Edward II E-Book

Christopher Marlowe

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Christopher Marlowe's "Edward II" is a compelling historical drama that delves into the tumultuous reign of the eponymous king, exploring themes of political power, personal passion, and social upheaval. Written in the early 1590s, the play employs a blank verse style characterized by its rhythmic beauty and emotional depth. Marlowe's mastery of character and dialogue allows the complexities of Edward's relationships'Äîwith his wife Isabella and his male favorite Gaveston'Äîto unfold against a backdrop of courtly intrigue and rebellion, reflecting the tensions of Renaissance England and the evolving notions of masculinity and authority. Marlowe himself was a pivotal figure in the Elizabethan literary scene, known for his provocative themes and innovative use of language. His experiences, including his own conflicts with authority and the societal norms of his time, likely influenced his portrayal of Edward II. The play reflects Marlowe's fascination with the boundaries of power and personal desire, as well as the historical narratives that shape public perception of leadership and identity. "Edward II" is essential reading for those interested in the complexities of historical power dynamics and LGBTQ themes in literature. Marlowe's poignant exploration of love and betrayal, combined with its rich historical context, offers readers a profound glimpse into both human emotion and the machinations of a troubled monarchy.

Leseprobe

Christopher Marlowe

Edward II

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4064066456856

Table of Contents

ACT THE FIRST

Act the First, Scene I

Act the First, Scene II. The scene is at Westminster

Act the First, Scene III

ACT THE SECOND

Act the Second, Scene I. Gloucester’s house

Act the Second, Scene II

Act the Second, Scene III. Near Tynemouth Castle

Act the Second, Scene IV. Near Tynemouth Castle

Act the Second, Scene V

ACT THE THIRD

Act the Third, Scene I

Act the Third, Scene II

Act the Third, Scene III. Battlefield at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire

Act the Third, Scene IV

ACT THE FOURTH

Act the Fourth, Scene I. Near the Tower of London

Act the Fourth, Scene II. Paris

Act the Fourth, Scene III

Act the Fourth, Scene IV. Near Harwich

Act the Fourth, Scene V. Near Bristol

Act the Fourth, Scene VI. The scene is in the abbey of Neath

ACT THE FIFTH

Act the Fifth, Scene I. A room in Kenilworth Castle

Act the Fifth, Scene II. The royal palace

Act the Fifth, Scene III. Kenilworth Castle

Act the Fifth, Scene IV. The royal palace

Act the Fifth, Scene V. Berkeley Castle

Act the Fifth, Scene VI. The royal palace, London

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Act V

ACT THE FIRST

Table of Contents

Act the First, Scene I

Table of Contents

[Enter GAVESTON, reading on a letter that was brought him from the KING]

GAVESTON

“My father is deceas’d! Come, Gaveston,

And share the kingdom with thy dearest friend,”

Ah! words that make me surfeit with delight!

What greater bliss can hap to Gaveston 4

Than live and be the favourite of a king!

Sweet prince, I come; these, these thy amorous lines

Might have enforc’d me to have swum from France,

And, like Leander, gasp’d upon the sand, 8

So thou would’st smile, and take me in thine arms.

The sight of London to my exil’d eyes

Is as Elysium to a new-come soul;

Not that I love the city, or the men, 12

But that it harbours him I hold so dear—

The king, upon whose bosom let me die, 1

And with the world be still at enmity.

What need the arctic people love starlight, 16

To whom the sun shines both by day and night?

Farewell base stooping to the lordly peers!

My knee shall bow to none but to the king.

As for the multitude, that are but sparks, 20

Rak’d up in embers of their poverty;—

Tanti; 2 I’ll fawn first on the wind

That glanceth at my lips, and flieth away.

[Enter three Poor Men]

But how now, what are these? 24

POOR MEN

Such as desire your worship’s service.

GAVESTON

What canst thou do?

1ST POOR MAN.

I can ride.

GAVESTON

But I have no horses.—What art thou? 28

2ND POOR MAN

A traveller.

GAVESTON

Let me see: thou would’st do well

To wait at my trencher and tell me lies at dinner time;

And as I like your discoursing, I’ll have you.— 32

And what art thou?

3RD POOR MAN

A soldier, that hath serv’d against the Scot.

GAVESTON

Why, there are hospitals for such as you.

I have no war, and therefore, sir, begone. 36

3RD POOR MAN

Farewell, and perish by a soldier’s hand,

That would’st reward them with an hospital.

GAVESTON

Ay, ay, these words of his move me as much

As if a goose should play the porcupine, 40

And dart her plumes, thinking to pierce my breast.

