Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 king
    610That loue you beg of me I cannot giue,
    For Sara owes that duetie to her Lord,
    He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp,
    Shall die my Lord, and will your sacred selfe,
    Comit high treason against the King of heauen,
    615To stamp his Image in forbidden mettel,
    Forgetting your alleageance, and your othe,
    In violating mariage secred law,
    You breake a greater honor then your selfe,
    To be a King is of a yonger house,
    620Then to be maried, your progenitour
    Sole ragning Adam on the vniuerse,
    By God was honored for a married man,
    But not by him annointed for a king,
    It is a pennalty to breake your statutes,
    625Though not enacted with your highnes hand,
    How much more to infringe the holy act,
    Made by the mouth of God, seald with his hand,
    I know my souereigne in my husbands loue,
    Who now doth loyall seruice in his warrs,
    630Doth but to try the wife of Salisbury,
    Whither shee will heare a wantons tale or no,
    Lest being therein giulty by my stay,
    From that not from my leige I tourne awaie: Exit.
    King: Whether is her bewtie by her words dyuine,
    635Or are her words sweet chaplaines to her bewtie,
    Like as the wind doth beautifie a saile,
    And as a saile becomes the vnseene winde,
    So doe her words her bewties, bewtie wordes,
    O that I were a honie gathering bee,
    640To beare the combe of vertue from his flower,
    And not a poison sucking enuious spider,
    To turne the vice I take to deadlie venom,
    Religion is austere and bewty gentle,
    To stricke a gardion for so faire a weed,
    645O that shee were as is the aire to mee,
    O
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC