. _A street._

_Enter MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS QUICKLY, and WILLIAM._

_Mrs Page._ Is he at Master Ford's already, think'st
thou?

_Quick._ Sure he is by this, or will be presently: but,
truly, he is very courageous mad about his throwing into
the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly. 5

_Mrs Page._ I'll be with her by and by; I'll but bring
my young man here to school. Look, where his master
comes; 'tis a playing-day, I see.

_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS._

How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day?

_Evans._ No; Master Slender is let the boys leave to 10
play.

_Quick._ Blessing of his heart!

_Mrs Page._ Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits
nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him
some questions in his accidence. 15

_Evans._ Come hither, William; hold up your head; come.

_Mrs Page._ Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer
your master, be not afraid.

_Evans._ William, how many numbers is in nouns?

_Will._ Two. 20

_Quick._ Truly, I thought there had been one number
more, because they say, 'Od's nouns.'

_Evans._ Peace your tattlings! What is 'fair,' William?

_Will._ Pulcher.

_Quick._ Polecats! there are fairer things than polecats, 25
sure.

_Evans._ You are a very simplicity 'oman: I pray you,
peace. --What is 'lapis,' William?

_Will._ A stone.

_Evans._ And what is 'a stone,' William? 30

_Will._ A pebble.

_Evans._ No, it is 'lapis:' I pray you, remember in your
prain.

_Will._ Lapis.

_Evans._ That is a good William. What is he, William, 35
that does lend articles?

_Will._ Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be
thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hic, haec, hoc.

_Evans._ Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you, mark:
genitivo, hujus. Well, what is your accusative case? 40

_Will._ Accusativo, hinc.

_Evans._ I pray you, have your remembrance, child;
accusativo, hung, hang, hog.

_Quick._ 'Hang-hog' is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.

_Evans._ Leave your prabbles, 'oman. --What is the focative 45
case, William?

_Will._ O,--vocativo, O.

_Evans._ Remember, William; focative is caret.

_Quick._ And that's a good root.

_Evans._ 'Oman, forbear. 50

_Mrs Page._ Peace!

_Evans._ What is your genit