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 cassia, sweet-smelling amber-grease,
That he may say, Venus is come from heaven,
And left the gods 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.