MAID.
Now Jesus bless your honourable grace.
Come, I pray, sit down: you are welcome by my troth.
As God 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.
Methinks it is a pretty homely wench:
I promise thee, Ethenwald, I like her well.
ETHENWALD.
My lord, she is a homely kitchen-maid,
And one whose bringing up hath been but rude,
And far unfit for Edgar's company;
But if your grace want merry company,
I will send for ladies wise and courteous,
To be associates with your majesty.
Or if your grace will have musicians sent for,
I will fetch your grace the best in all this land.
KING.
Ethenwald, no: I will have the kitchen-maid;
And therefore, if you love me, send for her,
For, till she come, I cannot be content.
ETHENWALD.
Father, I will not fetch her. 'Swouns! see, where she comes.
Enter ALFRIDA in the KITCHEN-MAID'S attire.
ALFRIDA.
Successful fortune and his heart's content
Daily attend the person of the king.
And, Edgar, know that I am Alfrida, daughter to Osrick,
And lately made the Earl of Cornwall's wife.