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

Yet, Arden, I protest to thee by heaven,

Thou ne’er shalt see me more after this night.

I’ll go to rome rather than be forsworn.

ARDEN

Tush, I’ll have no such vows made in my house.

ALICE

Yes, I pray you, husband, let him swear;

And, on that condition, Mosbie, pledge me here.

MOSBIE

Ay, as willingly as I mean to live.

ARDEN

Come, Alice, is our supper ready yet?

ALICE

It will by then you have played a game at tables.

ARDEN

Come, master Mosbie, what shall we play for?

MOSBIE

Three games for a french crown, sir,

And please you.

ARDEN

Content.

(then they play at the tables.

WILL

Can he not take him yet? What a spite is that?

ALICE

Not yet, Will; take heed he see thee not.

WILL

I fear he will spy me as I am coming.

MOSBIE

One ace, or else I lose the game.

ARDEN

Marry, sir, there’s two for failing.

MOSBIE

Ah, master Arden, ‘now I can take you.’

(then Will pulls him down with a towel.

ARDEN

Mosbie, Michael, Alice, what will you do?

WILL

Nothing but take you up, sir, nothing else.

MOSBIE

There’s for the pressing iron you told me of.

SHAKEBAG

And there’s for the ten pound in my sleeve.

Take this for hindering Mosbie’s love and mine. (she stabs him)

MICHAEL

O, mistress!

Mosbie, farewell, and Michael, farewell too. (Exeunt. Enter SUSAN

SUSAN

Mistress, the guests are at the doors.

Hearken, they knock: what, shall I let them in?

ALICE

Mosbie, go thou, and bear them company. (Exit MOSBIE

And, susan, fetch water and wash away this blood.

SUSAN

The blood cleaveth to the ground and will not out.

ALICE

But with my nails I’ll scrape away the blood.

The more I strive, the more the blood appears!

SUSAN

What’s the reason, mistress, can you tell?

ALICE

Because I blush not at my husband’s death. (here enters MOSBIE

MOSBIE

How now? What’s the matter? Is all well?

ALICE

Ay, well, if Arden were alive again.

In vain we strive, for here his blood remains.

MOSBIE

Why, strew rushes on it, can you not?

This wench does nothing: fall unto the work.

ALICE

‘twas thou that made me murder him.

MOSBIE

What of that?

ALICE

Nay, nothing, Mosbie, so it be not known.

MOSBIE

Keep thou it close, and ‘tis impossible.

ALICE

Ah, but I can not, was he not slain by me? my husband’s death torments me at the heart.

MOSBIE

It shall not long torment thee, gentle Alice;

I am thy husband, think no more of him.

(here enters Adam Fowl and BRADSHAW

BRADSHAW

How now, mistress Arden? What ails you, you weep?

MOSBIE

Because her husband is abroad so late.

A couple of ruffians threatened him yesternight,

And she, poor soul, is afraid he should be hurt.

ADAM

Is’t nothing else? Tush, he’ll be here anon.

(here enters GREENE

GREENE

Now, mistress Arden, lack you any guests?

ALICE

Ah, master Greene, did you see my husband lately?

GREENE

I saw him walking behind the abbey even now.

ALICE

I do not like this being out so late. -

Master Franklin, where did you leave my husband?

FRANKLIN

Believe me I saw him not since morning.

Fear you not, he’ll come anon; meantime

You may do well to bid his guests sit down.

ALICE

Ay, so they shall; master Bradshaw, sit you there;

I pray you be content, I’ll have my will.

Master Mosbie, sit you in my husband’s seat.

MICHAEL

susan, shall thou and I wait on them?

Or, and thou sayest the word, let us sit down too.

SUSAN

peace, we have other matters now in hand.

I fear me, Michael, all will be bewrayed.

MICHAEL

Tush, so it be known that I shall marry thee in the

I can not though I be hanged ere night.

But to prevent the worst, I’ll buy some rats bane.

SUSAN

why, Michael, wilt thou poison thyself?

MICHAEL

No, but my mistress, for I fear she’ll tell.

SUSAN

Tush, Michael; fear not her, she’s wise enough.

MOSBIE

Sirrah Michael, give’s a cup of beer. -

Mistress Arden, here’s to your husband.

ALICE

My husband?

FRANKLIN

What ails you woman, to cry so suddenly?

ALICE

Ah, neighbors, a sudden qualm came over my heart

My husband being forth torments my mind.

I know something’s amiss, he is not well;

Or else I should have heard of him ere now.

MOSBIE

she will undo us through her foolishness.

GREENE

Fear not, mistress Arden, he’s well enough.

ALICE

Tell not me; I know he is not well:

He was not wont for to stay thus late.

Good master Franklin, go and seek him forth,

And if you find him send him home to me,

And tell him what a fear he hath put me in.

FRANKLIN

I like not this; I pray god all be well.

I’ll seek him out, and find him if I can.

(Exeunt Franklin, Mosbie, and GREENE

ALICE

Michael, how shall I do to rid the rest away?