justices of the peace: what is your good pleasure
with me?
Bard. My captain, sir, commends him to you;
my captain, Sir John Falstaff: a tall gentleman, 68
by heaven, and a most gallant leader.
Shal. He greets me well, sir. I knew him a
good backsword man. How doth the good
knight? may I ask how my lady his wife doth? 72
Bard. Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accom-
modated than with a wife.
Shal. It is well said, in faith, sir; and it is
well said indeed too. 'Better accommodated!' 76
it is good; yea indeed, is it: good phrases are
surely and ever were, very commendable. Ac-
commodated! it comes of accommodo: very
good; a good phrase. 80
Bard. Pardon me, sir; I have heard the
word. 'Phrase' call you it? By this good day,
I know not the phrase; but I will maintain the
word with my sword to be a soldier-like word, 84
and a word of exceeding good command, by
heaven. Accommodated; that is, when a man
is, as they say, accommodated; or, when a man
is, being, whereby, a' may be thought to be 88
accommodated, which is an excellent thing.
Enter Falstaff.
Shal. It is very just. Look, here comes good
Sir John. Give me your good hand, give me
your worship's good hand. By my troth, you 92
look well and bear your years very well: wel-
come, good Sir John.
68 tall: doughty
71 backsword man: fighter at single-sticks
73 accommodated; cf. n.
