Page 2446 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

ACT I IT

Scene I IT

Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans.

SHALLOW
Sir Hugh, persuade me not: I will make a Star Chamber matter of it. If he
were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, Esquire.

SLENDER
In the county of Gloucester, Justice of Peace and Coram. [5]

SHALLOW
Ay, cousin Slender, and Custalorum.

SLENDER
Ay, and Ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson, who writes

himself ‘Armigero’ in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation − ‘Armigero’.

SHALLOW
Ay, that I do, and have done any time these [10] three hundred years.

SLENDER
All his successors, gone before him, hath done ’t, and all his ancestors, that
come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

SHALLOW
It is an old coat. [15]

EVANS
The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant;