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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Edward II

Act: 5 Scene: 5<<- -

Enter Matrevis and Gurney.

Matrevis.

Gurney, I wonder the king dies not,

Being in a vault up to the knees in water,

To which the channels of the castell runne,

From whence a dampe continually ariseth,

That were enough to poison any man,

Much more a king brought up so tenderlie.

Gurney

And so do I, Matrevis: yesternight

I opened but the doore to throw him meate,

And I was almost stifeled wit the savor.

Matrevis

He hath a body able to endure,

More then we can enflict, and therefore now,

Let us assaile his minde another while.

Gurney

Send for him out thence, and I will anger him.

Matrevis

But stay, whose this ?

Enter Lightborne.

Lightborne

My lord protector greetes you.

Gurney

Whats heere ? I know not how to conster it.

Matrevis.

Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce,

Edwardum occidere nolite timere,

Thats his meaning.

Lightborne

Know you this token?I must have the king.

Matrevis

I, stay a while, thou shalt have answer straight.

This villain's sent to make away the king.

Gurney

I thought as much.

Matrevis

And when the murders done,

See how he must be handled for his labour,

Pereat iste: let him have the king,

What else? Heere is the keyes, this is the lake,

Doe as you are commaunded by my lord.

Lightborne

I know what I must do, get you away,

Yet be not farre off,

I shall need your helpe,

See that in the next roome I have a fier,

And get me a spit, and let it be red hote.

Matrevis

Very well.

Gurney

Neede you any thing besides?

Lightborne

What else, a table and a fetherbed.

Gurney

Thats all?

Lightborne

I, I, so: when I call you, bring it in.

Matrevis

Feare not you that.

Gurney

Heeres a light to go into the dungeon.

[Exeunt Matrevis and Gurney.]

Lightborne

So,

Now must I about this geare, nere was there any

So finely handled as this king shalbe.

Foh, heeres a place in deed with all my hart.

[Edward comes up or is discovered.]

Edward

Whose there, what light is that, wherefore comes thou?

Lightborne

To comfort you, and bring you joyfull newes.

Edward

Small comfort findes poore Edward in thy lookes,

Villaine, I know thou comst to murther me.

Lightborne

To murther you my most gratious lorde?

Farre is it from my hart to do you harme,

The Queene sent me, to see how you were used,

For she relents at this your miserie.

And what eyes can refraine from shedding teares,

To see a king in this most pittious state?

Edward

Weepst thou already? list a while to me,

And then thy heart, were it as Gurneys is,

Or as Matrevis, hewne from the Caucasus,

Yet will it melt, ere I have done my tale.

This dungeon where they keepe me, is the sincke,

Wherein the filthe of all the castell falles.

Lightborne

O villaines!

Edward

And there in mire and puddle have I stood,

This ten dayes space, and least that I should sleepe,

One plaies continually upon a Drum,

They give me bread and water being a king,

So that for want of sleepe and sustenance,

My mindes distempered, and my bodies numde,

And whether I have limmes or no, I know not.

O would my bloud dropt out from every vaine,

As doth this water from my tattered robes:

Tell Isabell the Queene, I lookt not thus,

When for her sake I ran at tilt in Fraunce,

And there unhorste the duke of Cleremont.

Lightborne

O speake no more my lorde, this breakes my heart.

Lie on this bed, and rest your selfe a while.

Edward

These lookes of thine can harbor nought but death.

I see my tragedie written in thy browes,

Yet stay a while, forbeare thy bloudie hande,

And let me see the stroke before it comes,

That even then when I shall lose my life,

My minde may be more stedfast on my God.

Lightborne

What meanes your highnesse to mistrust me thus ?

Edward

What meanes thou to dissemble with me thus ?

Lightborne

These handes were never stainde with innocent bloud,

Nor shall they now be tainted with a kings.

Edward

Forgive my thought, for having such a thought,

One jewell have I left, receive thou this.

Still feare I, and I know not whats the cause,

But everie jointe shakes as I give it thee:

O if thou harborst murther in thy hart,

Let this gift change thy minde, and save thy soule,

Know that I am a king, oh at that name,

I feele a hell of greefe: where is my crowne?

Gone, gone, and doe I remaine alive?

Lightborne

Your overwatchde my lord, lie downe and rest.

Edward

But that greefe keepes me waking, I shoulde sleepe,

For not these ten daies have these eyes lids closd.

Now as I speake they fall, and yet with feare

Open againe. O wherefore sits thou heare?

Lightborne

If you mistrust me, ile be gon my lord.

Edward

No, no, for if thou meanst to murther me,

Thou wilt returne againe, and therefore stay.

Lightborne

He sleepes.

Edward

O let me not die yet, stay, O stay a while.

Lightborne

How now my Lorde.

Edward

Something still busseth in mine eares,

And tels me, if I sleepe I never wake,

This feare is that which makes me tremble thus,

And therefore tell me, wherefore art thou come?

Lightborne

To rid thee of thy life. Matrevis come.

Edward

I am too weake and feeble to resist,

Assist me sweete God, and receive my soule.

[Enter Matrevis, Gurney, and exeunt. Return with table.]

Lightborne

Runne for the table.

Edward

O spare me, or dispatche me in a trice.

Lightborne

So, lay the table downe, and stampe on it,

But not too hard, least that you bruse his body.

[King dies.]

Matrevis

I feare mee that this crie will raise the towne,

And therefore let us take horse and away.

Lightborne

Tell me sirs, was it not bravelie done?

Gurney

Excellent well, take this for thy rewarde.

Then Gurney stabs Lightborne.

Come let us cast the body in the mote,

And beare the kings to Mortimer our lord,

Away.

Exeunt omnes.

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