Act 3. Scene II - Page 2

old Double dead?

SILENCE
Here come two of Sir John Falstaff's men, as I think.

Enter BARDOLPH and one with him

BARDOLPH
Good morrow, honest gentlemen: I beseech you, which
is Justice Shallow?

SHALLOW
I am Robert Shallow, sir; a poor esquire of this
county, and one of the king's justices of th e peace:
What is your good pleasure with me?

BARDOLPH
My captain, sir, commends him to you; my captain,
Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by heaven, and
a most gallant leader.

SHALLOW
He greets me well, sir. I knew him a good backsword
man. How doth the good knight? may I ask how my
lady his wife doth?

BARDOLPH
Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accommodated than
with a wife.

SHALLOW
It is well said, in faith, sir; and it is well said
indeed too. Better accommodated! it is good; yea,
indeed, is it: good phrases are surely, and ever
were, very commendable. Accommodated! it comes of
'accommodo' very good; a good phrase.

BARDOLPH
Pardon me, sir; I have heard the word. Phrase call
you it? by this good day, I know not the phrase;
but I will maintain the word with my sword to be a
soldier-like word, and a word of exceeding good
command, by heaven. Accommodated; that is, when a
man is, as they say, accommodated; or when a man is,
being, whereby a' may be thought to be accommodated;
which is an excellent thing.

SHALLOW
It is very just.

Enter FALSTAFF

Look, here comes good Sir John. Give me your good
hand, give me your worship's good hand: by my
troth, you like well and bear your years very well:
welcome, good Sir John.

FALSTAFF
I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert
Shallow: Master Surecard, as I think?

SHALLOW
No, Sir John; it is my cousin Silence, in commission with me.

FALSTAFF
Good Master Silence, it well befits you should be of
the peace.

SILENCE
Your good-worship is welcome.

FALSTAFF
Fie! this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you
provided me here half a dozen sufficient men?

SHALLOW
Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?

FALSTAFF
Let me see them, I beseech you.

SHALLOW
Where's the roll? where's the roll? where's the
roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so:
yea, marry, sir: Ralph Mouldy! Let them appear as
I call; let them do so, let them do so. Let me
see; where is Mouldy?

MOULDY
Here, an't please you.

SHALLOW
What think you, Sir John? a good-limbed fellow;
young, strong, and of good friends.

FALSTAFF
Is thy name Mouldy?

MOULDY
Yea, an't please you.

FALSTAFF
'Tis the more