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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter prince Edward, king Iohn, Charles, and all
    with Ensignes spred.
    Retreat sounded.
    Pri. Now Iohn in France, & lately Iohn of France,
    2285Thy bloudie Ensignes are my captiue colours,
    and you high vanting Charles of Normandie,
    That once to daie sent me a horse to flie,
    are now the subiects of my clemencie.
    Fie Lords, is it not a shame that English boies,
    2290Whose early daies are yet not worth a beard,
    Should in the bosome of your kingdome thus,
    One against twentie beate you vp together.
    Kin. Thy fortune, not thy force hath conquerd vs.
    Pri. an argument that heauen aides the right,
    2295See, see, Artoys doth bring with him along,
    the late good counsell giuer to my soule,
    Welcome Artoys, and welcome Phillip to,
    Who now of you or I haue need to praie,
    Now is the prouerbe verefied in you,
    2300Too bright a morning breeds a louring daie.
    Sound
    Edward the third.
    Sound Trumpets, enter Audley.
    But say, what grym discoragement comes heere,
    Alas what thousand armed men of Fraunce,
    Haue writ that note of death in Audleys face:
    2305Speake thou that wooest death with thy careles (smile
    and lookst so merrily vpon thv graue,
    As if thou wert enamored on thyne end,
    What hungry sword hath so bereuad thy face,
    And lopt a true friend from my louing soule:
    2310Au. O Prince thy sweet bemoning speech to me.
    Is as a morneful knell to one dead sicke.
    Pr: Deare Audley if my tongue ring out thy end:
    My armes shalbe the graue, what may I do,
    To win thy life, or to reuenge thy death,
    2315If thou wilt drinke the blood of captyue kings,
    Or that it were restoritiue, command
    A Heath of kings blood, and Ile drinke to thee,
    If honor may dispence for thee with death,
    The neuer dying honor of this daie,
    2320Share wholie Audley to thy selfe and liue.
    Aud: Victorious Prince, that thou art so, behold
    A Caesars fame in kings captiuitie;
    If I could hold dym death but at a bay,
    Till I did see my liege thy loyall father,
    2325My soule should yeeld this Castle of my flesh,
    This mangled tribute with all willingnes;
    To darkenes consummation, dust and Wormes.
    Pr: Cheerely bold man, thy soule is all to proud,
    To yeeld her Citie for one little breach,
    2330Should be diuorced from her earthly spouse,
    By the soft temper of a French mans sword:
    Lo, to repaire thy life, I giue to thee,
    Three thousand Marks a yeere in English land.
    Au: I take thy gift to pay the debts I owe:
    2335These two poore Esquires redeemd me from the (French
    With lusty & deer hazzard of their liues;
    What thou hast giuen me I giue to them,
    And as thou louest me Prince, lay thy consent.
    3
    The Raigne of king
    To this bequeath in my last testament.
    2340Pr: Renowned Audley, liue and haue from mee,
    This gift twise doubled to these Esquires and thee
    But liue or die, what thou hast giuen away,
    To these and theirs shall lasting freedome stay,
    Come gentlemen, I will see my friend bestowed,
    2345With in an easie Litter, then wele martch.
    Proudly toward Callis with tryumphant pace,
    Vnto my royall father, and there bring,
    The tribut of my wars, faire Fraunce his king. Ex.
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