may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Evans. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast 20 to man, and signifies "love." Shal. The luce is the fresh fish: the salt fish is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz? Shal. You may, by marrying. Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. Shal. Not a whit. Eva. Yes, pe'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 30 Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the Church, and will pe glad to do my penevolence, to make atonements and compremises between you. Shal. The Council shall hear it: it is a riot. Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot: there 16 luces, pikes. "Twelve white luces" were the arms of Shakespeare's Stratfordshire enemy, Sir Thomas Lucy, to whom there is probably allusion here. (R) 20 passant, walking, a term in heraldry. (R) 22 the salt fish is an old coat. The Welshman having mistaken the dozen white luces in Shallow's coat for the "familiar beast to man," the Justice corrects his error by informing him that the luce is the fresh fish; and then alarmed lest Sir Hugh should suppose that there was any thing fresh or new about his armorial bearings, and remembering that his luces are white, he adds, in his feeble-minded way, that the salt or white fish (all salt fish appearing white from the crystallizations upon them) is an old coat of arms. [Gollancz suggests that salt may be used with a quibble on the heraldic term saltant, peculiarly suitable to vermin, as also is an old coat, in which again there is a quibble on coat of arms. Cf. also quarter. 1. 24.] 35 Council, i. e. Court of the Star-chamber, with which Shallow has before threatened Falstaff. (w) 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. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again the sword should end it. Eva. 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. Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small, like a woman. 40 Eva. It is that ferry person for all the orld, as just 50 as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies, 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. Slen. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts. Shal. Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff there? 48 Master George Page. In the original, Master Thomas Page; but his name was George, as we find by subsequent passages. (w) 69 This and Slender's next 60 speech were assigned by White to Shallow, following Malone's change. See Supplementary Notes. Eva. 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 70 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 appears at a window. Page. Who's there? Eva. 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 80 thank you for my venison, Master Shallow. Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good do it your good heart. I wish'd your venison better; it was ill kill'd. How doth good Mistress Page? — and I thank you always with my heart - la with my heart. Page. Sir, I thank you. Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. Page. I am glad to see you, good Master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I 90 heard say, he was outrun on Cotsall. 74 [PAGE appears at a window.] There are hardly any stage directions in the original folio, but it was the old practice to take a look at people who sought an entrance, before admitting or going out to them, 91 Cotsall. Cotswold downs in Gloucestershire, where, as Warton pointed out, rural games took place annually [from toward the close of the sixteenth century till 1638. A fallow greyhound was light brown in color.] BEFORE PAGE'S HOUSE From a photograph by Byron of the scene in the New THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR |