52 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by
52 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare
ACT III
SCENE I. A field near Frogmore
Enter Sir Hugh Evans and
Simple.
EVANS.
I pray you now, good Master Slender’s servingman, and friend Simple by your
name, which way have you looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor of
physic?
SIMPLE.
Marry, sir, the Petty-ward, the Park-ward, every way; old Windsor way, and
every way but the town way.
EVANS.
I most fehemently desire you, you will also look that way.
SIMPLE.
I will, Sir.
[Exit Simple.]
EVANS
Pless my soul, how full of cholers I am, and trempling of mind! I shall be
glad if he have deceived me. How melancholies I am! I will knog his urinals
about his knave’s costard when I have good opportunities for the ’ork. Pless my
soul!
[Sings.]
To shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sings madrigals.
There will we make our peds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies.
To shallow—
Mercy on me, I have a great dispositions to cry.
[Sings.]
Melodious birds sing madrigals—
Whenas I sat in Pabylon—
And a thousand vagram posies.
To shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.
Enter Simple.
SIMPLE
Yonder he is, coming this way, Sir Hugh.
EVANS.
He’s welcome.
[Sings.] To shallow rivers, to whose falls—
Heaven prosper the right! What weapons is he?
SIMPLE.
No weapons, sir. There comes my master, Master Shallow, and another gentleman,
from Frogmore, over the stile, this way.
EVANS.
Enter Page, Shallow and
Slender.
SHALLOW
How now, Master Parson? Good morrow, good Sir Hugh. Keep a gamester from the
dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful.
SLENDER.
[Aside.] Ah, sweet Anne Page!
PAGE.
EVANS.
SHALLOW.
What, the sword and the word? Do you study them both, Master Parson?
PAGE.
And youthful still—in your doublet and hose, this raw rheumatic day?
EVANS.
There is reasons and causes for it.
PAGE.
We are come to you to do a good office, Master Parson.
EVANS.
Fery well; what is it?
PAGE.
Yonder is a most reverend gentleman who, belike having received wrong by some
person, is at most odds with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw.
SHALLOW.
I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never heard a man of his place,
gravity, and learning, so wide of his own respect.
EVANS.
What is he?
PAGE.
I think you know him: Master Doctor Caius, the renowned French physician.
EVANS.
Got’s will and His passion of my heart! I had as lief you would tell me of a
mess of porridge.
PAGE.
Why?
EVANS.
He has no more knowledge in Hibbocrates and Galen, and he is a knave besides, a
cowardly knave as you would desires to be acquainted withal.
PAGE.
I warrant you, he’s the man should fight with him.
SLENDER.
[Aside.] O, sweet Anne Page!
SHALLOW.
It appears so by his weapons. Keep them asunder. Here comes Doctor Caius.
Enter Host, Caius and
Rugby.
PAGE
Nay, good Master Parson, keep in your weapon.
SHALLOW.
So do you, good Master Doctor.
HOST.
Disarm them, and let them question. Let them