The last of the old editions is dated 1622:--_The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second, King of England: with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer. And also the life and death of Peirs Gauestone, the great Earle of Cornewall, and mighty Fauorite of King Edward the second. As it was publikely Acted by the late Queenes Maiesties Seruants at the Red Bull in S. Johns streete. Written by Christopher Marlow Gent. London, Printed for Henry Bell, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Lame-hospitall Gate, neere Smithfield, 1622._ The text of the 1598 4to., which is fairly free from corruptions, differs but slightly from the texts of the two later 4tos. I have not had an opportunity of inspecting the 8vo. of 1594; but I suspect that it agrees very closely with the later copies. _PERSONS REPRESENTED._ EDWARD II. PRINCE EDWARD, _his son, afterwards_ Edward III. GAVESTON. OLD SPENCER. YOUNG SPENCER. EARL MORTIMER. YOUNG MORTIMER. BERKELEY. LANCASTER. LEICESTER. EDMUND, _Earl of Kent._ ARUNDEL. WARWICK. PEMBROKE. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. BISHOP OF COVENTRY. BEAUMONT. TRUSSEL. Sir JOHN HAINAULT. LEVUNE. BALDOCK. MATREVIS. GURNEY. RICE AP HOWEL. LIGHTBORN. Abbot. Lords, Messengers, Monks, James, &c., &c. QUEEN ISABELLA. Niece _to_ Edward II. Ladies. EDWARD THE SECOND. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. _Enter_[163] GAVESTON, _reading a letter from the_ King. _Gav. My father is deceased! Come, Gaveston, And share the kingdom with thy dearest friend._ Ah! words that make me surfeit with delight! What greater bliss can hap to Gaveston Than live and be the favourite of a king! Sweet prince, I come; these, these thy amorous lines Might have enforced me to have swum from France, And, like Leander, gasped upon the sand, So thou would'st smile, and take me in thine arms. The sight of London to my exiled eyes 10 Is as Elysium to a new-come soul; Not that I love the city, or the men, But that it harbours him I hold so dear-- The king, upon whose bosom let me die,[164] And with the world be still at enmity. What need the arctic people love starlight, To whom the sun shines both by day and night? Farewell base stooping to the lordly peers! My knee shall bow to none but to the king. As for the multitude, that are but sparks, 20 Raked up in embers of their poverty;-- _Tanti_;[165] I'll fawn[166] first on the wind That glanceth at my lips, and flieth away. But how now, what are these? _Enter three poor_ Men. _Men._ Such as desire your worship's service. _Gav._ What canst thou do? _1 Man._ I can ride. _Gav._ But I have no horse. What art thou? _2 Man._ A traveller.