Fie, this is hot weather, gentlemen
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?
They sit at a table.
Falstaff
Let me see them, I beseech you.
Thy mother’s son! Like enough, and thy
father’s shadow. So the son of the female is the
shadow of the male. It is often so, indeed, but
much of the father’s substance.
Shallow
Where’s the roll? Where’s the roll? Where’s
the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see.Epimones So, so,
so, so, so. So, so.Epizeuxis Yea, marry, sir.—Rafe Mouldy!—
Let them appear as I call, let them do so, let them
do so.Epimones
Enter Mouldy, followed by Shadow, Wart, Feeble,
and Bullcalf.
Let me see, where is Mouldy?
Mouldy, coming forward
Here, an it 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 time thou wert used.
Shallow
Ha, ha, ha, most excellent, i’ faith! Things
that are mouldy lack use. Very singular good, in
faith. Well said, Sir John, very well said.Adnominatio
Falstaff
Prick him.
Shallow marks the scroll.
Mouldy
I was pricked well enough before, an you
could have let me alone.Antanaclesis My old dame will be
undone now for one to do her husbandry and her
drudgery. You need not to have pricked me. There
are other men fitter to go out than I.
Falstaff
Go to. Peace, Mouldy. You shall go. Mouldy,
it is time you were spent.
Mouldy
Spent?
Shallow
Peace, fellow, peace. Stand aside. Know you
where you are?—For th’ other, Sir John. Let me
see.—Simon Shadow!
Falstaff
Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under.
He’s like to be a cold soldier.Pun
Shallow
Where’s Shadow?
Shadow, coming forward
Here, sir.
Falstaff
Shadow, whose son art thou?
Shadow
My mother’s son, sir.
Falstaff
AnapodotonsThy mother’s son! Like enough, and thy
father’s shadow. So the son of the female is the
shadow of the male. It is often so, indeed, but much
of the father’s substance.
Shallow
Do you like him, Sir John?
Falstaff
Shadow will serve for summer.Adnominatio Prick him,
for we have a number of shadows to fill up the
muster book.