William Shakespeare - The Complete Apocryphal Works of William Shakespeare - All 17 Rare Plays in One Edition

Yes, I pray thee, good ferryman.

FERRYMAN

Then for this once; let it be midsummer moon,

But yet my wife has another moon.

FRANKLIN

Another moon?

FERRYMAN

Ay, and it hath influences and eclipses.

ARDEN

Why, then, by this reckoning you sometimes

Play the man in the moon.

FERRYMAN

Ay, but you had not best to meddle with that moon

Lest I scratch you by the face, with my bramble bush.

ARDEN

I am almost stifled with this fog, come let’s away.

FRANKLIN

And, sirrah, as we go, let us have some more of your

Bold yeomanry.

FERRYMAN

Nay, by my troth, sir, but flat knavery. (Exeunt.

(here enters Will at one door, and Shakebag at another.

SHAKEBAG

O, Will, where art thou?

WILL

Here, Shakebag, almost in hell’s mouth,

Where I cannot see my way for smoke.

SHAKEBAG

I pray thee speak still that we may meet

by the sound, for I shall fall into some ditch or

Other, unless my feet see better than my eyes.

WILL

Didst thou ever see better weather to run away

With another man’s wife, or play with a wench

At potfinger?

SHAKEBAG

No; this were a fine world for chandlers,

Should never dine nor sup without candle light.

But, sirrah Will, what horses are those that pass’d?

WILL

Why, didst thou hear any?

SHAKEBAG

Ay, that I did.

WILL

My life for thine, ‘twas Arden, and his companions

And then all our labor’s lost.

SHAKEBAG

Nay, say not so, for if it be they, they may haply

Lose their way as we have done,

And then we may chance meet with them.

WILL

Come, let us go on like a couple of blind pilgrims.

(then Shakebag falls into a ditch.

SHAKEBAG

Help, Will, help, I am almost drowned.

(here enters the ferryman.

FERRYMAN

Who’s that that calls for help?

WILL

‘twas none here, ‘twas thou thyself.

FERRYMAN

I came to help him that called for help,

Help. Why, how now? Who is this that’s in the ditch?

You are well enough served, to go without a guide,

Such weather as this.

WILL

Sirrah, what companies hath passed your ferry this morning?

FERRYMAN

None but a couple of gentlemen, that went to

Dine at my lord cheney’s.

WILL

Shakebag, did not I tell thee as much?

FERRYMAN

Why, sir, will you have any letters carried to them?

WILL

No, sir; get you gone.

FERRYMAN

Did you ever see such a mist as this?

WILL

No, nor such a fool as will rather be hought,

Than get his way.

FERRYMAN

Why, sir, this is no hough monday; you are deceived.

What’s his name, I pray you sir?

SHAKEBAG

His name is Black WILL

FERRYMAN

I hope to see him one day hanged upon a hill. (Exit ferryman.

SHAKEBAG

See how the sun hath cleared the foggy mist,

Now we have missed the mark of our intent.

(here enters Greene, Mosbie, and ALICE

MOSBIE

Black Will and Shakebag, what make you here?

What, is the deed done? Is Arden dead?

WILL

What could a blinded man perform in arms?

That neither horse nor man could be discerned?

Yet did we hear their horses as they passed.

GREENE

Have they escaped you, then, and passed the ferry?

SHAKEBAG

Ay, for a while; but here we two will stay,

WILL

Ay, mistress Arden, this will serve the turn,

In case we fall into a second fog.

(Exeunt Greene, Will and SHAKEBAG

MOSBIE

These knaves will never do it, let us give it over.

ALICE

First tell me how you like my new device?

Soon, when my husband is returning back,

You and I both marching arm in arm,

Like loving friends, we’ll meet him on the way,

And boldly beard and brave him to his teeth.

When words grow hot and blows begin to rise,

I’ll call those cutters forth your tenement,

Who, in a manner to take up the fray,

Shall wound my husband hornsby to the death.

MOSBIE

A fine device! Why, this deserves a kiss. (Exeunt.

(here enters Dick Reede and a sailor.

SAILOR

Faith, Dick Reede, it is to little end.

His conscience is too liberal, and he too niggardly

To part from any thing may do thee good.

REEDE

He is coming from shorlow as I understand;

Here I’ll intercept him, for at his house

He never will vouchsafe to speak with me.

If prayers and fair entreaties will not serve,

Or make no battery in his flinty breast.

(here enters Franklin, Arden, and MICHAEL

I’ll curse the carle, and see what that will do.

See where he comes to further my intent! -

Master Arden, I am now bound to the sea;

My coming to you was about the plat of ground,

Which wrongfully you detain from me.

Although the rent of it be very small,

Yet it will help my wife and children,

Which here I leave in feversham, god knows,

Needy and bare: for Christ’s sake, let them have it!

ARDEN

Franklin, hearest thou this fellow speak?

Although the rent of it was ever mine.

Sirrah, you that ask these questions,

If with thy clamorous impeaching tongue

Thou rail on me, as I have heard thou dost,