[Enter page, shallow, and slender.]

Shallow. 
How now, Master Parson!  Good morrow, good Sir Hugh.  Keep a gamester
from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful.

Slender.
[Aside] Ah, sweet Anne Page!

Page. 
’Save you, good Sir Hugh!

Evans. 
Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you!

Shallow. 
What, the sword and the word!  Do you study them both, Master Parson?

Page. 
And youthful still, in your doublet and hose, this raw rheumatic day!

Evans. 
There is reasons and causes for it.

Page. 
We are come to you to do a good office, Master Parson.

Evans. 
Fery well; what is it?

Page.  Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who, belike having received wrong by some person, is at most odds with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw.

Shallow. 
I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never heard a man of
his place, gravity, and learning, so wide of his own respect.

Evans. 
What is he?

Page. 
I think you know him:  Master Doctor Caius, the renowned French
physician.

Evans. 
Got’s will and His passion of my heart!  I had as lief you would
tell me of a mess of porridge.

Page. 
Why?

Evans.  He has no more knowledge in Hibbocrates and Galen,—­and he is a knave besides; a cowardly knave as you would desires to be acquainted withal.

Page. 
I warrant you, he’s the man should fight with him.

Slender.
[Aside] O, sweet Anne Page!

Shallow. 
It appears so, by his weapons.  Keep them asunder; here comes
Doctor Caius.

[Enter host, caius, and Rugby.]

Page. 
Nay, good Master Parson, keep in your weapon.

Shallow. 
So do you, good Master Doctor.

Host.
Disarm them, and let them question; let them keep their limbs whole
and hack our English.

Caius. 
I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your ear:  verefore will you
not meet-a me?

Evans.
[Aside to caius.] Pray you use your patience; in good time.

Caius. 
By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John ape.

Evans. [Aside to caius.] Pray you, let us not be laughing-stogs to other men’s humours; I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make you amends. [Aloud.] I will knog your urinals about your knave’s cogscomb for missing your meetings and appointments.

Caius. 
Diable!—­Jack Rugby,—­mine Host de Jarretiere,—­have I not stay for
him to kill him?  Have I not, at de place I did appoint?