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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    1070Those frothy Dutch men, puft with double beere,
    That drinke and swill in euery place they come,
    Doth not a little aggrauate mine ire,
    Besides we heare the Emperor conioynes,
    And stalls him in his owne authoritie:
    1075But all the mightier that their number is,
    The greater glory reapes the victory,
    Some friends haue we beside drum stricke power,
    The sterne Polonian and the warlike Dane:
    The king of Bohemia, and of Cycelie.
    1080Are all become confederates with vs,
    And as I thinke are marching hither apace,
    But soft I heare the musicke of their drums.
    By which I gesse that their approch is neare.

    Enter the King of Bohemia with
    1085 Danes, and a Polonian Captaine
    with other soldiers another way.
    King of Boheme.
    King Iohn of Fraunce, as league and neighborhood,
    Requires when friends are any way distrest,
    1090I come to aide thee with my countries force,
    Pol. Cap. And from great Musco fearefull to the Turke,
    And lofty Poland, nurse of hardie men,
    I bring these seruitors to fight for thee,
    Who willingly will venture in thy cause.
    1095K. Io: Welcome Bohemian king, and welcome all,
    This your great kindnesse I will not forget.
    Besides your plentiful rewards in Crownes,
    That from our Treasory ye shall receiue,
    There comes a hare braind Nation deckt in pride,
    1100The spoyle of whome wiil be a trebble game,
    And now my hope is full, my ioy complete,
    2 At