The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [2018]
CLARE.
Young Master Jerningham, were you an actor
In your own love's abuse?
JERNINGHAM.
My thoughts, good sir,
Did labour seriously unto this end,
To wrong my self, ere I'd abuse my friend.
HOST.
He speaks like a Batchelor of musicke, all in numbers.
Knights, if I had known you would have let this covy of
Patridges sit thus long upon their knees under my sign
post, I would have spread my door with old Coverlids.
SIR ARTHUR.
Well, sir, for this your sign was removed, was it?
HOST.
Faith, we followed the directions of the devill, Master Peter
Fabell; and Smug, Lord bless us, could never stand upright since.
SIR ARTHUR.
You, sir, twas you was his minister that married them?
SIR JOHN.
Sir, to prove my self an honest man, being that I was last night in the forrest stealing Venison—now, sir, to have you stand my friend, if that matter should be called in question, I married your daughter to this worthy gentleman.
SIR ARTHUR.
I may chance to requite you, and make your neck crack for't.
SIR JOHN.
If you do, I am as resolute as my Neighbour vicar of Waltham
Abbey; a hem, Grass and hay, we are all mortall; let's live
till we be hangd, mine host, and be merry, and there's an end.
[Enter Fabell.]
FABELL.
Now, knights, I enter; now my part begins.
To end this difference, know, at first I knew
What you intended, ere your love took flight
From old Mountchensey; you, sir Arthur Clare,
Were minded to have married this sweet beauty
To young Franke Jerningham; to cross which match,
I used some pretty sleights; but I protest
Such as but sate upon the skirts of Art;
No conjurations, nor such weighty spells
As tie the soul to their performancy.
These for his love, who once was my dear pupil,
Have I effected. Now, me thinks, tis strange
That you, being old in wisdom, should thus knit
Your forehead on this match, since reason fails;
No law can curb the lovers rash attempt;
Years, in resisting this, are sadly spent.
Smile, then, upon your daughter and kind son,
And let our toil to future ages prove,
The devil of Edmonton did good in Love.
SIR ARTHUR.
Well, tis in vain to cross the providence:
Dear Son, I take thee up into my heart;
Rise, daughter; this is a kind father's part.
HOST.
Why, Sir John, send for Spindles noise presently: Ha, ert be night, I'll serve the good Duke of Norfolk.
PRI.
Grass and hay, mine Host, let's live till we die, and be merry, and there's an end.
SIR ARTHUR.
What, is breakfast ready, mine Host?
HOST.
Tis, my little Hebrew.
SIR ARTHUR.
Sirra, ride strait to Chesson Nunry,
Fetch thence my Lady; the house, I know,
By this time misses their young votary.
Come, knights, let's in!
BILBO.
I will to horse presently, sir.—A plague a my Lady, I shall miss a good breakfast. Smug, how chance you cut so plaguely behind, Smug?
SMUG.
Stand away; I'll founder you else.
BILBO.
Farewell, Smug, thou art in another element.
SMUG.
I will be by and by; I will be Saint George again.
SIR ARTHUR.
Take heed the fellow do not hurt himself.
SIR RAPH.
Did we not last night find two S. Georges here?
FABELL.
Yes, Knights, this martialist was one of them.
CLARE.
Then thus conclude your night of merriment!
[Exeunt Omnes.]
FINIS
EDMUND IRONSIDE
OR
WAR HATH MADE ALL FRIENDS
This anonymous play depicts the life of Edmund II of England. Some critics have suggested it is an early work of Shakespeare. The play was never published in its own era and the unique copy of the text was preserved in a rare manuscript now in the British Museum. According to the scholar Eric Sams, Edmund Ironside contains 260 words or usages first used by Shakespeare himself, with 635 instances of rare words also used by him. However, this argument has failed to convince the majority of Shakespearean scholars.
Edmund Ironside tells the tale of King Canutus (Canute the Great), who faces an insurgency of the native English population led by Edmund II. Unbeknownst to them, they face a mutual enemy, a traitorous noble named