DOCTOR CAIUS'S house
Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBYQUICKLY.What, John Rugby! I pray thee go to the casement and see if you can see my master, Master Doctor Caius, coming.If he do, i' faith, and find anybody in the house, here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the King's English.RUGBY.I'll go watch.QUICKLY.Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.[Exit RUGBY] An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale nor no breed-bate; his worst fault is that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way; but nobody but has his fault; but let that pass.Peter Simple you say your name is? SIMPLE.Ay, for fault of a better.QUICKLY.And Master Slender's your master? SIMPLE.Ay, forsooth.QUICKLY.Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover's paring- knife? SIMPLE.No, forsooth; he hath but a little whey face, with a little yellow beard, a Cain-colour'd beard.QUICKLY.A softly-sprighted man, is he not? SIMPLE.Ay, forsooth; but he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between this and his head; he hath fought with a warrener.QUICKLY.How say you? O, I should remember him.Does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait? SIMPLE.Yes, indeed, does he.QUICKLY.Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master.Anne is a good girl, and I wish-Re-enter RUGBY
RUGBY.Out, alas! here comes my master.QUICKLY.We shall all be shent.Run in here, good young man; go into this closet.[Shuts SIMPLE in the closet] He will not stay long.What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be not well that he comes not home.[Singing] And down, down, adown-a, etc.
Enter DOCTOR CAIUS