University of Virginia Library

SCEN 1.

Florida with a Leash about her neck.
Flo.
I Troe, since lawe of game was first inuent,
Or Huntsman hath vncouppeld Hound there hath
Not beene, in all that stoure, perfourmed light
A nobler chase then this. No sooner were
The Dogs let loose and that the groomes had cryen
A Trayle a Trayle, when loe th'odorant force
Thickend lyke to leaues in Sagittary
Rusht into feild with might and mayne, So ho
Amayne, they cryde, List a Ringwood, list, list,
So ho againe, you noble Currs, So ho,
When eftsoones lighting on the greedy sent
The whooresonnes spent a good, Tat Tat againe,
Ho againe, assayne, assayne, when rushing
Int 'open plaine they opend three such keyes
Of Nete combind, Diapason, Meane
That the whole quire of Heauens Hierarchy
Could not conforme their lyke, Then in chace
With Greyhounds according my Ladyes bidding
I made the Alay to the Deere, when, loe,
He got vnto a Tree, Long there the Bea
Betweene the egar Mouthed Currs and him,
Ringwood made at hed, Lady Snatcht a haunch,
Light-foot the syde afore, Talbot the other,
That with th'Anguish th'Heartles Hart beset
On all his sydes with th'horror of his Death
From eyes shed teares on ground abundauntly,
But what? the Merc'les Currs were so enflesht
Vpon the life of him, for all his treates
For all his Fountaines spent, For all his bent
Of Humble Knee they would not stint but teare
The suppliaunt Soule with launcets of their Teeth,
Hither my Lady aduaunct her steede, Hither,
Perceiuing far the Boasted Buck at Bea,
Came in the totall crewe of Huntresses
With wind of Horne, at one the Cast besyde
With open Mouths, when straite Hypsiphyle
Moued with compassion on the Beast
In tender loue and in heroic spirit
Picked furth her quiuer her best of shafts,
And in a trice wound th'Heartles Hart to death,
So all with lusty Peale wee blewe his Death.
But, loe, so faint I am I can no more,
And Toung claues too to Pallate of my Mouth,
And therefore in Triumphe of this dayes sport
I will will vnto the well, withall in one
Release Learchus and refresh myself.
But is not this the Keeper Christophel?
I will preuent him in saluting first.
Christophel, good day, Sawst any my sisters
Pursewing the emboasted Deere this way?