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III, xii 7

The phrase, with multiple meanings, constitutes one of the editorial disputes. Edwards points out that often the phrase refers 'to losing something one has tried to achieve or hold' (Edwards, fn l.24, p. 80) and that here it emphasises Hieronimo's fear of losing his opportunity with the King (Bevington, fn l.24, p. 91), who passes by 'preoccupied by business' (Mulryne, fn l.24, p. 82). Boas, however, reads the proverb to mean 'here the matter ends' (Boas, fn l.24, p. 406) but points out that Schick, quoting Gosson's Schole of Abuse, p. 70: 'His labor, hoc opus est, there goeth the hare away,' interprets the phrase as 'there is the game I want to hunt; that's where the game lies.' (cf. Boas, p. 406). Cairncross reads it as 'the quarry escapes' (Cairncross, fn l.24, p. 131), while Eisaman as 'The hunt is underway' (fn l.24, p. 343).