Mucedorus

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 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 feel’st 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.

MOUSE.
Here’s through the woods, and through the woods, to look out a shepherd and 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 a hermit: one
That leads a solitary life within these woods.

MOUSE.
Oh, 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 for 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 ran away, and Amadine crying after him: now, sir, comes me a shepherd, and 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 and feet, and I’ll kill them all. Now, ever since, Amadine hath been in love with the shepherd, and for goodwill, she’s even run away with the shepherd.

MUCEDORUS.
What manner of man was he? Canst thou describe him unto me?

MOUSE.
Scribe him? Ay, 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.
O Master Mouse, I pray you what office might you bear in the court?

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

MUCEDORUS.
Oh, usher of the table.

MOUSE.
Nay, I say rusher, and I’ll prove my 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 strow 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 eating, or in the buttery drinking. But if you come, I will provide for thee a piece of beef and brewis knuckle-deep in fat; pray you, take pains, remember Master Mouse.

[Exit.]

MUCEDORUS.
Ay, 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’s lost herself within these woods,
And wand’ring to and fro she seeks the well,
Which yet she cannot find; therefore I’ll seek her out.

[Exit.]