Classic Poem

[Enter Segasto solus.]

SEGASTO.
Tis well, Segasto, that thou hast thy will;
Should such a shepherd, such a simple swain
As he, eclipse the credit famous through
The court? No, ply, Segasto, ply:
Let it not in Arragon be said,
A shepherd hath Segasto's honour won.

[Enter Mouse the clown calling his master.]

MOUSE.
What ho, master, will you come away?

SEGASTO.
Will you come hither? I pray you, what's the
matter?

MOUSE.
Why, is it not past eleven a clock?

SEGASTO.
How then, sir?

MOUSE.
I pray you, come away to dinner.

SEGASTO.
I pray you, come hither.

MOUSE.
Here's such a do with you! will you never come?

SEGASTO.
I pray you, sir, what news of the message I sent
you about?

MOUSE.
I tell you all the messes be on the table already.
There wants not so much as a mess of mustard
half an hour ago.

SEGASTO.
Come, sir, your mind is all upon your belly;
You have forgotten what I did bid you do.

MOUSE.
Faith, I know nothing, but you bade me go to
breakfast.

SEGASTO.
Was that all?

MOUSE.
Faith, I have forgotten it; the very scent of the
meat hath made me forget it quite.

SEGASTO.
You have forgotten the arrant I bid you do?

MOUSE.
What arrant? an arrant knave, or arrant whore?

SEGASTO.
Why, thou knave, did I not bid thee banish the
shepherd?

MOUSE.
O, the shepherd's bastard.

SEGASTO.
I tell thee, the shepherd's banishment.

MOUSE.
I tell you the shepherd's bastard shall be well kept;
I'll look to it myself else; but I pray you, come away
to dinner.

SEGASTO.
Then you will not tell me whether you have banished
him or no?

MOUSE.
Why, I cannot say banishment, and you would give me
a thousand pounds to say so.

SEGASTO.
Why, you whoreson slave, have you forgotten that I
sent you and another to drive away the shepherd.

MOUSE.
What an ass are you; here's a stir indeed: here's
'message,' 'arrant,' 'banishment,' and I cannot tell what.

SEGASTO.
I pray you, sir, shall I know whether you have drove him
away?

MOUSE.
Faith, I think I have; and you will not believe me, ask my
staff.

SEGASTO.
Why, can thy staff tell?

MOUSE.
Why, he was with me to.


SEGASTO.
Then happy I that have obtained my will.

MOUSE.
And happier I, if you would go to dinner.

SEGASTO.
Come, sirra, follow me.

MOUSE.
I warrant you, I will not loose an inch of you,
now you are going to dinner.--I promise you, I
thought seven year before I could get him away.

[Exeunt.]