The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [746]
heat as butter; a man of continual dissolution and thaw. It
was a miracle to scape suffocation. And in the height of
this bath, when I was more than half-stew'd in grease, like
a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames, and cool'd,
glowing hot, in that surge, like a horse-shoe; think of that
-hissing hot. Think of that, Master Brook.
FORD.
In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for my sake you
have suffer'd all this. My suit, then, is desperate;
you'll undertake her no more.
FALSTAFF.
Master Brook, I will be thrown into Etna, as I
have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her
husband is this morning gone a-birding; I have received from
her another embassy of meeting; 'twixt eight and nine is
the hour, Master Brook.
FORD.
'Tis past eight already, sir.
FALSTAFF.
Is it? I Will then address me to my appointment.
Come to me at your convenient leisure, and you shall
know how I speed; and the conclusion shall be crowned
with your enjoying her. Adieu. You shall have her, Master
Brook; Master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford. Exit
FORD. Hum! ha! Is this a vision? Is this a dream? Do I sleep?
Master Ford, awake; awake, Master Ford. There's a hole
made in your best coat, Master Ford. This 'tis to be
married; this 'tis to have linen and buck-baskets! Well, I will
proclaim myself what I am; I will now take the lecher; he
is at my house. He cannot scape me; 'tis impossible he
should; he cannot creep into a halfpenny purse nor into
a pepper box. But, lest the devil that guides him should aid
him, I will search impossible places. Though what I am I
cannot avoid, yet to be what I would not shall not make
me tame. If I have horns to make one mad, let the proverb
go with me-I'll be horn mad. Exit
ACT IV. SCENE I.
Windsor. A street
Enter MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS QUICKLY, and WILLIAM
MRS.
PAGE. Is he at Master Ford's already, think'st thou?
QUICKLY.
Sure he is by this; or will be presently; but truly
he is very courageous mad about his throwing into the
water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly.
MRS.
PAGE. I'll be with her by and by; I'll but bring my
young man here to school. Look where his master comes;
'tis a playing day, I see.
Enter SIR HUGH EVANS
How now, Sir Hugh, no school to-day?
EVANS.
No; Master Slender is let the boys leave to play.
QUICKLY.
Blessing of his heart!
MRS.
PAGE. Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits
nothing in the world at his book; I pray you ask him some
questions in his accidence.
EVANS.
Come hither, William; hold up your head; come.
MRS.
PAGE. Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer your
master; be not afraid.
EVANS.
William, how many numbers is in nouns?
WILLIAM.
Two.
QUICKLY.
Truly, I thought there had been one number
more, because they say 'Od's nouns.'
EVANS.
Peace your tattlings. What is 'fair,' William?
WILLIAM.
Pulcher.
QUICKLY.
Polecats! There are fairer things than polecats, sure.
EVANS.
You are a very simplicity oman; I pray you, peace.
What is 'lapis,' William?
WILLIAM.
A stone.
EVANS.
And what is 'a stone,' William?
WILLIAM.
A pebble.
EVANS.
No, it is 'lapis'; I pray you remember in your prain.
WILLIAM.
Lapis.
EVANS.
That is a good William. What is he, William, that does lend articles?
WILLIAM.
Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be
thus declined: Singulariter, nominativo; hic, haec, hoc.
EVANS.
Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you, mark: genitivo,
hujus. Well, what is your accusative case?
WILLIAM.
Accusativo, hinc.
EVANS.
I pray you, have your remembrance, child.
Accusativo, hung, hang, hog.
QUICKLY.
'Hang-hog' is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.
EVANS.
Leave your prabbles, oman. What is the focative
case, William?
WILLIAM.
O-vocativo, O.
EVANS.
Remember, William: focative is caret.
QUICKLY.
And that's a good root.
EVANS.
Oman, forbear.
MRS.
PAGE. Peace.
EVANS.
What is your genitive case plural, William?
WILLIAM.
Genitive case?