is he?
ARDEN
A botcher, and no better at the first;
Who, by base brokage getting some small stock,
Crept into service of a nobleman,
And by his servile flattery and fawning
Is now become the steward of his house,
And bravely jets it in his silken gown.
ARDEN
Yes, the lord Clifford, he that loves not me,
But through his favor let him not grow proud,
For were he by the lord protector backed,
He should not make me to be pointed at.
I am by birth a gentlfr. s rival that attempts
To violate my dear wife’s chastity
(for dear I hold her love, as dear as heaven)
Shall on the bed which he thinks to defile
See his dissevered joints and sinews torn,
Whilst on the planchers pants his weary body,
Smeared in the channels of his lustful blood.
FRANKLIN
Be patient, gentle friend, and learn of me
To ease thy grief and save her chastity:
Intreat her fair; sweet words are fittest engines
To race the flint walls of a woman’s breast.
In any case be not too jealious.
Nor make no question of her love to thee;
But, as securely, presently take horse,
And lie with me at London all this term;
For women, when they may, will not,
But, being kept back, straight grow outrageous.
ARDEN
Though this abhors from reason, yet I’ll try it
And call her forth and presently take leave.
How! Alice! (here enters ALICE
Summer nights are short, and yet you rise ere day.
Had I been wake, you had not risen so soon.
ARDEN
Sweet love, thou knowest that we two ovid-like,
Have often chid the morning when it ‘gan to peep,
And often wished that dark night’s purblind steeds,
Would pull her by the purple mantle back,
And cast her in the ocean to her love.
But this night, sweet Alice, thou hast killed my heart,
I heard thee call on Mosbie in thy sleep.
ALICE
‘tis like I was asleep when I named him,
For being awake he comes not in my thoughts.
ALICE
And thereof came it, and therefore blame not me.
ARDEN
I know it did, and therefore let it pass.
I must to London, sweet Alice, presently.
ALICE
But tell me do you mean to stay there long?
ARDEN
No longer there till my affairs be done.
FRANKLIN
He will not stay above a month at Most.
ALICE
A month? Ay me! Sweet Arden, come again
Within a day or two, or else I die.
ARDEN
I cannot long be from thee gentle ALICE
Whilst Michael fetch our horses from the field,
Franklin and I will down unto the key;
For I have certain goods there to unload.
Meanwhile prepare our breakfast, gentle Alice;
For yet ere noon we’ll take horse and away.
Exeunt Arden and FRANKLIN
ALICE
Ere noon he means to take horse and away!
Sweet news is this. O that some airy spirit
Would in the shape and likeness of a horse
Gallop with Arden ‘cross the ocean,
And throw him from his back into the waves!
Sweet Mosbie is the man that hath my heart:
And he usurps it, having nought but this,
That I am tied to him by marriage.
Love is a god, and marriage is but words;
And therefore Mosbie’s title is the best.
Tush! Whether it be or no, he shall be mine,
In spite of him, of hymen, and of rites.
(here enters Adam of the Flower-de-Luce
And here comes Adam of the Flower-de-Luce;
I hope he brings me tidings of my love.
-how now, Adam, what is the news with you?
Be not afraid; my husband is now from home.
ADAM
He whom you wot of, Mosbie, mistress Alice,
Is come to town, and sends you word by me
In any case you may not visit him.
ALICE
Not visit him?
