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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Will not beware how shees insnard againe:
    Or what is he so senceles and secure,
    That hauing hardely past a dangerous gulfe,
    Will put him selfe in perill there againe.
    1855Vil: Ah but it is mine othe my gratious Lord,
    Which I in conscience may not violate,
    Or else a kingdome should not draw me hence.
    Ch: Thine othe, why that doth bind thee to abide:
    Hast thou not sworne obedience to thy Prince?
    1860Vil: In all things that vprightly he commands:
    But either to perswade or threaten me,
    Not to performe the couenant of my word,
    Is lawlesse, and I need not to obey.
    Ch: Why is it lawfull for a man to kill,
    1865And not to breake a promise with his foe?
    Vil: To kill my Lord when warre is once proclaymd,
    So that our quarrel be for wrongs receaude,
    No doubt is lawfully permitted vs:
    But in an othe we must be well aduisd,
    1870How we do sweare, and when we once haue sworne,
    Not to infringe it though we die therefore:
    Therefore my Lord, as willing I returne,
    As if I were to flie to paradise.
    Ch: Stay my Villeirs, thine honorable minde,
    1875Deserues to be eternally admirde,
    Thy sute shalbe no longer thus deferd:
    Giue me the paper, Ile subscribe to it,
    And wheretofore I loued thee as Villeirs,
    Heereafter Ile embrace thee as my selfe,
    1880Stay and be still in fauour with thy Lord.
    Vil: I humbly thanke your grace, I must dispatch,
    And send this pasport first vnto the Earle,
    And then I will attend your highnes pleasure.
    Ch. Do so Villeirs, and Charles when he hath neede,
    1885Be such his souldiers, howsoeuer he speede. Exit Villeirs.
    Enter King Iohn.
    K. Io: Come Charles and arme thee, Edward is intrapt,
    The Prince of Wales is falne into our hands,
    H An
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