Page 2455 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

[Enter Simple.]
How now, Simple, where have you been? I must wait on [180] myself, must
I? You have not the book of Riddles about you, have you?

SIMPLE
Book of Riddles? Why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon All-
hallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas? [185]

[Enter Shallow and Evans.]

SHALLOW
Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word with you, coz. Marry, this, coz:
there is, as ’twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hugh here.
Do you understand me?

SLENDER
Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so, I [190] shall do that that is

reason.

SHALLOW
Nay, but understand me.

SLENDER
So I do, sir.

EVANS
Give ear to his motions. Master Slender, I will description the matter to you, if
you be capacity of it. [195]

SLENDER
Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says. I pray you pardon me; he’s a Justice

of Peace in his country, simple though I stand here.

EVANS
But that is not the question: the question is concerning your marriage. [200]

SHALLOW