Page 2384 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1
P. 2384
In what manner? [200]
COST ARD
In manner and form following, sir - all those three: I was seen with her ‘in’
the ‘manor’-house, sitting with her upon the ‘form’, and taken ‘following’
her into the park; which, put together, is ‘in manner and form following’.
Now, sir, for the ‘manner’ - it is the manner [205] of a man to speak to a
woman. For the ‘form’ - in some form.
BEROWNE
For the ‘following’, sir?
COST ARD
As it shall follow in my correction - and God defend the right! [210]
KING
Will you hear this letter with attention?
BEROWNE
As we would hear an oracle.
COST ARD
Such is the sinplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.
KING
(reading) Great deputy, the welkin’s vicegerent, and [215] sole dominator
of Navarre, my soul’s earth’s god, and body’s fostering patron -
COST ARD
Not a word of Costard yet.
KING
So it is -
COST ARD
It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling [220] true - but so.
KING
Peace!
