah, pardon me: grief makes me lunatic! Let not that Mortimer protect my son ; Than his embracements. Bear this to the queen, [Gives a handkerchief. If with the sight thereof she be not moved, Trus. And thus most humbly do we take our leave. [Exeunt the BISHOP of WINCHESTER and TRUSSEL. I know the next news that they bring Will be my death; and welcome shall it be; To wretched men, death is felicity. Enter BERKELEY, who gives a paper to LEICESTER. Leices. Another post! what news brings he K. Edw. Such news as I expect-come, Berkeley, come, And tell thy message to my naked breast. Berk. My lord, think not a thought so villainous Can harbour in a man of noble birth. To do your highness service and devoir, And save you from your foes, Berkeley would die. Leices. My lord, the council of the queen commands That I resign my charge. K. Edw. And who must keep me now? Must you, my lord? |