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

ALICE

A month? Ay me! Sweet Arden, come again

Within a day or two, or else I die.

ARDEN

I cannot long be from thee gentle ALICE

Whilst Michael fetch our horses from the field,

Franklin and I will down unto the key;

For I have certain goods there to unload.

Meanwhile prepare our breakfast, gentle Alice;

For yet ere noon we’ll take horse and away.

Exeunt Arden and FRANKLIN

ALICE

Ere noon he means to take horse and away!

Sweet news is this. O that some airy spirit

Would in the shape and likeness of a horse

Gallop with Arden ‘cross the ocean,

And throw him from his back into the waves!

Sweet Mosbie is the man that hath my heart:

And he usurps it, having nought but this,

That I am tied to him by marriage.

Love is a god, and marriage is but words;

And therefore Mosbie’s title is the best.

Tush! Whether it be or no, he shall be mine,

In spite of him, of hymen, and of rites.

(here enters Adam of the Flower-de-Luce

And here comes Adam of the Flower-de-Luce;

I hope he brings me tidings of my love.

-how now, Adam, what is the news with you?

Be not afraid; my husband is now from home.

ADAM

He whom you wot of, Mosbie, mistress Alice,

Is come to town, and sends you word by me

In any case you may not visit him.

ALICE

Not visit him?

ADAM

No, nor take no knowledge of his being here.

ALICE

But tell me, is he angry or displeased?

ADAM

Should seem so, for he is wondrous sad.

ALICE

Were he as mad as raving hercules,

I’ll see him, ay, and were thy house of force,

These hands of mine should raze it to the ground,

Unless that thou wouldst bring me to my love.

ADAM

Nay, and you be so impatient, I’ll be gone.

Ask Mosbie how I have incurred his wrath;

Bear him from me these pair of silver dice,

With which we played for kisses many a time,

And when I lost, I won, and so did he; -

Such winning and such losing jove send me,

And bid him, if his love do not decline,

Come this morning but along my door,

And as a stranger but salute me there:

This may he do without suspect or fear.

ADAM

I’ll tell him what you say, and so farewell. Exit ADAM

ALICE

Do, and one day I’ll make amends for all.

I know he loves me well, but dares not come,

Because my husband is so jealious,

And these my marrow prying neighbors blab,

Hinder our meetings when we would confer.

But, if I live, that block shall be removed,

And, Mosbie, thou that comes to me by stealth

Shalt neither fear the biting speech of men

Nor Arden’s looks; as surely shall he die

As I abhor him and love only thee.

(here enters MICHAEL

How, now Michael, whither are you going?

MICHAEL

To fetch my master’s nag.

I hope you’ll think on me.

ALICE

Ay; but, Michael, see you keep your oath,

And be secret as you are resolute.

MICHAEL

I’ll see he shall not live above a week.

ALICE

On that condition, Michael, here is my hand

None shall have Mosbie’s sister but thyself.

MICHAEL

I understand the painter here hard by

Hath made report that he and sue is sure.

ALICE

There’s no such matter, Michael; believe it not.

MICHAEL

But he hath sent a dagger sticking in a heart,

With a verse or two stolen from a painted cloth:

The which I hear the wench keeps in her chest.

MICHAEL

Why, say I should be took, I’ll ne’er confess,

That you know anything; and Susan, being a maid,

May beg me from the gallows of the sheriff.

ALICE

Trust not to that, MICHAEL

MICHAEL

You cannot tell me, I have seen it, ay,

I’ll make her more worth than twenty painters can;

For I will rid mine elder brother away,

And then the farm of bolton is mine own.

Who would not venture upon house and land,

When he may have it for a right down blow? (here enters MOSBIE

ALICE

Yonder comes MOSBIE

Michael, get thee gone,

And let not him nor any know thy drifts. (Exit MICHAEL

Mosbie, my love!

MOSBIE

Away, I say, and talk not to me now.

ALICE

A word or two, sweet heart, and then I will.

‘tis yet but early days, thou needst not fear.

MOSBIE

Where is your husband?

ALICE

‘tis now high water, and he is at the key.

MOSBIE

There let him be; hence forward know me not.

ALICE

Is this the end of all thy solemn oaths?

Is this the fruit thy reconcilement buds?

Have I for this given thee so many favors,

Incurred my husband’s hate, and, out alas,

Made shipwreck of mine honor for thy sake?

And dost thou say ‘hence forward know me not’?

Remember, when I lock’d thee in my closet,

What were thy words and mine; did we not both

Decree to murder Arden in the night?

The heavens can witness, and the world can tell,

Before I saw that falsehood look of thine,

‘fore I was tangled with thy ‘ticing speech,

Arden to me was dearer than my soul,

And shall be still: base peasant, get thee gone,

And boast not of thy conquest over me,

Gotten by witchcraft and mere sorcery!

For what hast thou to countenance my love,

Being descended of a noble house,