Enter the Lady (Margaret de Clare).
LADY MARGARET. The grief for his exile was not so much,
As is the joy of his returning home.
This letter came from my sweet Gaveston.
What needst thou love, thus to excuse thyself?
I know thou couldst not come and visit me.
'I will not long be from thee though I die:'
This argues the entire love of my lord.
'When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart,'
But rest thee here where Gaveston shall sleep.
Now to the letter of my lord the King.
He wills me to repair unto the court,
And meet my Gaveston. Why do I stay,
Seeing that he talks thus of my marriage day?
Who's there? Baldock!
See that my coach be ready, I must hence.
BALDOCK. It shall be done, madam.
Exit.
LADY MARGARET. And meet me at the park pale presently.
Spencer, stay you and bear me company,
For I have joyful news to tell thee of.
My lord of Cornwall is a-coming over,
And will be at the court as soon as we.
SPENCER. I knew the King would have him home again.
LADY MARGARET. If all things sort out, as I hope they will,
Thy service, Spencer, shall be thought upon.
SPENCER. I humbly thank your ladyship.
LADY MARGARET. Come lead the way, I long till I am there.
Exeunt
ACT TWO, SCENE TWO
Enter Edward, the Queen, Lancaster, Mortimer, Warwick, Pembroke, Kent, Attendants.
EDWARD. The wind is good, I wonder why he stays,
I fear me he is wracked upon the sea.
ISABELLA. Look Lancaster how passionate he is,
And still his mind runs on his minion.
LANCASTER. My lord.
EDWARD. How now, what news? Is Gaveston arrived?
MORTIMER. Nothing but Gaveston! What means your grace?
You have matters of more weight to think upon,
The King of France sets foot in Normandy.
EDWARD. A trifle! We'll expel him when we please.
But tell me Mortimer, what's thy device,
Against the stately triumph we decreed?
MORTIMER. A homely one my lord, not worth the telling.
EDWARD. Prithee let me know it.
MORTIMER. But seeing you're so desirous, thus it is:
A lofty cedar tree fair flourishing,
On whose top branches kingly eagles perch,
And by the bark a canker creeps me up,
And gets unto the highest bough of all.
The motto: aeque tandem. (Equal at last)
EDWARD. And what is yours, my lord of Lancaster?
LANCASTER. My lord, mine's more obscure than Mortimer's.
Pliny reports, there is a flying fish,
Which all the other fishes deadly hate,
And therefore being pursued, it takes the air:
No sooner is it up, but there's a fowl
That seizeth it: this fish, my lord, I bear,
The motto this: undique mors est. (Death on all sides)
EDWARD. Proud Mortimer, ungentle Lancaster,
Is this the love you bear your sovereign?
Is this the fruit your reconcilement bears?
Can you in words make show of amity,
And in your shields display your rancourous minds?
What call you this but private libeling
Against the Earl of Cornwall and my brother?
ISABELLA. Sweet husband, be content; they all love you.
EDWARD. They love me not that hate my Gaveston.
I am that cedar; shake me not too much;
And you the eagles, soar ye ne'er so high,
I have the jesses that will pull you down;
And aeque tandem shall that canker cry
Unto the proudest peer of Brittany.
Though thou compar'st him to a flying fish,
And threatenest death whether he rise or fall,
'Tis not the hugest monster of the sea,
Nor foulest harpy, that shall swallow him.
MORTIMER. If in his absence thus he favours him,
What will he do whenas he shall be present?
LANCASTER. That shall we see: look, where his lordship comes!
Enter Gaveston.
EDWARD. My Gaveston!
Welcome to Tynemouth! Welcome to thy friend!
Thy absence made me droop and pine away;
For, as the lovers of fair Danae,
When she was locked up in a brazen tower,
Desired her more, and waxed outrageous,
So did it sure with me: and now thy sight
Is sweeter far than was thy parting hence
Bitter and irksome to my sobbing heart.
GAVESTON.