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Act IIScene I
Scene I
Gloucester`s house
Enter Young Spencer and Baldock
Bald. Spencer,
Seeing that our lord the Earl of Gloucester`s dead,
Which of the nobles dost thou mean to serve?
Y. Spen. Not Mortimer, nor any of his side,
Because the king and he are enemies.
Baldock, learn this of me, a factious lord
Shall hardly do himself good, much less us;
But he that hath the favour of a king,
May with one word advance us while we live.
The liberal Earl of Cornwall is the man
On whose good fortune Spencer`s hopes depends.
Bald. What, mean you then to be his follower?
Y. Spen. No, his companion; for he loves me well,
And would have once preferr`d me to the king.
Bald. But he is banish`d; there`s small hope of him.
Y. Spen. Ay, for a while; but, Baldock, mark the end.
A friend of mine told me in secrecy
That he`s repeal`d, and sent for back again;
And even now a post came from the court
With letters to our lady from the king;
And as she read she smil`d, which makes me think
It is about her lover Gaveston.
Bald. `Tis like enough; for since he was exil`d
She neither walks abroad, nor comes in sight.
But I had thought the match had been broke off,
And that his banishment had chang`d her mind.
Y. Spen. Our lady`s first love is not wavering;
My life for thine, she will have Gaveston.
Bald. Then hope I by her means to be preferr`d,
Having read unto her since she was a child.
Y. Spen. Then, Baldock, you must cast the scholar off,
And learn to court it like a gentleman.
`Tis not a black coat and a little band,
A velvet - cap`d coat, fac`d before with serge,
And smelling to a nosegay all the day,
Or holding of a napkin in your hand,
Or saying a long grace at a table`s end,
Or making low legs^1 to a nobleman,
Or looking downward with your eyelids close,
And saying, "Truly, an`t^2 may please your honour,"
Can get you any favour with great men;
You must be proud, bold, pleasant, resolute,
And now and then stab, as occasion serves.
[Footnote 1: Bows.]
[Footnote 2: If it.]
Bald. Spencer, thou know`st I hate such formal toys,
And use them but of mere hypocrisy.
Mine old lord whiles he liv`d was so precise,
That he would take exceptions at my buttons,
And being like pin`s heads, blame me for the bigness;
Which made me curate - like in mine attire,
Though inwardly licentious enough
And apt for any kind of villainy.
I am none of these common pedants, I,
That cannot speak without propterea quod.^3
[Footnote 3: Lat. because.]
Y. Spen. But one of those that saith quandoquidem,^4
And hath a special gift to form a verb.
[Footnote 4: Lat. since.]
Bald. Leave off this jesting, here my lady comes.
Enter the Lady [King Edward`s Niece.]
Niece. The grief for his exile was not so much
As is the joy of his returning home.
This letter came from my sweet Gaveston: -
What need`st thou, love, thus to excuse thyself?
I know thou could`st not come and visit me.
[Reads.] "I will not long be from thee, though I die."
This argues the entire love of my lord;
[Reads.] "When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart:"
But stay thee here where Gaveston shall sleep.
[Puts the letter into her bosom.]
Now to the letter of my lord the king. -
He wills me to repair unto the court,
And meet my Gaveston? Why do I stay,
Seeing that he talks thus of my marriage - day?
Who`s there? Baldock!
See that my coach be ready, I must hence.
Bald. It shall be done, madam.
Niece. And meet me at the park - pale presently. Exit Baldock.
Spencer, stay you and bear me company,
For I have joyful news to tell thee of.
My lord of Cornwall is a - coming over,
And will be at the court as soon as we.
Y. Spen. I knew the king would have him home again.
Niece. If all things sort^5 out as I hope they will,
Thy service, Spencer, shall be thought upon.
[Footnote 5: Turn.]
Y. Spen. I humbly thank your ladyship.
Niece. Come, lead the way; I long till I am there.
[Exeunt.]
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