But yet it is no pain to speak men fair;

I’ll flatter these, and make them live in hope.—

You know that I came lately out of France, [Aside.] 44

And yet I have not view’d my lord the king;

If I speed well, I’ll entertain you all.

ALL

We thank your worship.

GAVESTON

I have some business: leave me to myself. 48

ALL

We will wait here about the court.

[Exeunt.]

GAVESTON

Do. These are not men for me:

I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits,

Musicians, that with touching of a string 52

May draw the pliant king which way I please.

Music and poetry is his delight;

Therefore I’ll have Italian masks by night,

Sweet speeches, comedies, and pleasing shows; 56

And in the day, when he shall walk abroad,

Like sylvan nymphs my pages shall be clad;

My men, like satyrs grazing on the lawns,

Shall with their goat-feet dance an antic hay. 3 60

Sometime a lovely boy in Dian’s shape,

With hair that gilds the water as it glides,

Crownets of pearl about his naked arms,

And in his sportful hands an olive tree, 64

To hide those parts which men delight to see,

Shall bathe him in a spring; and there hard by,

One like ActÆon peeping through the grove

Shall by the angry goddess be transform’d, 68

And running in the likeness of an hart

By yelping hounds pull’d down, and seem to die;—

Such things as these best please his majesty,

My lord.—Here comes the king, and the nobles 72

From the parliament. I’ll stand aside. [Retires.]

[Enter KING EDWARD, LANCASTER, the Elder MORTIMER, Young MORTIMER; EDMUND, EARL of KENT; GUY, EARL of WARWICK, and (Attendants)]

KING EDWARD

Lancaster!

LANCASTER

My lord.

GAVESTON

That Earl of Lancaster do I abhor. [Aside.] 76

KING EDWARD

Will you not grant me this?—In spite of them

I’ll have my will; and these two Mortimers,

That cross me thus, shall know I am displeas’d. [Aside.]

ELDER MORTIMER

If you love us, my lord, hate Gaveston. 80

GAVESTON

That villain Mortimer! I’ll be his death. [Aside.]

YOUNG MORTIMER

Mine uncle here, this earl, and I myself

Were sworn to your father at his death,

That he should ne’er return into the realm; 84

And know, my lord, ere I will break my oath,

This sword of mine, that should offend your foes,

Shall sleep within the scabbard at thy need,

And underneath thy banners march who will, 88

For Mortimer will hang his armour up.

GAVESTON

Mort Dieu! [Aside.]

KING EDWARD

Well, Mortimer, I’ll make thee rue these words.

Beseems it thee to contradict thy king? 92

Frown’st thou thereat, aspiring Lancaster?

The sword shall plane the furrows of thy brows,

And hew these knees that now are grown so stiff.

I will have Gaveston; and you shall know 96

What danger’tis to stand against your king.

GAVESTON

Well done, Ned! [Aside.]

LANCASTER

My lord, why do you thus incense your peers,

That naturally would love and honour you 100

But for that base and obscure Gaveston?

Four earldoms have I, besides Lancaster,—

Derby, Salisbury, Lincoln, Leicester,—

These will I sell, to give my soldiers pay, 104

Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realm;

Therefore, if he be come, expel him straight.

EDMUND, EARL of KENT

Barons and earls, your pride hath made me mute;

But now I’ll speak, and to the proof, I hope. 108

I do remember, in my father’s days,

Lord Percy of the north, being highly mov’d,

Braved Moubery 4 in presence of the king;

For which, had not his highness lov’d him well, 112

He should have lost his head; but with his look

The undaunted spirit of Percy was appeas’d,

And Moubery and he were reconcil’d:

Yet dare you brave the king unto his face?— 116

Brother, revenge it, and let these their heads

Preach upon poles, for trespass of their tongues.

GUY, EARL of WARWICK

O, our heads!

KING EDWARD

Ay, yours; and therefore I would wish you grant— 120

GUY, EARL of WARWICK

Bridle thy anger, gentle Mortimer.

YOUNG MORTIMER

I cannot, nor I will not; I must speak.—

Cousin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads,

And strike off his that makes you threaten us. 124

Come, uncle, let us leave the brain-sick king,

And henceforth parley with our naked swords.

ELDER MORTIMER

Wiltshire hath men enough to save our heads.

GUY, EARL of WARWICK

All Warwickshire will love him for my sake. 5 128

LANCASTER

And northward Gaveston hath many friends.—

Adieu, my lord; and either change your mind,

Or look to see the throne, where you should sit,

To float in blood; and at thy wanton head, 132

The glozing 6 head of thy base minion thrown.

