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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    With one such inferior to my selfe,
    Yet in respect thy thirst is all for golde,
    They labour rather to be feared then loued,
    To satisfie thy lust in either parte
    1390Heere am I come and with me haue I brought,
    Exceding store of treasure, perle, and coyne,
    Leaue therfore now to persecute the weake,
    And armed entring conflict with the armd,
    Let it be seene mongest other pettie thefts,
    1395How thou canst win this pillage manfully.
    K: Ed: If gall or worm wood haue a pleasant tast,
    Then is thy sallutation hony sweete,
    But as the one hath no such propertie,
    So is the other most satiricall:
    1400Yet wot how I regarde thy worthles tants,
    If thou haue vttred them to foile my fame,
    Or dym the reputation of my birth,
    Know that thy woluish barking cannot hurt,
    If slylie to insinuate with the worlde,
    1405And with a strumpets artifitiall line,
    To painte thy vitious and deformed cause,
    Bee well assured the counterfeit will fade,
    And in the end thy fowle defects be seene,
    But if thou didst it to prouoke me on,
    1410As who should saie I were but timerous,
    Or coldly negligent did need a spurre,
    Bethinke thy selfe howe slacke I was at sea.
    Now since my landing I haue wonn no townes,
    Entered no further but vpon the coast,
    1415And there haue euer since securelie slept,
    But if I haue bin other wise imployd,
    Imagin Valoys whether I intende
    To skirmish, not for pillage but for the Crowne,
    Which thou dost weare and that I vowe to haue,
    1420Or one of vs shall fall in to this graue,
    Pr Ed: Looke
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