SCENE II. The Forest.

       [Enter Mucedorus to disguise himself.]

       MUCEDORUS.

       Now, Mucedorus, whither wilt thou go?

       Home to thy father, to thy native soil,

       Or try some long abode within these woods?

       Well, I will hence depart and hie me home.—

       What, hie me home, said? that may not be;

       In Amadine rests my felicity.

       Then, Mucedorus, do as thou didst decree:

       Attire thee hermit like within these groves,

       Walk often to the beach and view the well,

       Makes settles there and seat thy self thereon,

       And when thou feelest thy self to be a thirst,

       Then drink a hearty draught to Amadine.

       No doubt she thinks on thee,

       And will one day come pledge thee at this well.

       Come, habit, thou art fit for me:

       [He disguiseth himself.]

       No shepherd now, a hermit I must be.

       Me thinks this fits me very well;

       Now must I learn to bear a walking staff,

       And exercise some gravity withall.

       [Enter the Clown.]

       MOUSE. Here’s throw the wods, and throw the wods, to look out a shepherd & a stray king’s daughter: but soft, who have we here? what art thou?

       MUCEDORUS.

       I am a hermit.

       MOUSE. An emmet? I never saw such a big emmet in all my life before.

       MUCEDORUS. I tell you, sir, I am an hermit, one that leads a solitary life within these woods.

       MOUSE. O, I know thee now, thou art he that eats up all the hips and haws; we could not have one piece of fat bacon for thee all this year.

       MUCEDORUS. Thou dost mistake me; but I pray thee, tell me what dost thou seek in these woods?

       MOUSE. What do I seek? for a stray King’s daughter run away with a shepherd.

       MUCEDORUS.

       A stray King’s daughter run away with a shepherd.

       Wherefore? canst thou tell?

       MOUSE. Yes, that I can; tis this: my master and Amadine, walking one day abroad, nearer to these woods than they were used—about what I can not tell—but toward them comes running a great bear. Now my master, he played the man and run away, & Amadine crying after him: now, sir, comes me a shepherd & strikes off the bear’s head. Now whether the bear were dead before or no I cannot tell, for bring twenty bears before me and bind their hands & feet and I’ll kill them all:—now ever since Amadine hath been in love with the shepherd, and for good will she’s even run away with the shepherd.

       MUCEDORUS.

       What manner of man was a? canst describe him unto me?

       MOUSE. Scribe him? aye, I warrant you, that I can: a was a little, low, broad, tall, narrow, big, well favoured fellow, a jerkin of white cloth, and buttons of the same cloth.

       MUCEDORUS. Thou describest him well, but if I chance to see any such, pray you, where shall I find you, or what’s your name?

       MOUSE.

       My name is called master mouse.

       MUCEDORUS. Oh, master mouse, I pray you what office might you bear in the court?

       MOUSE.

       Marry, sir, I am a rusher of the stable.

       MUCEDORUS.

       O, usher of the table.

       MOUSE. Nay, I say rusher and I’ll prove mine office good; for look, sir, when any comes from under the sea or so, and a dog chance to blow his nose backward, then with a whip I give him the good time of the day, and straw rushes presently: therefore, I am a rusher, a high office, I promise ye.

       MUCEDORUS.

       But where shall I find you in the Court?

       MOUSE. Why, where it is best being, either in the kitchen a eating or in the buttery drinking: but if you come, I will provide for thee a piece of beef & brewis knockle deep in fat; pray you, take pains, remember master mouse.

       [Exit.]

       MUCEDORUS.

       Aye, sir, I warrant I will not forget you. Ah, Amadine,

       What should become of thee?

       Whither shouldst thou go so long unknown?

       With watch and ward each passage is beset,

       So that she cannot long escape unknown.

       Doubtless she hath lost her self within these woods

       And wandring to and fro she seeks the well,

       Which yet she cannot find; therefore will I seek her out.

       [Exit.]