[Enter Mucedorus solus.]
MUCEDORUS. From Amadine and from her father's court, With gold and silver and with rich rewards, Flowing from the banks of golden treasuries,-- More may I boast and say: but I, Was never shepheard in such dignity.
[Enter the messenger and the clown.] MESSENGER. All hail, worthy shepherd. MOUSE. All reign, lowly shepherd..
MUCEDORUS. Welcome, my friends; from whence come you?
MESSENGER. The King and Amadine greets thee well, and after greetings done, bids thee depart the court: shepherd, begone.
MUCEDORUS. Whose words are these? came these from Amadine? MESSENGER. Aye, from Amadine.
MOUSE. Aye, from Amadine.
MUCEDORUS. Ah, luckless fortune, worse than Phaeton's tale, My former bliss is now become my bale.
MOUSE. What, wilt thou poison thy self?
MUCEDORUS. My former heaven is now become my hell. MOUSE. The worse ale house that I ever came in, in all my life. MUCEDORUS. What shall I do?
MOUSE. Even go hang thy self half an hour.
MUCEDORUS. Can Amadine so churlishly command, To banish the shepherd from her Father's court?
MESSENGER. What should shepherds do in the court?
MOUSE. What should shepherds do amongst us? have we not Lords enough on us in the court?
MUCEDORUS. Why, shepherds are men, and kings are no more. MESSENGER. Shepherds are men and masters over their flock. MOUSE. That's a lie: who pays them their wages then?
MESSENGER. Well, you are always interrupting of me, but you are best look to him, least you hang for him when he is gone.
[Exit.]
[The Clown sings.]
MOUSE. And you shall hang for company, For leaving me alone. Shepherd, stand forth and hear thy sentence: Shepherd, begone within three days in pain of My displeasure: shepherd, begone; shepherd, begone; begone, begone, begone, shepherd, shepherd, shepherd.
[Exit.]
MUCEDORUS. And must I go, and must I needs depart? Ye goodly groves, partakers of my songs In time tofore when fortune did not frown, Pour forth your plaints and wail a while with me; And thou bright sun, my comfort in the cold, Hide, hide thy face and leave me comfortless; Ye wholesome herbs, and sweet smelling favors, Ye each thing else prolonging life of man, Change, change your wonted course, that I, Wanting your aide, in woeful sort may die.
[Enter Amadine and Ariana her maid.]
AMADINE. Ariana, if any body ask for me, Make some excuse till I return.
ARIANA. What and Segasto call?
AMADINE. Do thou the like to him; I mean not to stay long. [Exit Ariana.]
MUCEDORUS. This voice so sweet my pining spirits revives. AMADINE. Shepherd, well met; tell me how thou doest. MUCEDORUS. I linger life, yet wish for speedy death.
AMADINE. Shepherd, although thy banishment already Be decreed, and all against my will, Yet Amadine--MUCEDORUS. Ah, Amadine, to hear of banishment Is death, aye, double death to me, But since I must depart, one thing I crave.
AMADINE. Say on with all my heart.
MUCEDORUS. That in absence, either far or near, You honor me, as servant, with your name.
AMADINE. Not so. MUCEDORUS. And why?
AMADINE. I honour thee, as sovereign, with my heart. MUCEDORUS. A shepherd and a sovereign? nothing like. AMADINE. Yet like enough where there is no dislike.
MUCEDORUS. Yet great dislike, or else no banishment. AMADINE. Shepherd, it is only Segasto that procures thy banishment. MUCEDORUS. Unworthy wights are most in jealousy.
AMADINE. Would God they would free thee from banishment, Or likewise banish me.
MUCEDORUS. Amen, say I, to have your company.
AMADINE. Well, shepherd, sith thou sufferest this for my sake, With thee in exile also let me live-- On this condition, shepherd, thou canst love.
MUCEDORUS. No longer love, no longer let me live!
AMADINE. Of late I loved one indeed, now love I none but only thee.
MUCEDORUS. Thanks, worthy princess; I borne likewise, Yet smother up the blast, I dare not promise what I may perform.
AMADINE. Well, shepherd, hark what I shall say: I will return unto my Father's court, There for to provide me of such necessaries, As for our journey I shall think most fit; This being done, i will return to thee. Do thou, therefore, appoint the place where we may meet.
MUCEDORUS. Down in the valley where I slew the bear: And there doth grow a fair broad branched beech, That overshades a well; so who comes first Let them abide the happy meeting of us both. How like you this?
AMADINE. I like it very well.
MUCEDORUS. Now, if you please, you may appoint the time. AMADINE. Full three hours hence, God willing, I will return.
MUCEDORUS. The thanks that Paris gave the Grecian queen The like doth Mucedorus yield.
AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, for three hours farewell. [Exit.]
MUCEDORUS. Your departure, lady, breeds a privy pain. [Exit.]