AMADINE. The bear, being eager to obtain his prey,
Made forward to us with an open mouth,
As if he meant to swallow us both at once.
The sight whereof did make us both to dread,
But specially your daughter Amadine,
Who for I saw no succour incident,
But in Segasto's valour, I grew desperate,
And he most coward-like began to fly.
Left me distress'd to be devour'd of him—
How say you, Segasto? is it not true?
KING. His silence verifies it to be true. What then?
AMADINE. Then I amaz'd, distressed, all alone,
Did hie me fast to 'scape that ugly bear.
But all in vain; for why he reached after me,
And oft I hardly did[174] escape his paws,
Till at the length this shepherd came,
And brought to me his head.
Come hither, boy; lo, here it is,
Which I present unto your majesty.
KING. The slaughter of this bear deserves great fame.
SEGASTO. The slaughter of a man deserves great blame.
KING. Indeed occasion oftentimes so falls out.
SEGASTO. Tremelio in the wars, O King, preserved thee.
AMADINE. The shepherd in the woods, O King, preserved me.
SEGASTO. Tremelio fought, when many men did yield.
AMADINE. So would the shepherd, had he been in field.