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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    As I haue seene her when she was her selfe.
    K. Ed: What strange enchantment lurke in those her eyes?
    When they exceld this excellence they haue,
    That now her dym declyne hath power to draw,
    290My subiect eyes from persing maiestie,
    To gaze on her with doting admiration.
    Count: In duetie lower then the ground I kneele,
    And for my dul knees bow my feeling heart,
    To witnes my obedience to your highnes,
    295With many millions of a subiects thanks.
    For this your Royall presence, whose approch,
    Hath driuen war and danger from my gate.
    K. Lady stand vp, I come to bring thee peace,
    How euer thereby I haue purchast war.
    300Co: No war to you my liege, the Scots are gone,
    And gallop home toward Scotland with their hate,
    Least yeelding heere, I pyne in shamefull loue:
    Come wele persue the Scots, Artoyes away.
    Co: A little while my gratious soueraigne stay,
    305And let the power of a mighty king
    Honor our roofe: my husband in the warres,
    When he shall heare it will triumph for ioy.
    Then deare my liege, now niggard not thy state,
    Being at the wall, enter our homely gate.
    310King. Pardon me countesse, I will come no neare,
    I dreamde to night of treason and I feare.
    Co: Far from this place let vgly treason ly.
    K: No farther off, then her conspyring eye,
    Which shoots infected poyson in my heart.
    315Beyond repulse of wit or cure of Art.
    Now in the Sunne alone it doth not lye,
    With light to take light, from a mortall eye.
    For here to day stars that myne eies would see,
    More then the Sunne steales myne owne light from mee:
    320Contemplatiue desire, desire to be,
    Incontemplation that may master thee.
    3 War-
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