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

Thou shalt be crowned king of Arragon.

MOUSE. Oh, master, laugh! when he’s King, then I’ll be a queen.

MUCEDORUS.

Then know that which ne’er tofore was known:

I am no shepherd, no Arragonian I,

But born of Royal blood—my father’s of

Valentia King, my mother queen—who for

Thy secret sake took this hard task in hand.

AMADINE.

Ah how i joy my fortune is so good.

SEGASTO.

Well now i see, Segasto shall not speed;

But, Mucedorus, I as much do joy,

To see thee here within our Court of Arragon,

As if a kingdom had befain me. This time

I with my heart surrender it to thee.

[He giveth her unto him.]

And loose what right to Amadine I have.

MOUSE.

What a barn’s door, and born where my father

Was cunstable! a bots on thee, how dost thee?

MUCEDORUS.

Thanks, Segasto; but yet you leveled at the crown.

MOUSE.

Master, bear this and bear all.

SEGASTO.

Why so, sir?

MOUSE.

He says you take a goose by the crown.

SEGASTO.

Go to, sir: away, post you to the king,

Whose heart is fraught with careful doubts,

Glad him up and tell him these good news,

And we will follow as fast as we may.

MOUSE.

I go, master; I run, master.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. Open Place near the Court of the King of Arragon.

[Enter the King and Collen.]

KING.

Break, heart, and end my paled woes,

My Amadine, the comfort of my life,

How can I joy except she were in sight?

Her absence breeds sorrow to my soul

And with a thunder breaks my heart in twain.

COLLEN.

Forbear those passions, gentle King,

And you shall see twill turn unto the best,

And bring your soul to quiet and to joy.

KING.

Such joy as death, I do assure me that,

And naught but death, unless of her I hear,

And that with speed; I cannot sigh thus long—

But what a tumult do I hear within?

[The cry within, ‘joy and happiness!’]

COLLEN.

I hear a noise of overpassing joy

Within the court; my Lord, be of good comfort—

And here comes one in haste.

[Enter the Clown running.]

MOUSE.

A King! a King! a King!

COLLEN.

Why, how now, sirra? what’s the matter?

MOUSE.

O, tis news for a king, ‘tis worth money.

KING. Why, sirra, thou shalt have silver and gold if it be good.

MOUSE.

O, tis good, tis good. Amadine—

KING.

Oh, what of her? tell me, & I will make thee a knight.

MOUSE.

How a spright? no, by lady, I will not be a spright.

Masters, get ye away; if I be a spright, I shall be so lean

I shall make you all afraid.

COLLEN.

Thou sot, the King means to make thee a gentleman.

MOUSE.

Why, I shall want parrell.

KING.

Thou shalt want for nothing.

MOUSE.

Then stand away, trick up thy self: here they come.

[Enter Segasto, Mucedorus, and Amadine.]

AMADINE.

My gratious father, pardon thy disloyal daughter.

KING.

What do mine eyes behold? my daughter Amadine?

Rise up, dear daughter & let these, my embracing arms,

Show some token of thy father’s joy,

Which ever since thy departure hath languished in sorrow.

AMADINE.

Dear father, never were your sorrows

Greater than my griefs,

Never you so desolate as I comfortless;

Yet, nevertheless, acknowledging my self

To be the cause of both, on bended knees

I humbly crave your pardon.

KING.

I’ll pardon thee, dear daughter: but as for him—

AMADINE.

Ah, father, what of him?

KING.

As sure as I am a king, and wear the crown,

I will revenge on that accursed wretch.

MUCEDORUS.

Yet, worthy prince, work not thy will in wrath;

Show favour.

KING.

Aye, such favour as thou deservest.

MUCEDORUS.

I do deserve the daughter of a king.

KING.

Oh, impudent! a shepherd and so insolent!

MUCEDORUS.

No shepherd I, but a worthy prince.

KING.

In fair conceit, not princely born.

MUCEDORUS.

Yes, princely born: my father is a king,

My mother Queen, and of Valentia both.

KING.

What, Mucedorus! welcome to our court.

What cause hadst thou to come to me disguised?

MUCEDORUS.

No cause to fear; I caused no offence

But this:

Desiring thy daughter’s virtues for to see

Disguised my self from out my father’s court.

Unknown to any, in secret I did rest,

And passed many troubles near to death;

So hath your daughter my partaker been,

As you shall know hereafter more at large,

Desiring you, you will give her to me,

Even as mine own and sovereign of my life;

Then shall I think my travels are well spent.

KING.

With all my heart, but this—

Segasto claims my promise made to fore,

That he should have her as his only wife,

Before my counsel when we came from war.

Segasto, may I crave thee let it pass,

And give Amadine as wife to Mucedorus?

SEGASTO.

With all my heart, were it far a greater thing,

And what I may to furnish up there rites

With pleasing sports and pastimes you shall see.

KING.

Thanks, good Segasto, I will think of this.