A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 102

What ho!

_Enter_ OSRICK _and_ ALFRIDA.

OSRICK.

Ethenwald, my son, what news?

ETHENWALD.

Why ask you? I am sure you have heard the news.

OSRICK.

Not yet, I promise you, my lord.

ETHENWALD.

Why then 'tis thus: the king doth mean to come and visit you.

OSRICK.

And welcome shall his majesty be to me, That in the wane of my decreasing years, Vouchsafes this honour to Earl Osrick's house.

ETHENWALD.

So then you mean to entertain him well?

OSRICK.

What else, my son?

ETHENWALD.

Nay, as you will: But hear you, wife: what do you think in this-- That Edgar means to come and be your guest?

ALFRIDA.

I think, my lord, he shall be welcome then, And I hope that you will entertain him so, That he may know how Osrick honours him.

And I will be attired in cloth of biss[315], Beset with Orient pearl, fetch'd from rich India[316].

And all my chamber shall be richly [decked,]

With arras hanging, fetch'd from Alexandria.

Then will I have rich counterpoints and musk, Calambac[317] and ca.s.sia, sweet-smelling amber-grease, That he may say, Venus is come from heaven, And left the G.o.ds to marry Ethenwald.

ETHENWALD.

'Swouns! they are both agreed to cuckold me. [_Aside_.

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 rul'd 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 attir'd 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.

OSRICK.

Why, men that hear of this will make a scorn of you.

ETHENWALD.

And he that lies with this will make a horn for me. [_Aside_.]

It is enough: it must be so.

ALFRIDA.

Methinks 'twere better otherways.

ETHENWALD.

I think not so. Will you be gone?--

[_Exit_ ALFRIDA.

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 fall to any ill.

But here comes the king.

_Enter the_ KING, DUNSTAN, _and_ PERIN, _to_ [them] ETHENWALD[318].

KING.

Earl Osrick, you must needs hold us excused, Though boldly thus unbid we visit you: But know, the cause that moved us leave our court Was to do honour to Earl Ethenwald, And see his lovely bride, fair Alfrida.

OSRICK.

My gracious lord, as welcome shall you be, To me, my daughter, and my son-in-law, As t.i.tus was unto the Roman senators, When he had made a conquest on the Goths; That, in requital of his service done, Did offer him the imperial diadem.

As they in t.i.tus, we in your grace, still find The perfect figure of a princely mind.

KING.

Thanks, Osrick; but I think I am not welcome, Because I cannot see fair Alfrida.

Osrick, I will not stay, nor eat with thee, Till I have seen the Earl of Cornwall's wife.

ETHENWALD.

If it please your majesty to stay with us, My wife shall wait as handmaid on your majesty, And in her duty show her husband's love.

And in good time, my lord, see where she comes.

[_Enter the_ KITCHEN-MAID, _in_ ALFRIDA's _apparel_.]

[_Aside_.] Alfrida, you must leave your kitchen-tricks, And use no words but princely majesty.

MAID.

Now Jesus bless your honourable grace.

Come, I pray, sit down: you are welcome by my troth.

As G.o.d save me, here's never a napkin: fie, fie!

Come on; I pray eat some plums, they be sugar.

Here's good drink, by Lady: why do you not eat?

KING.

Nay, pray thee, eat, Alfrida: it is enough for me to see thee eat.

MAID.

I thank you heartily. By my troth, here's never a cushion.

By my troth. I'll knock you anon; go to.

PERIN.

My lord, this is not Alfrida: this is the kitchen-maid.

KING.

Peace, Perin, I have found their subtlety.-- Ethenwald, I pray thee, let me see thy kitchen-maid.