By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to night. What, 2789Davy, I say!

You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.

I will not excuse you; you shall not be excused; 2792excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve; you 2793shall not be excused. Why, Davy!

Here sir.

Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy; let me see, Davy; let me see, 2797Davy; let me see; yea, marry, William Cook, bid him come 2798hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.

Marry, sir, thus, those precepts cannot be served. And 2800again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat?

With red wheat, Davy. But for William Cook -- 2803are there no young pigeons?

Yes, sir. Here is now the Smith's note for shoeing and 2806plow-irons.

Let it be cast and paid. Sir John, you shall not be 2808excused.

Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be 2810had; and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages, 2811about the sack he lost at Hinckley Fair?

'A shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of 2814short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny 2815kickshaws -- tell William Cook.

Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?

Yea, Davy, 2819I will use him well. A friend i'th'court is better then a 2820penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy, for they are 2821errant knaves, and will backbite.

No worse than they are back-bitten, sir, for they have 2823marvelous foul linen.

Well conceited, Davy. About thy business, Davy.

I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor 2827of Woncote against Clement Perks o'th'hill.

There is many complaints, Davy, against that Visor; 2830that Visor is an errant knave on my knowledge.

I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir, but yet 2833god forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at 2834his friends' request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for 2835himself, when a knave is not. I have served your worship truly, sir, 2836this eight years. An I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear 2837out a knave against an honest man, I have litle credit with your 2839worship. The knave is mine honest friend sir, therefore I beseech 2840you, let him be countenanced.

Go to I say, he shall have no wrong. Look about, Davy.

2844Where are you, Sir John? Come, come, come, off with your boots. 2845Give me your hand, Master Bardolph.

I am glad to see your worship.

I thank thee with my heart, kind Master Bardolph; [To the Page] and 2848welcome my tall fellow. Come, Sir John.

I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow. 2851Bardolph, look to our horses.

If I were sawed into quantities, I 2852should make four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as 2853Master Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to see the semblable 2854coherence of his men's spirits and his. They, by observing him, 2855do bear themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing 2856with them, is turned into a justice-like servingman. Their spirits 2858are so married in conjunction with the participation of society, 2859that they flock together in consent, like so many wild geese. 2860If I had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humor his men 2861with the imputation of being near their master; if to his 2862men, I would curry with Master Shallow that no man could 2863better command his servants. It is certain that either wise 2864bearing or ignorant carriage is caught as men take diseases, one 2866of another; therefore let men take heed of their company. I 2867will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince 2868Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions -- 2869which is four terms, or two actions -- and 'a shall laugh without 2870intervallums. Oh, it is much that a lie with a slight oath and 2871a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that never had 2872the ache in his shoulders. Oh, you shall see him laugh till his face 2874be like a wet cloak, ill laid up.

[Within] Sir John!

I come, Master Shallow, I come, Master Shallow.