SMITH. But hark! by the mass, he comes. _Enter the_ KING, DUNSTAN, _and_ PERIN. KING. How now, Perin; who have we here? COBBLER. We, the townsmen of Gotham, Hearing your grace would come this way, Did think it good for you to stay.-- But hear you, neighbours, bid somebody ring the bells.-- And we are come to you alone, to deliver our petition[314]. KING. What is it, Perin? I pray thee, read. PERIN. Nothing but to have a license to brew strong ale thrice a week; and he that comes to Gotham, and will not spend a penny on a pot of ale, if he be a-dry, that he may fast. 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. 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.