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

On this we ‘greed, and he is ridden straight

To London, for to bring his death about.

MOSBIE

But call you this good news?

ALICE

Ay, sweetheart, be they not?

MOSBIE

‘twere cheerful news to hear the churl were dead;

But trust me, Alice, I take it passing ill

You would be so forgetful of our state

To make recount of it to every groom.

What, to acquaint each stranger with our drifts,

Chiefly in case of murder, why, ‘tis the way

To make it open unto Arden’s self

And bring thyself and me to ruin both.

Forewarned, forearmed; who threats his enemy,

Lends him a sword to guard himself with all.

ALICE

I did it for the best.

MOSBIE

Well, seeing ‘tis done, cheerly let it pass.

You know this Greene; is he not religious?

A man, I guess, of great devotion?

ALICE

He is.

MOSBIE

Then, sweet Alice, let it pass: I have a drift

Will quiet all, whatever is amiss.

(here enters clarke and SUSAN

ALICE

How now, clarke? Have you found me false?

Did I not plead the matter hard for you?

CLARKE

You did.

MOSBIE

And what, wilt be a match?

CLARKE

A match, i’ faith, sir: ay, the day is mine.

But, so you’ll grant me one thing I shall ask,

I am content my sister shall be yours.

CLARKE

What is it, master Mosbie?

MOSBIE

I do remember once in secret talk

You told me how you could compound by art

A crucifix impoisoned,

That whoso look upon it should wax blind,

And with the scent be stifled, that ere long

He should die poisoned that did view it well.

I would have you make me such a crucifix,

And then I’ll grant my sister shall be yours.

CLARKE

Though I am loth, because it toucheth life,

Yet, rather or I’ll leave sweet Susan’s love,

I’ll do it, and with all the haste I may.

But for whom is it?

ALICE

Leave that to us. Why, clarke, is it possible

The colors being baleful and impoisoned,

And no ways prejudice yourself with all?

MOSBIE

Well questioned, ALICE

Clarke, how answer you that?

CLARKE

Very easily: I’ll tell you straight

How I do work of these impoisoned drugs.

I fasten on my spectacles so close

As nothing can any way offend my sight;

Then, as I put a leaf within my nose,

So put I rhubarb to avoid the smell,

As softly as another work I paint.

MOSBIE

‘tis very well; but against when shall I have it?

CLARKE

Within this ten days.

MOSBIE

‘twill serve the turn.

Now, Alice, let’s in and see what cheer you keep.

I hope, now master Arden is from home,

You’ll give me leave to play your husband’s part.

ALICE

Mosbie, you know, who’s master of my heart,

He well may be the master of the house. (Exeunt.

(here Enter Greene and BRADSHAW

BRADSHAW

See you them that come yonder, master Greene?

GREENE

Ay, very well: do you know them?

(here Enter Black Will and SHAKEBAG

BRADSHAW

The one I know not, but he seems a knave

Chiefly for bearing the other company;

For such a slave, so vile a rogue as he,

Lives not again upon the earth.

Black Will is his name. I tell you, master Greene,

At boulogne he and I were fellow soldiers,

Where he played such pranks

As all the camp feared him for his villainy;

I warrant you he bears so bad a mind

That for a crown he’ll murder any man.

GREENE

The fitter is he for my purpose, marry!

WILL

How now, fellow Bradshaw?

Whither away so early?

BRADSHAW

O Will, times are changed: no fellows now,

Though we were once together in the field;

Yet thy friend to do thee any good I can.

WILL

Why, Bradshaw, was not thou and i

Fellow-soldiers at boulogne,

Where I was a corporal, and thou but a base mercenary

And have a little plate in your shop;

You were glad to call me fellow Will,

And with a curtsey to the earth,

One snatch, good corporal,

When I stole the half ox from john the victualer.

And domineer’d with it amongst good fellows,

In one night.

BRADSHAW

Ay, Will, those days are past with me.

WILL

Ay, but they be not past with me.

For I keep that same honorable mind still.

Good neighbor Bradshaw, you are too proud to be my fellow,

But were it not that I see more company coming down

I would be fellows with you once more.

And share crowns with you too.

But let that pass, and tell me whither you go.

BRADSHAW

To London, Will, about a piece of service,

Wherein happily thou mayst pleasure me.

WILL

What is it?

BRADSHAW

Of late lord cheney lost some plate,

BRADSHAW

A lean faced writhen knave,

Hawk nosed and very hollow eyed,

With mighty furrows in his stormy brows,

Long hair down his shoulders curled;

His chin was bare, but on his upper lip

A mutchado, which he wound about his ear.

WILL

What apparel had he?

BRADSHAW

A watchet satin doublet all too torn,

The inner side did bear the greater show;

A pair of threadbare velvet hose, seam rent,