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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The Raigne of King
    Two: Quarter day, I and quartering pay I feare:
    Haue we not heard the newes that flies abroad?
    One: What newes?
    Three: How the French Nauy is destroyd at Sea,
    1250And that the English Armie is arriued.
    One: What then?
    Two: What then quoth you? why ist not time to flie,
    When enuie and destruction is so nigh,
    One. Content thee man, they are farre enough from hence,
    1255And will be met I warrant ye to their cost,
    Before they breake so far into the Realme.
    Two: I so the Grashopper doth spend the time,
    In mirthfull iollitie till Winter come,
    And then too late he would redeeme his time,
    1260When frozen cold hath nipt his carelesse head:
    He that no sooner will prouide a Cloake,
    Then when he sees it doth begin to raigne,
    May peraduenture for his negilgence,
    Be throughly washed when he suspects it not,
    1265We that haue charge, and such a trayne as this,
    Must looke in time, to looke for them and vs,
    Least when we would, we cannot be relieued.
    One: Be like you then dispaire of ill successe,
    And thinke your Country will be subiugate.
    1270Three. We cannot tell, tis good to feare the worst.
    One: Yet rather fight, then like vnnaturall sonnes,
    For sake your louing parents in distresse.
    Two. Tush they that haue already taken armes,
    Are manie fearefull millions in respect
    1275Of that small handfull of our enimies:
    But tis a rightfull quarrell must preuaile,
    Edward is sonnne vnto our late kings sister,
    Where Iohn Valoys, is three degrees remoued.
    Wo: Besides, there goes a Prophesie abroad,
    1280Published by one that was a Fryer once,
    Whose Oracles haue many times prooued true,
    And
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