ns._ It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is in 230
the ort 'dissolutely:' the ort is, according to our meaning,
'resolutely:' his meaning is good.

_Shal._ Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

_Slen._ Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la!

_Shal._ Here comes fair Mistress Anne. 235

_Re-enter ANNE PAGE._

Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!

_Anne._ The dinner is on the table; my father desires
your worships' company.

_Shal._ I will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.

_Evans._ Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the 240
grace. [_Exeunt Shallow and Evans._

_Anne._ Will't please your worship to come in, sir?

_Slen._ No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very
well.

_Anne._ The dinner attends you, sir. 245

_Slen._ I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,
sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon my cousin
Shallow. [_Exit Simple._] A justice of peace sometimes
may be beholding to his friend for a man. I keep but
three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: but 250
what though? yet I live like a poor gentleman born.

_Anne._ I may not go in without your worship: they
will not sit till you come.

_Slen._ I' faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as
though I did. 255

_Anne._ I pray you, sir, walk in.

_Slen._ I had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruised
my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger
with a master of fence; three veneys for a dish of stewed
prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot 260
meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears
i' the town?

_Anne._ I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.

_Slen._ I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel
at it as any man in England. You are afraid, if you 265
see the bear loose, are you not?

_Anne._ Ay, indeed, sir.

_Slen._ That's meat and drink to me, now. I have seen
Sackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him by the
chain; but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and 270
shrieked at it, that it passed: but women, indeed, cannot
abide 'em; they are very ill-favoured rough things.

_Re-enter PAGE._

_Page._ Come, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for
you.

_Slen._ I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. 275

_Page._ By co