Arden of Feversham, 1592

by Anonymous

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Plays, Classics

186 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2010

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

(read for Tudor lit class)

Ooh, I actually had fun with that one !

[Richard Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining and readable Elizabethan play. Though it's anonymous, a number of scenes are generally attributed to Shakespeare, and the change in diction in those sections is pretty striking. Seems legit.

This is based on a true story, and though it doesn't really have anyone to root for, it's still interesting and fun, in its way. The murderous Alice, trying to get rid of her controlling (and rich) husband so that she can be with her lover, is brilliant at manipulation but total shit at getting away with crimes. In fact, they're all so bad at it you wonder how they dared to enter into such ill-considered schemes, but--true story, so I guess it's what happened.

As usual, I read from an annotated PDF made freely available at Elizabethan Drama. The notes and glosses definitely help, and I recommend it for most readers, but this is one play that can probably be read successfully without assistance.

Recommended for those who think they've read everything Shakespeare wrote. : )

[Inma Ranea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A theatrical literature work with which you can have fun reading it. It is a work of Elizabethan drama written by an unknown author.

It is a tragedy that depicts the murder of Thomas Arden by his wife (Alice) and her lover (Mosby).

It was written in the 16th century, but it can be written in this century because its theme is presented nowadays.
__________________________________________

Una obra teatral literaria con la que puedes disfrutar leyendo. Es una drama de la época de Elizabeth I escrito por un autor desconocido.

Es una tragedia que representa el asesinato de Thomas Arden por su esposa (Alice) y su amante (Mosby).

Fue escrito en el siglo 16, pero podía estar escrito en este siglo porque el tema está presente hoy en día.

[grantlovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit heavy on the goofiness, and light on the tragedy.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

"— How now, Alice ? what, sad and passionate ?
Make me partaker of thy pensiveness :
Fire divided burns with lesser force.

Alice. But I will dam that fire in my breast
Till by the force thereof my part consume.
Ah, Mosbie !

Mosbie. Such deep pathaires, like to a cannon's burst
Discharged against a ruinated wall,
Breaks my relenting heart in thousand pieces.
Ungentle Alice, thy sorrow is my sore ;
Thou know'st it well, and 'tis thy policy
To forge distressful looks to wound a breast
Where lies a heart that dies when thou art sad.
It is not love that loves to anger love.

Alice. It is not love that loves to murder love.

Mosbie. How mean you that ?

Alice. Thou knowest how dearly Arden loved me.

Mosbie. And then ?

AJice. And then — conceal the rest, for 'tis too bad,
Lest that my words be carried with the wind,
And published in the world to both our shames.
I pray thee, Mosbie, let our springtime wither ;
Our harvest else will yield but loathsome weeds.
Forget, I pray thee, what hath passed betwixt us,
For how I blush and tremble at the thoughts !

Mosbie. What ? are you changed ?

Alice. Ay, to my former happy life again,
From title of an odious strumpet's name
To honest Arden's wife, not Arden's honest wife.
Ha, Mosbie ! 'tis thou has rifled me of that
And made me slanderous to all my kin ;
Even in my forehead is thy name ingraven,
A mean artificer, that low-born name.
I was bewitched : woe worth the hapless hour
And all the causes that enchanted me !

Mosbie. Nay, if you ban, let me breathe curses forth, 80
And if you stand so nicely at your fame.
Let me repent the credit I have lost.
I have neglected matters of import
That would have stated me above thy state,
Forslowed advantages, and spurned at time :
Ay, Fortune's right hand Mosbie hath forsook
To take a wanton giglot by the left.
I left the marriage of an honest maid.
Whose dowry would have weighed down all thy wealth.
Whose beauty and demeanour far exceeded thee :
This certain good I lost for changing bad.
And wrapt my credit in thy company.
I was bewitched, — that is no theme of thine.
And thou unhallowed has enchanted me.
But I will break thy spells and exorcisms,
And put another sight upon these eyes
That showed my heart a raven for a dove.
Thou art not fair, I viewed thee not till now ;
Thou art not kind, till now I knew thee not ;
And now the rain hath beaten off thy gilt,
Thy worthless copper shows thee counterfeit
It grieves me not to see how foul thou art,
But mads me that ever I thought thee fair.
Go, get thee gone, a copesmate for thy hinds ;
I am too good to be thy favourite.

Alice. Ay, now I see, and too soon find it true,
Which often hath been told me by my friends,
That Mosbie loves me not but for my wealth.
Which too incredulous I ne'er believed.
Nay, hear me speak, Mosbie, a word or two ;
I'll bite my tongue if it speak bitterly.
Look on me, Mosbie, or I'll kill myself:
Nothing shall hide me from thy stormy look.
If thou cry war, there is no peace for me ;
I will do penance for offending thee.
And burn this prayer-book, where I here use
The holy word that had converted me.
See, Mosbie, I will tear away the leaves,
And all the leaves, and in this golden cover
Shall thy sweet phrases and thy letters dwell ;
And thereon will I chiefly meditate.
And hold no other sect but such devotion.
Wilt thou not look ? is all thy love o'erwhelmed ?
Wilt thou not hear? What malice stops thine ears?
Why speaks thou not ? what silence ties thy tongue ?
Thou hast been sighted as the eagle is.
And heard as quickly as the fearful hare,
And spoke as smoothly as an orator,
When I have bid thee hear or see or speak,
And art thou sensible in none of these?
Weigh all thy good turns with this little fault,
And I deserve not Mosbie's muddy looks.
A fence of trouble is not thickened still :
Be clear again, I'll ne'er more trouble thee.

Mosbie. O no, I am a base artificer :
My wings are feathered for a lowly flight.
Mosbie ? fie ! no, not for a thousand pound.
Make love to you "i why, 'tis unpardonable ;
We beggars must not breathe where gentles are.

Alice. Sweet Mosbie is as gentle as a king,
And I too blind to judge him otherwise.
Flowers do sometimes spring in fallow lands,
Weeds in gardens, roses grow on thorns ;
So, whatsoe'er my Mosbie's father was.
Himself is valued gentle by his worth.

Mosbie. Ah, how you women can insinuate,
And clear a trespass with your sweet-set tongue !
I will forget this quarrel, gentle Alice,
Provided I'll be tempted so no more."

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fondness for this play, having played the murderous Alice Arden some years ago in an amateur production. The play is sort of a tragedy, though not in any strict sense (it ends in death and dissolution but it utterly lacks the highminded sense of great things at stake that we usually associate with tragedy), but it plays like a black comedy. These are some of the most hilariously and pathetically inept murderers you'll ever see on stage. I would love to see a good professional production that got at the play's hilarious bleakness.

[Serhiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And in the grass his body print was seen
Two years and more after the deed was done"

Funny and exciting play!