Shallow.
The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old
coat.
Slender.
I may quarter, coz?
Shallow.
You may, by marrying.
Evans.
It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Shallow.
Not a whit.
Evans. Yes, py’r lady! If he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures; but that is all one. If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence to make atonements and compremises between you.
Shallow.
The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.
Evans. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot; the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that.
Shallow.
Ha! o’ my life, if I were young again, the sword
should end it.
Evans. It is petter that friends is the sword and end it; and there is also another device in my prain, which peradventure prings goot discretions with it. There is Anne Page, which is daughter to Master George Page, which is pretty virginity.
Slender.
Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks
small like a woman.
Evans. It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire upon his death’s-bed—Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!—give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old. It were a goot motion if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page.
Shallow.
Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?
Evans.
Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
Shallow.
I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.
Evans.
Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts.
Shallow.
Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff
there?
Evans. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar as I do despise one that is false; or as I despise one that is not true. The knight Sir John is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the door for Master Page. [Knocks.] What, hoa! Got pless your house here!
Page.
[Within.] Who’s there?
Evans. Here is Got’s plessing, and your friend, and Justice Shallow; and here young Master Slender, that peradventures shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings.
[Enter page.]
Page.
I am glad to see your worships well. I thank
you for my venison,
Master Shallow.
Shallow.
Master Page, I am glad to see you; much good do it
your good heart!
I wished your venison better; it was ill killed.
How doth good
Mistress Page?—and I thank you always with
my heart, la! with my
heart.