Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Merry Wives of Windsor/Act 4 Scene 1
Actus Quartus. Scœna Prima.
Enter Mistris Page, Quickly, William, Euans.
Mist.Pag.
Is he at M[aster]. Fords already think’st thou?
Qui.
Sure he is by this; or will be presently; but truely he is very couragious mad, about his throwing into the water. Mistris Ford desires you to come sodainely.
Mist.Pag.
Ile be with her by and by: Ile but bring my yong-man here to Schoole: looke where his Master comes; ’tis a playing day I see: how now Sir Hugh, no Schoole to day?
Eua.
No: Master Slender is let the Boyes leaue to play.
Qui.
’Blessing of his heart.
Mist.Pag.
Sir Hugh, my husband saies my sonne profits nothing in the world at his Booke: I pray you aske him some questions in his Accidence
Eu.
Come hither William; hold vp your head; come.
Mist.Pag.
Come-on Sirha; hold vp your head; answere your Master, be not afraid.
Eua.
William, how many Numbers is in Nownes?
Will.
Two.
Qui.
Truely, I thought there had bin one Number more, because they say od’s-Nownes.
Eua.
Peace, your tatlings. What is (Faire) William?
Will.
Pulcher.
Qu.
Powlcats? there are fairer things then Powlcats, sure.
Eua.
You are a very simplicity o’man: I pray you peace. What is (Lapis) William?
Will.
A Stone.
Eua.
And what is a Stone (William? )
Will.
A Peeble.
Eua.
No; it is Lapis: I pray you remember in your praine.
Will.
Lapis.
Eua.
That is a good William: what is he (William) that do’s lend Articles.
Will.
Articles are borrowed of the Pronoune; and be thus declined. Singulariter nominatiuo hic, haec, hoc.
Eua.
Nominatiuo hig, hag, hog: pray you marke: genitiuo huius: Well: what is your Accusatiue-case?
Will.
Accusatiuo hinc.
Eua.
I pray you haue your remembrance (childe) Accusatiuo hing, hang, hog.
Qu.
Hang-hog, is latten for Bacon, I warrant you.
Eua.
Leaue your prables (o’man) What is the Focatiue case (William? )
Will.
O, Vocatiuo, O.
Eua.
Remember William, Focatiue, is caret.
Qu.
And that’s a good roote.
Eua.
O’man, forbeare.
Mist.Pag.
Peace.
Eua.
What is your Genitiue case plurall (William? )
Will.
Genitiue case?
Eua.
I.
Will.
Genitiue horum, harum, horum.
Qu.
’Vengeance of Ginyes case; fie on her; neuer name her (childe) if she be a whore.
Eua.
For shame o’man.
Qu.
You doe ill to teach the childe such words: hee teaches him to hic, and to hac; which they’ll doe fast enough of themselues, and to call horum; fie vpon you.
Ewans.
O’man, art thou Lunatics? Hast thou no vnderstandings
for thy Cases, & the numbers of the Genders?
Thou art as foolish Christian creatures, as I would
desires.
Mi.Page.
Pre’thee hold thy peace.
Eu.
Shew me now (William) some declensions of your
Pronounes.
Will.
Forsooth, I haue forgot.
Eu.
It is Qui, que, quod; if you forget your Quies,
your Ques, and your Quods, you must be preeches: Goe
your waies and play, go.
M.Pag.
He is a better scholler then I thought he was.
Eu.
He is a good sprag-memory: Farewel Mis[tris]. Page.
Mis.Page.
Adieu good Sir Hugh:
Get you home boy, Come we stay too long.Exeunt.