n be in readiness,
Collect us followers of the comeliest hue,
For our chief guardians; we will thither wend.
The crystal eyes of heaven shall not thrice wink,
Nor the green flood six times his shoulders turn,
Till we salute the Arragonian king.
Music, speak loudly; now the season's apt,
For former dolors are in pleasure wrapt.

[_Exeunt omnes]

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 I? 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 beech, and view the well;
Make settles there, and seat thyself thereon;
And when thou feelest thyself to be athirst,
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.
Methinks this fits me very well.
Now must I learn to bear a walking-staff,
And exercise some gravity withal.

_Enter the_ CLOWN.

CLOWN. Here's through the woods and through the woods, to look out a
shepherd and stray king's daughter. But soft! who have we here? what
art thou?

MUCEDORUS. I am an hermit.

CLOWN. 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.

CLOWN. O, I know thee now, thou art he[182] 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?

CLOWN. 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?

CLOWN. 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
cannot tell); but toward them comes running a great bear. Now my master
he played the man, and ran away; and Amadine, crying after him;--now,
sir, comes me a shepherd, and he strikes off the bear's head. Now,
whether the bear were dead before or no, I cannot tell; for bring
twenty bears before m