ETHENWALD

My gracious Lord, I humbly take my leave. Now Ethenwald, if Fortune favour thee, Thou mayest prove happy love to Alfrida. My fancies thoughts, like the labouring Spider, That spreads her nets, to entrap the silly Fly: Or like the restless billows of the seas, That ever altar by the fleeting air, Still hovering passed their wonted passion, Makes me amazed in these extremities, The King commands me on his embassage, To Osricks daughter, beauteous Alfrrida, The height and pride of all this bounding ill, To post amain, plead love in his behalf, To court for him, and woo, and wed the maid, But have you never herd that theme, Deceit in love is but a merriment, To such as seek a rival to prevent, Whither (distracted) Rome's my unruly thoughts, It is the King I cousin of his choice, And he nil brook Earl Ethenwald should prove False to his Prince, especially in love. The ̄ thus it shall be, I'll tell the king the maid is fair, Of nut brown colour, comely and fair spoken, Worthy companion to and Earl or so: But not a Bride for Edgar, England's King, This will allay the strong effects in love. Fame wrought in Edgars mind of Alfrida. Well, I'll to court, and dally with the King, And work some means to draw his mind from love. Not male content, and yet I am not well, For I am troubled with a painful rheum, That when I would be merry, troubles me, And commonly it holds me in my eyes. With such extremes, that I can scantly see. No (matchless Alfrida ) they will do me no good. For I am troubled only when I look. Then 'twill be worse. Nay stay, sweet love, stay beauteous Alfrida And give the Earl of Cornwel leave to speak: Know Alfrida, thy beauty hath subdued, And captivate the Earl of Cornwels heart Briefly, I love thee, seem I near so bold, So rude and rashly to prefer my suit, And if your father give but his consent, Eased be that pain that troubles Ethenwald. And this considered, Osric shall prove, My father, and his daughter be my love, Speak Osrick, shall I have her I or no? Well Osrick, now you see your daughter's mine, But tell me when shall be the wedding day, Fear not Alfrida, I will not stay there long, But come, let us in Father, pray led the way. Health and good hap befall your Majesty, Then as your Grace did give to me in charge, I have discharge my duty every way, And communed with the maid you so commend: For when the Sun, rich Father of the day, E e of the world, King of the spangled vale, Had run the circuit of the Horizon, And that Artofelex, the nights bright star, Had brou fair L nam from the purpled main, Where was with her wanton love, To lend her light to weary traveller's. Then it my chance to arrive at Osricks house? But being late I could not then unfold The message that your Grace had given in charge: But in the morn Aurora did appear, At sighed of whom the Welkin straight did clear. Then was the spangled ale of heaven drawn in, And Phœbus rose like heavens imperial King: And ere the Sun was mounted five degrees The maid Can e down and gave me the good day, My Lord, she is coloured like the Scythia Maid, That challenged Lucio at the Olympian games, Well bodied, but) her face was something black, Like those that follow household business: Her were hollow sunk into her head, Which makes her have a cloudy countenance, She hath a pretty tongue, I must confess, And yet (my Lord) she is nothing eloquent. Yes my Lord, she is fit to serve and Earl or so, But far unfit for dgar England's King. My gracious Lord I humbly take my leave. I humbly take my leave of your Majesty. Ethenwald, be advised, the King hath sent to thee, Nay, more, he means to come and visit thee, But why, I theres the question? Why 'tis for this, to see if he can find, A front whereon to grafted a pair of horns But in plain terms, he comes to Cum kold me, And for he means to do it without suspect, He sends me word he means to visit me: The King is amorous, and my wife is kind, So kind (I fear) that she will quickly yield To any motion that the king shall make: Especially if the motion be of love: For Pliny writes, women are made like wax , Apt to receive any impression: Whose minds are like the Ianamy , That eats, yet cries, and never is satisfied: Well, be as it is, for I'll be sure of this, It shall be no ways prejudice to me: For I will set a skreen before the fire, And so prevent what otherwise would ensue: It good I Q estioned with my father first, To hear how he affected towards the King. What ho. Nay, as you will, but hear you wife, what do you think in this, that Edgar means to come and be your guest? Zwouns, they are both agreed to cuckold me. But hear you wife, while I am master of the Bark, I mean to keep the helmster in my hand: My meaning is, you shall be ruled by me, In being disguised till the King be gone, And thus it shall be, for I will have it so. The King hath never seen thee I am sure, Nor shall he see thee now, if I can choose: For thou shalt be attyrde in some base weeds, And Kate the kitchen maid shall put on thine: For being richly tired, as she shall be, She will serve the turn to keep him company. And he that lies with this will make a horn for me. It is enough, it must be so. My Lord, she is a homely kitchen maid, And one whose bringing up hath be but rude: And far unfit for Edgars company: But if your Grace want merry company, I will send for Ladies wise and courteous. To be associates with your Majesty. Or if you Grace will have Musicians sent for, I will fetch your Grace the best in all this land. Father, I will not fetch her: zwouns, see where she comes Thanks gracious King, and here upon my knee, I rest to be disposed as you please: My gracious Lord, and Ethenwald shall not fail To show his humble duty to your Majesty: I will, my Lord, woe her in your behalf, Plead love for you, and strain a sighs to show your passion, I will say she is fairer than the Dolphins eye, At whom amazed, the night stars stand and gaze, Then will I praise her chin, and cheek, and pretty hand, Long made like Venus, when she used the harp, When Mars was reveling in loves high house. Beside, my Lord, I will say she hath a pace, Much Like to Juno in Idea vale, When Argus watched the Heifer on the mount: These words, my Lord, will make her love, I am sure, If these will not my Lord, I have better far. The night draws on, & Phœbus is declining towards the West. Now shepherd's bear their flocks unto the folds Now leave to feed, and gin to take their rest, Black dusky clouds inuyron round the globe, And heaven is covered with a Sable r be, Now am I come to do the kings command To court a Wench & win her for the King But if I like her well, I say no more, 'Tis good to have a hatch before the door: But first I will move her Father to pre er The earnest suit I have in canvasing, So may I see the Maid, woo, wed, I and bed her to: Who is here? what ho. I cannot tell. But what says Alfrida? Well Osric, when our nuptial rites are passed, I must to Court, of business to the King. I do (my gracious Lord) and therewithal, Entreat your Majesty to pardon me. Why ask you? I am sure you have herd the news. Why then 'tis thus, the King does mean to come and visit you. So then, you mean to entertain him well? If it please your Majesty to stay with us, My wife shall wait as handmaid on your Majesty: And in her duty show her husbands love: And in good time, my Lord, see where she comes: I think not so, will you be gone? Father, let me alone, I'll break her of her will, We that are married to young wives, you see, Must have a special care unto their honesty: For should we suffer them to have their will: They are apt (you know) to fallen to any ill. But here comes the King. I cannot tell, but sure it pains me much, Nor did it ever trouble me till now, For till I came to lodge within your house, My eyes were clear, and I never felt the pain. My Lord, I am come unlooked for, very true, So is my cum king yet concealed from you.