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That habit suits my mind; fetch me that weed.

[Exit Anselmo.]

Better than Kings have not disdained that state,

And much inferiour, to obtain their mate.

[Enter Anselmo with a Shepherd's coat.]

So!

Let our respect command thy secrecy.

At once a brief farewell:

Delay to lovers is a second hell.

[Exit Mucedorus.]

ANSELMO.

Prosperity forerun thee; Awkward chance

Never be neighbour to thy wishes' venture:

Content and Fame advance thee; ever thrive,

And Glory thy mortality survive.

[Exit.]

ACT I. SCENE II. A Forest in Arragon.

[Enter Mouse with a bottle of Hay.]

MOUSE.

O horrible, terrible! Was ever poor Gentleman so scared out of his seven Senses? A Bear? nay, sure it cannot be a Bear, but some Devil in a Bear's Doublet: for a Bear could never have had that agility to have frighted em. Well, I'll see my Father hanged, before I'll serve his Horse any more: Well, I'll carry home my Bottle of Hay, and for once make my Father's Horse turn puritan and observe Fasting days, for he gets not a bit. But soft! this way she followed me, therefore I'll take the other Path; and because I'll be sure to have an eye on him, I will take hands with some foolish Creditor, and make every step backward.

[As he goes backwards the Bear comes in, and he tumbles over, and runs away and leaves his bottle of Hay behind him.]

ACT I. SCENE III. The same.

[Enter Segasto running and Amadine after him, being pursued by a bear.]

SEGASTO.

Oh fly, Madam, fly or else we are but dead.

AMADINE.

Help, Segasto, help! help, sweet Segasto, or else

I die.

SEGASTO.

Alas, madam, there is no way but flight;

Then haste and save your self.

[Segasto runs away.]

AMADINE.

Why then I die; ah help me in distress!

[Enter Mucedorus like a shepherd with a sword drawn and a bear's head in his hand.]

MUCEDORUS.

Stay, Lady, stay, and be no more dismayed.

That cruel beast most merciless and fell,

Which hath bereaved thousands of their lives,

Affrighted many with his hard pursues,

Prying from place to place to find his prey,

Prolonging thus his life by others' death,

His carcass now lies headless, void of breath.

AMADINE.

That foul deformed monster, is he dead?

MUCEDORUS.

Assure your self thereof, behold his head:

Which if it please you, Lady, to accept,

With willing heart I yield it to your majesty.

AMADINE.

Thanks, worthy shepherd, thanks a thousand times.

This gift, assure thy self, contents me more

Than greatest bounty of a mighty prince,

Although he were the monarch of the world.

MUCEDORUS.

Most gracious goddess, more than mortal wight,

Your heavenly hue of right imports no less,

Most glad am I in that it was my chance

To undertake this enterprise in hand,

Which doth so greatly glad your princely mind.

AMADINE.

No goddess, shepherd, but a mortal wight,

A mortal wight distressed as thou seest:

My father here is king of Arragon.

I Amadine his only daughter am,

And after him sole heir unto the crown.

Now, where as it is my father's will

To marry me unto Segasto, one,

Whose wealth through father's former usury

Is known to be no less than wonderful,

We both of custom oftentimes did use,

Leaving the court, to walk within the fields

For recreation, especially in the spring,

In that it yields great store of rare delights:

And passing further than our wonted walks,

Scarce were entered within these luckless woods,

But right before us down a steep fall hill

A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast,

To meet us both. I faint to tell the rest,

Good shepherd, but suppose the ghastly looks,

The hideous fears, the thousand hundred woes,

Which at this instant Amadine sustained.

MUCEDORUS.

Yet, worthy princess, let thy sorrow cease,

And let this sight your former joys revive.

AMADINE.

Believe me, shepherd, so it doth no less.

MUCEDORUS.

Long may they last unto your heart's content.

But tell me, Lady, what is become of him,

Segasto called, what is become of him?

AMADINE.

I know not, I; that know the powers divine,

But God grant this: that sweet Segasto live.

MUCEDORUS.

Yet hard hearted he in