hallooed, _So ho! Venue_, a coupler;
and so coupled the dogs, and then returned homeward. Another company of
hounds, that lay at advantage, had their couples cast off, and we might
hear the huntsmen cry, _Horse, decouple, avant_; but straight we heard
him cry, _Le amond_, and by that I knew that they had the hare, and on
foot; and by and by I might see sore and resore, prick and reprick.
What, is he gone! ha, ha, ha, ha! these scholars are the simplest
creatures!

ACTUS II., SCAENA 6.

_Enter Amoretto's_ PAGE.

PAGE.
I wonder what is become of that Ovid _de arte amandi_.[90] My master, he
that for the practice of his discourse is wont to court his hobby abroad
and at home, in his chamber makes a set speech to his greyhound,
desiring that most fair and amiable dog to grace his company in a
stately galliard; and if the dog, seeing him practise his lusty points,
as his cross-point back-caper, chance to bewray the room, he presently
doft's his cap, most solemnly makes a low leg to his ladyship, taking it
for the greatest favour in the world that she would vouchsafe to leave
her civet-box or her sweet glove behind her.

[_Enter_ AMORETTO, _reading Ovid_.]

Not a word more. Sir, an't please you, your hobby will meet you at the
lane's end.

AMORETTO.
What, Jack? i'faith, I cannot but vent unto thee a most witty jest of
mine.

PAGE.
I hope my master will not break wind. [_Aside_.] Will't please you, sir,
to bless mine ears with the discourse of it?

AMORETTO.
Good faith, the boy begins to have an elegant smack of my style. Why,
then, thus it was, Jack, a scurvy mere Cambridge scholar, I know not
how to define him--

PAGE.
Nay, master, let me define a mere scholar. I heard a courtier once
define a mere scholar to be _animal scabiosum_, that is, a living
creature that is troubled with the itch; or, a mere scholar is a
creature that can strike fire in the morning at his tinder-box, put on
a pair of lined slippers, sit rheuming[91] till dinner, and then go to
his meat when the bell rings: one that hath a peculiar gift in a cough,
and a licence to spit. Or, if you will have him defined by negatives, he
is one that cannot make a good leg; one that cannot eat a mess of broth
cleanly; one that cannot ride a horse without spur-galling; one that
cannot salute a woman, and look on her directly; one that cannot--

AMORETTO.
Enough, Jack; I can stay no longer; I am so great in childbirth with
this jest. Sir