The Complete Apocryphal Works of William Shakespeare - All 17 Rare Plays in One Edition. William ShakespeareЧитать онлайн книгу.
FERRYMAN
Perhaps, ay; perhaps, no: for my wife is as other
Women are, that is to say, governed by the moon.
FRANKLIN
by the moon? How, I pray thee?
FERRYMAN
Nay, thereby lies a bargain,
And you shall not have it fresh and fasting.
ARDEN
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.
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