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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Edward the third.
    Pri Ed: Looke not for crosse inuectiues at our hands,
    Or rayling execrations of despight,
    Let creeping serpents hide in hollow banckes,
    Sting with theyr tongues; we haue remorseles swordes,
    1425And they shall pleade for vs and our affaires,
    Yet thus much breefly by my fathers leaue,
    As all the immodest poyson of thy throat,
    Is scandalous and most notorious lyes,
    And our pretended quarell is truly iust,
    1430So end the battaile when we meet to daie,
    May eyther of vs prosper and preuaile,
    Or luckles curst, receue eternall shame.
    Kin Ed: That needs no further question, and I knowe
    His conscience witnesseth it is my right,
    1435Therfore Valoys say, wilt thou yet resigne,
    Before the sickles thrust into the Corne,
    Or that inkindled fury, turne to flame:
    Ioh: Edward I know what right thou hast in France,
    And ere I basely will resigne my Crowne,
    1440This Champion field shallbe a poole of bloode,
    And all our prospect as a slaughter house,
    Pr Ed: I that approues thee tyrant what thou art,
    No father, king, or shepheard of thy realme,
    But one that teares her entrailes with thy handes,
    1445And like a thirstie tyger suckst her bloud.
    Aud: You peeres of France, why do you follow him,
    That is so prodigall to spend your liues?
    Ch: Whom should they follow, aged impotent,
    But he that is their true borne soueraigne?
    1450Kin: Obraidst thou him, because within his face,
    Time hath ingraud deep caracters of age:
    Know that these graue schollers of experience,
    Like stiffe growen oakes, will stand immouable,
    When whirle wind quickly turnes vp yonger trees.
    1455Dar. Was euer anie of thy fathers house king,
    But thyselfe, before this present time,
    Edwards great linage by the mothers side,
    3 Fiue
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