SCENE V.--_Another part of the Field.

_Hunting within. Enter_ ROSE _and_ SYBIL.

_Rose._ Why, Sybil, wilt thou prove a forester?

_Sybil._ Upon some, no; forester, go by; no, faith, mistress. The deer came running into the barn through the orchard and over the pale; I wot well, I looked as pale as a new cheese to see him. But whip, says Goodman Pin-close, up with his flail, and our Nick with a prong, and down he fell, and they upon him, and I upon them. By my troth, we had such sport; and in the end we ended him; his throat we cut, flayed him, unhorned him, and my lord mayor shall eat of him anon, when he comes. [_Horns sound within._

_Rose._ Hark, hark, the hunters come; y’are best take heed, They’ll have a saying to you for this deed.

_Enter_ Master HAMMON, Master WARNER, Huntsmen, _and_ Boy.

_Ham._ God save you, fair ladies.

_Sybil._ Ladies! O gross![43]

[43] Stupid.

_Warn._ Came not a buck this way?

_Rose._ No, but two does.

_Ham._ And which way went they? Faith, we’ll hunt at those.

_Sybil._ At those? upon some, no: when, can you tell?

_Warn._ Upon some, ay?

_Sybil._ Good Lord!

_Warn._ Wounds! Then farewell!

_Ham._ Boy, which way went he?

_Boy._ This way, sir, he ran.

_Ham._ This way he ran indeed, fair Mistress Rose; Our game was lately in your orchard seen.

_Warn._ Can you advise, which way he took his flight?

_Sybil._ Follow your nose; his horns will guide you right.

_Warn._ Th’art a mad wench.

_Sybil._ O, rich!

_Rose._ Trust me, not I. It is not like that the wild forest-deer Would come so near to places of resort; You are deceived, he fled some other way.

_Warn._ Which way, my sugar-candy, can you shew?

_Sybil._ Come up, good honeysops, upon some, no.

_Rose._ Why do you stay, and not pursue your game?

_Sybil._ I’ll hold my life, their hunting-nags be lame.

_Ham._ A deer more dear is found within this place.

_Rose._ But not the deer, sir, which you had in chase.

_Ham._ I chased the deer, but this dear chaseth me.

_Rose._ The strangest hunting that ever I see. But where’s your park? [_She offers to go away._

_Ham._ ’Tis here: O stay!

_Rose._ Impale me, and then I will not stray.

_Warn._ They wrangle, wench; we are more kind than they.

_Sybil._ What kind of hart is that dear heart, you seek?

_Warn._ A hart, dear heart.

_Sybil._ Who ever saw the like?

_Rose._ To lose your heart, is’t possible you can?

_Ham._ My heart is lost.

_Rose._ Alack, good gentleman!

_Ham._ This poor lost hart would I wish you might find.

_Rose._ You, by such luck, might prove your hart a hind.

_Ham._ Why, Luck had horns, so have I heard some say.

_Rose._ Now, God, an’t be his will, send Luck into your way.

_Enter the_ LORD MAYOR _and_ Servants.

_L. Mayor._ What, Master Hammon? Welcome to Old Ford!

_Sybil._ Gods pittikins, hands off, sir! Here’s my lord.

_L. Mayor._ I hear you had ill luck, and lost your game.

_Ham._ ’Tis true, my lord.

_L. Mayor._ I am sorry for the same. What gentleman is this?

_Ham._ My brother-in-law.

_L. Mayor._ Y’are welcome both; sith Fortune offers you Into my hands, you shall not part from hence, Until you have refreshed your wearied limbs. Go, Sybil, cover the board! You shall be guest To no good cheer, but even a hunter’s feast.

_Ham._ I thank your lordship.--Cousin, on my life, For our lost venison I shall find a wife. [_Exeunt._

_L. Mayor._ In, gentlemen; I’ll not be absent long.-- This Hammon is a proper gentleman, A citizen by birth, fairly allied; How fit an husband were he for my girl! Well, I will in, and do the best I can, To match my daughter to this gentleman. [_Exit._

ACT THE THIRD.