KING.
Well, sirs, we grant your petition.
COBBLER.
We humbly thank your royal majesty.
KING.
Come, Dunstan; let's away.
[Exeunt omnes.
Enter ETHENWALD alone.
ETHENWALD.
Ethenwald, be advised: the king has sent to thee;
Nay, more, he means to come and visit thee.
But why? Ay, there's the question.
Why, 'tis for this; to see if he can find
A front whereon to graft a pair of horns:
But in plain terms he comes to cuckold 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 Janamyst,
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 screen before the fire,
And so prevent what otherwise would ensue.
'Twere good I questioned with my father first,
To hear how he['s] affected towards the king.
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.