Chapter Araphil to Ardven of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Arden of Feversham, a noble character, honourable, forgiving, affectionate, and modest. His wife Alicia, in her sleep, reveals to him her guilty love for Mosby, but he pardons her on condition that she will never see the seducer again. Scarcely has she made the promise when she plots with Mosby her husband’s murder. In a planned street-scuffle, Mosby pretends to take Arden’s part, and thus throws him off his guard. Arden thinks he has wronged him, and invites him to his house, but Mosby conspires with two hired ruffians to fall on his host during a game of draughts, the right moment being signified by Mosby’s saying, “Now I take you.” Arden is murdered; but the whole gang is apprehended and brought to justice.

This drama is based on a murder which took place in 1551. Ludwig Tieck has translated the play into German, as a genuine production of Shakespeare. Some ascribe the play to George Lillo, but Charles Lamb gives 1592 as the date of its production, and says the author is unknown.

Ardenne (Water of). This water had the power of converting love to hate. The fountain was made by Merlin to cure sir Tristram of his love for Isolt, but sir Tristram never drank of it. It is mentioned by Bojardo, in his Orlando Innamorato.

Nepenthehad the direct opposite effect, namely, that of turning hatred to love. (See Nepenthe.)

…that same water of Ardenne,
The which Rinaldo drank in happy hour,
Described by that famous Tuscan pen…
…It had the power to change the hearts of men
From love to hate.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queene, iv. 3 (1596).

Ardennes (The Black d’), one of Charlemagne’s paladins.

Ardven, west coast of Scotland (Argyleshire and its vicinity).

“Go!”…said Starno; “go to Ardven’s sea-surrounded rocks. Tell the king of Selma [Fingal, the capital of whose kingdom was Selma]…I give him my daughter, the loveliest maid that ever heaved a breast of snow. Her arms are white as the foam of my waves; her soul is generous and mild.”—Osstan. Fingal, iii.