Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS
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SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS enter.
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SHALLOW Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star- chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.
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SHALLOW Sir Hugh, don't try to talk me out of it. I will take the case to the highest court in the land: if Sir John Falstaff had twenty times as much social status, I wouldn't let him abuse me, Robert Shallow, esquire.
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SLENDER In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and'Coram.'
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SLENDER You, who are a justice of the peace in the county of Gloucester, and a judge with authority to try criminals.
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SHALLOW Ay, cousin Slender, and 'Custalourum.
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SHALLOW Yes, nephew Slender, and I'm also the principal judge in the county.
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SLENDER Ay, and 'Rato-lorum' too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself 'Armigero,' in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, 'Armigero.'
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SLENDER Yes, the principal judge.
[To SIR HUGH EVANS] And he was born a gentleman, Master Parson. He signs his name "Esquire," whenever he signs an indictment, a warrant for arrest, a discharge from debt, or a contract, he signs "Esquire."
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SHALLOW Ay, that I do; and have done any time these threehundred years.
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SHALLOW Yes, I do, and my family has done the same thing for the last three hundred years.
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SLENDER All his successors gone before him hath done't; and all his ancestors that come after him may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.
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SLENDER All his descendants before him have signed their name that way, and all his ancestors who come after him can do the same thing. They can bear the coat of arms that has the twelve white pikes.
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SHALLOW It is an old coat.
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SHALLOW It is an old coat of arms.
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SIR HUGH EVANS The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies love.
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SIR HUGH EVANS The twelve white pikes look very appropriate on an old coat of arms. They look extremely fitting. The pike is an animal that humans are well acquainted with, and it symbolizes love.
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SHALLOW The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.
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SHALLOW The pike is a fresh-water fish. An old cod lives in salt water.
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SLENDER I may quarter, coz.
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SLENDER I might divide my coat of arms into four pieces, cousin.
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