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  • Title: Edward III (Quarto 1, 1596)
  • Editor: Sonia Massai

  • Copyright Sonia Massai. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Sonia Massai
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Edward III (Quarto 1, 1596)

    The Raigne of King
    To be but dusty heapes, of brittile sande.
    35Art: Perhaps it will be thought a heynous thing,
    That I a French man should discouer this,
    But heauen I call to recorde of my vowes,
    It is not hate nor any priuat wronge,
    But loue vnto my country and the right,
    40Prouokes my tongue thus lauish in report.
    You are the lyneal watch men of our peace,
    And Iohn of Valoys, in directly climbes,
    What then should subiects but imbrace their King,
    Ah where in may our duety more be seene,
    45Then stryuing to rebate a tyrants pride,
    And place the true shepheard of our comonwealth,
    King: This counsayle Artoyes like to fruictfull shewers,
    Hath added growth vnto my dignitye,
    And by the fiery vigor of thy words,
    50Hot courage is engendred in my brest,
    Which heretofore was rakt in ignorance,
    But nowe doth mount with golden winges of fame,
    And will approue faire Issabells discent,
    Able to yoak their stubburne necks with steele,
    55That spurne against my souereignety in France.sound a horne
    A mestenger, Lord Awdley know from whence,
    Enter a messenger Lorragne,
    Aud: The Duke of Lorrayne, hauing crost the seas,
    In treates he may haue conference with your highnes.
    60King: Admit him Lords, that we may heare the newes.
    Say Duke of Lorrayne wherefore art thou come.
    Lor: The most renowned prince K. Iohn of France,
    Doth greete thee Edward, and by me commandes,
    That for so mnch as by his liberall gift,
    65The Guyen Dukedome is entayld to thee,
    Thou do him lowly homage for the same.
    And for that purpose here I somon thee,
    Repaire to France within these forty daies,
    That there according as the coustome is.
    70Thou mayst be sworne true liegeman to our King,
    Or