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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 of King
    That I would haue chokt vp my soueraigne.
    Ki. Whose liues my Lady?
    Co. My thrice loning liege,
    970Your Queene, and Salisbury my wedded husband,
    Who liuing haue that tytle in our loue,
    That we cannot bestow but by their death,
    Ki: Thy opposition is beyond our Law,
    Co. So is your desire, if the law
    975Can hinder you to execute the one,
    Let it forbid you to attempt the other:
    I Cannot thinke you loue me as you say,
    Vnlesse you do make good what you haue sworne.
    No mor, ethy husband and the Queene shall dye,
    980Fairer thou art by farre, then Hero was,
    Beardles Leander not so strong as I:
    He swome an easie curraunt for his loue,
    But I will throng a hellie spout of bloud,
    To arryue at Cestus where my Hero lyes.
    985Co: Nay youle do more, youle make the Ryuer to,
    With their hart bloods, that keepe our loue asunder,
    Of which my husband, and your wife are twayne.
    Ki. Thy beauty makes them guilty of their death,
    And giues in euidence that they shall dye,
    990Vpon which verdict I their Iudge condemne them.
    Co: O periurde beautie, more corrupted Iudge:
    When to the great Starre-chamber ore our heads,
    The vniuersell Sessions cals to count,
    This packing euill, we both shall tremble for it.
    995Ki. What saies my faire loue, is she resolute?
    Co. Resolute to be dissolude, and therefote this,
    Keepe but thy word great king, and I am thine,
    Stand where thou dost, ile part a little from thee
    And see how I will yeeld me to thy hands:
    1000Here by my side doth hang my wedding knifes,
    Take thou the one, and with it kill thy Queene
    And learne by me to finde her where she lies
    And