By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night. What, Davy, I say!

You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.

I will not excuse you; you shall not be excused; excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve; you shall not be excused. Why, Davy!

Here, sir.

Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy; let me see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry, William cook, bid him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.

Marry, sir, thus; those precepts cannot be served: and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat?

With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook: are there no young pigeons?

Yes, sir. Here is now the smith's note for shoeing and plough-irons.

Let it be cast and paid. Sir John, you shall not be excused.

Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must need be had: and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages, about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair?

A' shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.

Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?

Yea, Davy. I will use him well: a friend i' the court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.

No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvellous foul linen.

Well conceited, Davy: about thy business, Davy.

I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill.

There is many complaints, Davy, against that Visor: that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.

I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have served your worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very little credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I beseech your worship, let him be countenanced.

Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look about, Davy.

I am glad to see your worship.

I thank thee with all my heart, kind Master Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow.

I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.

[Within] Sir John!

I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow.