Come, sirra, away with him, and hang him about the middle.

MOUSE.

Yes, forsooth, I warrant you: come on, sir. A, so like a sheep biter a looks!

[Enter Amadine and a boy with a bear's head.]

AMADINE.

Dread sovereign and wellbeloved sire, On bended knees I crave the life of this Condemned shepherd, which heretofore preserved The life of thy sometime distressed daughter.

KING.

Preserved the life of my sometime distress daughter?

How can that be? I never knew the time Wherein thou wast distressed; I never knew the day But that I have maintained thy state, As best beseemed the daughter of a king.

I never saw the shepherd until now.

How comes it, then, that he preserved thy life?

AMADINE.

Once walking with Segasto in the woods, Further than our accustomed manner was, Right before us, down a steep fall hill, A monstrous ugly bear doth hie him fast To meet us both: now whether this be true, I refer it to the credit of Segasto.

SEGASTO.

Most true, and like your majesty.

KING.

How then?

AMADINE.