[Exeunt (all except KING EDWARD, KENT, GAVESTON and Attendants)]

KING EDWARD

I cannot brook these haughty menaces.

Am I a king, and must be overrul’d?—

Brother, display my ensigns in the field; 136

I’ll bandy 7 with the barons and the earls,

And either die or live with Gaveston.

GAVESTON

I can no longer keep me from my lord. [Comes forward.]

KING EDWARD

What, Gaveston! welcome!—Kiss not my hand— 140

Embrace me, Gaveston, as I do thee.

Why should’st thou kneel? Know’st thou not who I am?

Thy friend, thyself, another Gaveston!

Not Hylas was more mourn’d of Hercules, 144

Than thou hast been of me since thy exile.

GAVESTON

And since I went from hence, no soul in hell

Hath felt more torment than poor Gaveston.

KING EDWARD

I know it.—Brother, welcome home my friend. 148

Now let the treacherous Mortimers conspire,

And that high-minded Earl of Lancaster:

I have my wish, in that I joy thy sight;

And sooner shall the sea o’erwhelm my land, 152

Than bear the ship that shall transport thee hence.

I here create thee Lord High Chamberlain,

Chief Secretary to the state and me,

Earl of Cornwall, King and Lord of Man. 156

GAVESTON

My lord, these titles far exceed my worth.

EDMUND, EARL of KENT

Brother, the least of these may well suffice

For one of greater birth than Gaveston.

KING EDWARD

Cease, brother, for I cannot brook these words. 160

Thy worth, sweet friend, is far above my gifts,

Therefore, to equal it, receive my heart.

If for these dignities thou be envied,

I’ll give thee more; for, but to honour thee, 164

Is Edward pleas’d with kingly regiment. 8

Fear’st 9 thou thy person? Thou shalt have a guard.

Wantest thou gold? Go to my treasury.

Wouldst thou be lov’d and fear’d? Receive my seal; 168

Save or condemn, and in our name command

Whatso thy mind affects, or fancy likes.

GAVESTON

It shall suffice me to enjoy your love,

Which whiles I have, I think myself as great 172

As CÆsar riding in the Roman street,

With captive kings at his triumphant car.

[Enter the BISHOP of COVENTRY]

KING EDWARD

Whither goes my lord of Coventry so fast?

BISHOP OF COVENTRY

To celebrate your father’s exequies. 176

But is that wicked Gaveston return’d?

KING EDWARD

Ay, priest, and lives to be reveng’d on thee,

That wert the only cause of his exile.

GAVESTON

’Tis true; and but for reverence of these robes, 180

Thou should’st not plod one foot beyond this place.

BISHOP OF COVENTRY

I did no more than I was bound to do;

And, Gaveston, unless thou be reclaim’d,

As then I did incense the parliament, 184

So will I now, and thou shalt back to France.

GAVESTON

Saving your reverence, you must pardon me.

KING EDWARD

Throw off his golden mitre, rend his stole,

And in the channel 10 christen him anew. 188

EDMUND, EARL of KENT

Ah, brother, lay not violent hands on him!

For he’ll complain unto the see of Rome.

GAVESTON

Let him complain unto the see of hell;

I’ll be reveng’d on him for my exile. 192

KING EDWARD

No, spare his life, but seize upon his goods.

Be thou lord bishop and receive his rents,

And make him serve thee as thy chaplain.

I give him thee—here, use him as thou wilt. 196

GAVESTON

He shall to prison, and there die in bolts.

KING EDWARD

Ay, to the Tower, the Fleet, or where thou wilt.

BISHOP OF COVENTRY

For this offence, be thou accurst of God!

KING EDWARD

Who’s there? Convey this priest to the Tower. 200

BISHOP OF COVENTRY

True, true.

KING EDWARD

But in the meantime, Gaveston, away,

And take possession of his house and goods.

Come, follow me, and thou shalt have my guard 204

To see it done, and bring thee safe again.

GAVESTON

What should a priest do with so fair a house?

A prison may best beseem his holiness.

[Exeunt.]

Act the First, Scene II. The scene is at Westminster

Table of Contents

[Enter (on one side) both the MORTIMERS; (on the other,) WARWICK and LANCASTER]

GUY, EARL of WARWICK

’Tis true, the bishop is in the Tower,

And goods and body given to Gaveston.

LANCASTER

What! will they tyrannise upon the church?

Ah, wicked king! accursed Gaveston! 4

This ground, which is corrupted with their steps,

Shall be their timeless 1 sepulchre or mine.

YOUNG MORTIMER

Well, let that peevish Frenchman guard him sure;

Unless his breast be sword-proof he shall die. 8

ELDER MORTIMER