Part 11 (1/2)

We shall anon; z'ounds, hark! What means this noise?

JERNINGHAM.

Stay, I hear hors.e.m.e.n.

CLARE.

I hear footmen too.

JERNINGHAM.

Nay, then I have it: we have been discovered, And we are followed by our fathers men.

MILLISCENT.

Brother and friend, alas, what shall we do?

CLARE.

Sister, speak softly, or we are descried.

They are hard upon us, what so ere they be, Shadow your self behind this brake of fern, We'll get into the wood, and let them pa.s.s.

[Enter Sir John, Blague, Smug, and Banks, one after another.]

SIR JOHN.

Gra.s.s and hay! we are all mortall; the keepers abroad, and there's an end.

BANKS.

Sir John!

SIR JOHN.

Neighbour Banks, what news?

BANKS.

Z'wounds, Sir John, the keepers are abroad; I was hard by 'am.

SIR JOHN.

Gra.s.s and hay! where's mine host Blague?

BLAGUE.

Here, Metrapolitane. The philistines are upon us, be silent; let us serve the good Duke of Norfolk. But where is Smug?

SMUG.

Here; a pox on ye all, dogs; I have kild the greatest Buck in Brians walk. s.h.i.+ft for your selves, all the keepers are up: let's meet in Enfield church porch; away, we are all taken else.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter Brian, with his man, and his hound.]

BRIAN.

Raph, hearst thou any stirring?

RAPH.

I heard one speak here hard by, in the bottom. Peace, Maister, speak low; zownes, if I did not hear a bow go off, and the Buck bray, I never heard deer in my life.

BRIAN.

When went your fellows out into their walks?