The Complete Apocryphal Works of William Shakespeare - All 17 Rare Plays in One Edition. William ShakespeareЧитать онлайн книгу.
he imagines I have stepped awry.
Here’s he that you cast in my teeth so oft:
Now will I be convinced or purge myself.
I charge thee speak to this mistrustful man,
Thou that wouldst see me hang, thou, Mosbie, thou,
What favor hast thou had more than a kiss
At coming or departing from the town?
Mosb. You wrong yourself and me to cast these doubts,
Your loving husband is not jealous.
ARDEN
Why, gentle mistress Alice, can not I be ill,
But you’ll accuse yourself?
Franklin, thou hast a box of mithridate.
I’ll take a little to prevent the worst.
FRANKLIN
Do so, and let us presently take horse;
My life for yours, ye shall do well enough.
ALICE
Give me a spoon, I’ll eat of it myself;
Would it were full of poison to the brim,
Then should my cares and troubles have an end.
ARDEN
Be patient, sweet love; I mistrust not thee.
ALICE
God will revenge it, Arden, if thou dost;
For never woman loved her husband better than I do thee.
ARDEN
I know it, sweet Alice; cease to complain,
Lest that in tears I answer thee again.
FRANKLIN
Come, leave this dallying, and let us away.
ALICE
Forbear to wound me with that bitter word,
Arden shall go to London in my arms.
ARDEN
Loath am I to depart, yet I must go.
ALICE
Wilt thou to London, then, and leave me here?
Ah, if you love me, gentle Arden, stay.
Yet, if thy business be of great import
Go, if thou silt, I’ll bear it as I may;
But write from London to me every week,
Nay, every day, and stay no longer there
Than thou must needs, lest that I die for sorrow.
ARDEN
I’ll write unto thee every other tide,
And so, farewell, sweet Alice, till we meet next.
ALICE
Farewell, husband, seeing you’ll have it so.
And, master Franklin, seeing you take him hence,
In hope you’ll hasten him home, I’ll give you this.
(and then she kisseth him.
FRANKLIN
And if he stay, the fault shall not be mine.
Mosbie, farewell, and see you keep your oath.
MOSBIE
I hope he is not jealous of me now.
ARDEN
No, Mosbie, no; hereafter think of me
As of your dearest friend, and so farewell.
Exeunt Arden, Franklin, and MICHAEL
ALICE
I am glad he is gone; he was about to stay,
But did you mark me then how I brake off?
MOSBIE
Ay, Alice, and it was cunningly performed.
Never hereafter to solicit thee,
Or, whilst he lives, once more importune thee.
ALICE
Thou shalt not need, I will importune thee.
What? Shall an oath make thee forsake my love?
As if I have not sworn as much myself
And given my hand unto him in the church!
Tush, Mosbie; oaths are words, and words is wind,
‘tis childishness to stand upon an oath.
MOSBIE
Well proved, mistress Alice; yet by your leave,
I’ll keep mine unbroken whilst he lives.
ALICE
Ay, do, and spare not, his time is but short,
For if thou be’st as resolute as i,
We’ll have him murdered as he walks the streets.
In London many alehouse ruffians keep,
Which, as I hear, will murder men for gold.
They shall be soundly fee’d to pay him home. (here enters GREENE
MOSBIE
Alice, what’s he that comes yonder?
Knowest thou him?
ALICE
Mosbie, be gone: I hope ‘tis one that comes
To put in practice our intended drifts. (Exit MOSBIE
GREENE
Mistress Arden, you are well met.
I am sorry that your husband is from home,
When as my purposed journey was to him:
Yet all my labor is not spent in vain,
For I suppose that you can full discourse
And flat resolve me of the thing I seek.
ALICE
What is it, master Greene? If that I may
Or can with safety, I will answer you.
GREENE
I heard your husband had the grant of late,
Confirmed by letters patent from the king.
Of all the lands of the abbey of feversham,
Generally intitled, so that all former grants
Are cut off; whereof I myself had one;
But now my interest by that is void.
This is all, mistress Arden; is it true or no?
ALICE
True, master Greene; the lands are his in state,
And whatsoever leases were before
Are void for term of master Arden’s life;
He hath the grant under the chancery seal.
GREENE
Pardon me, mistress Arden, I must speak
For I am touched. Your husband doth me wrong
To wring me from the little land I have.
My living is my life, only that
Resteth remainder of my portion.
Desire of wealth is endless in his mind,
And he is greedy gaping still for gain;
Nor