Page 1037 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

HOSTESS

If he swagger, let him not come here. No, by my faith. I must live among my
neighbours, I’ll no swaggerers. [70] I am in good name and fame with the
very best. Shut the door, there comes no swaggerers here. I have not lived

all this while to have swaggering now. Shut the door, I pray you.

FALSTAFF

Dost thou hear, hostess? [75]

HOSTESS
Pray ye, pacify yourself, Sir John. There comes no swaggerers here.

FALSTAFF
Dost thou hear? It is mine ancient.

HOSTESS
Tilly-fally, Sir John, ne’er tell me: and your ancient swaggerer comes not in
my doors. I was before [80] Master Tisick, the debuty, t’ other day, and, as
he said to me, ’twas no longer ago than Wednesday last, ‘I’ good faith,

neighbour Quickly’, says he − Master Dumbe, our minister, was by then −
‘neighbour Quickly’, says he, ‘receive those that are civil, for’, said he, ‘you
are in an ill [85] name.’ Now ’a said so, I can tell whereupon. ‘For’, says he,

‘you are an honest woman, and well thought on; therefore take heed what
guests you receive. Receive’, says he, ‘no swaggering companions.’ There
comes none here. You would bless you to hear what he said. No, I’ll [90] no
swaggerers.

FALSTAFF
He’s no swaggerer, hostess; a tame cheater, i’ faith; you may stroke him as

gently as a puppy greyhound. He’ll not swagger with a Barbary hen, if her
feathers turn back in any show of resistance. Call him [95] up, drawer.
[Exit Francis.]

HOSTESS
Cheater, call you him? I will bar no honest man my house, nor no cheater.

But I do not love swaggering, by my troth; I am the worse when one says
swagger. Feel, masters, how I shake, look you, I warrant [100] you.