Shallow.
Host.
How, now, bully Rock? thou'rt a gentleman;
cavalero-justice, I say.
Shal.
I follow, mine Host, I follow. Good even,
and twenty, good master Page. Master Page, will you
go with us? we have sport in hand.
Host.
Tell him, cavaliero-justice; tell him, bully
Rock?
Shal.
Sir, there is a fray to be fought between Sir
Hugh the Welch priest, and Caius the French doctor.
Ford.
Good mine Host o'th' Garter, a word with
you.
Host.
What say'st thou, bully Rock?
[They go a little aside.
Shal. [To Page.
Will you go with us to behold it?
my merry Host hath had the measuring of their Weapons,
and, I think, he hath appointed them contrary
places; for, believe me, I hear, the parson is no jester.
Hark, I will tell you what our sport shall be.
Host.
Hast thou no suit against my Knight, my
guest-cavalier?
Ford.
None, I protest; but I'll give you a pottle
of burnt sack to give me recourse to him, 4 note
and tell
him, my name is Brook; only for a jest.
-- 482 --
Host.
My hand, bully. Thou shalt have egress and
regress; said I well? and thy name shall be Brook. It
is a merry Knight. 5 note
Will you go an-heirs?
Shal.
Have with you, mine host.
Page.
I have heard, the Frenchman hath good skill
in his rapier.
Shal.
Tut, Sir, I could have told you more. In
these times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccado's,
and I know not what. 'Tis the heart, master Page;
'tis here, 'tis here. I have seen the time with my6 note long
sword, I would have made you four tall fellows skip
like rats.
Host.
Here, boys, here, here: shall we wag?
Page.
Have with you; I had rather hear them
scold than fight.
[Exeunt Host, Shallow and Page.
Ford.
Tho' Page be a secure fool, 7 note
and stand so
-- 483 --
firmly on his wife's fealty, yet I cannot put off my opinion
so easily. She was in his company at Page's
house; and what they made there, I know not. Well,
I will look further into't; and I have a disguise to
sound Falstaff: if I find her honest, I lose not my labour;
if she be otherwise, 'tis labour well bestow'd.
[Exit.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
