Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships' company. Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. Eva. Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace. [Exeunt Shallow and Sir H. 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. 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 beholden to his friend for a man:-1 keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: But what though? vet 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. Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in. Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you: I bruised my shin the 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 meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town? Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talk'd 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 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 shriek'd at it, that it pass'd:-but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em they are very ill-favour'd rough things. Re-enter Page. ; Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers. Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier; let them wag; trot, trot. Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week. Host. Thou'rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keiser, and Pheezar, I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector? Fal. Do so, good mine host. Host. I have spoke; let him follow: Let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit Host. Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered servingman, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu. Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive. [Erit Bard. Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield? Nym. He was gotten in drink: Is not the hu mour conceited? His mind is not heroick, and here's the humour of it. Fal. I am glad I ara so acquit of this tinderbox; his thefts were too open his filching was like an unskilful singer, he kept not time. Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minote's rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico for the phrase! Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels. Pist. Why then let kibes ensue Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney-catch; I must shift. Pist. Young ravens must have food. Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town? Pist. Iken the wight; he is of substance good. Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about. Pist. Two yards, and more. Fal. No quips now, Pistol; indeed I am in the waist two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we leer of invitation: I can construe the action of stay for you. Sten. I'll eat nothing; I thank you, sir. Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose, sir: come, come. Slen. Nay, 'pray you, lead the way. Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. Anne. Not I, sir: pray yon, keep on. Slen. Truly, I will not go first, truly, la; I will not do you that wrong. Anne. I pray you, sir. Sten. I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome: you do yourself wrong, indeed, la. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple. Era. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' house, which is the way; and there dwells one mistress Quickly, which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wringer. Simp. Well, sir. Eva. Nay, it is petter yet:-give her this letter; for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with mistress Anne Page; and the letter is, to desire and require her to solicit your master's desires to mistress Anne Page: I pray you, be gone I will make an end of my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to come. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in the Garter Inn. Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and Robin. Fal. Mine host of the Garter, her familiar style, and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am Sir John Falstaff's. Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her well; out of honesty into English. Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour pass? Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse; she hath legions of angels. Pist. As many devils entertain: and, To her, boy, say 1. Nym. The humour rises; it is good; humour me the angels. Fal I have writ me here a letter to her; and here another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly. Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. Nym. I thank thee for that humour. Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Here's another letter to her: she bears the purse too: she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear thou this letter to mistress Page; and thou this to mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive. Pist. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all! Nym. I will run no base humour: here, take Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scho-the humour-letter; I will keep the 'haviour of larly, and wisely. reputation. Fal. Hold, sirrah [to Rob.], bear you these let-toys: Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet ters tightly; Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.Rogues, hence avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go; Trudge, plod away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack! Falstaff will learn the humour of this age, And high and low beguile the rich and poor: Nym. I have operations in my head, which be humours of revenge. Pist. Wilt thou revenge? Nym. With both the humours, 1: 1 will discuss the humour of this love to Page. Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold, How Falstaff, varlet vile, His dove will prove, his gold will hold, Nym. My humour shall not cool: I will in- Rug. I'll go watch. [Exit Rugby. Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor no breed-bate: his worst farit is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way: but nobody but has his fault ;-but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say, your name is? Sim. Ay, for fault of a better. Quick. And master Slender's your master? Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover's paring knife? Sim. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard; a Cain-coloured beard. Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not? Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands, as any is between this and his head: he hath fought with a warrener. Quick. How say you?-0, I should remember him: Does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in his gait? Sim. Yes, indeed, does he. Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Pige no worse fortune! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish Re-enter Rugby. un boitier verd; a box, a green-a box; Do in tend vat I speak 7 a green-a box. Quick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad he went not in himself; if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad. [Aside. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a la Cour,-la grande affaire. Quick. Is it this, sir? Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depeche, quickly:-Vere is dat knave Rugby 7 Quick. What, John Rugby! John! Rug. Here, sir. Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby; Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court. Rug. "Tis ready, sir, here in the porch. Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long:-Od' me! Qu'ay-j'oublie ? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varid I shall leave behind. Quick. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and be mad. Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villany larron! [Pulling Simple out.] Rugby, my rapier. Quick. Good master, be content. Caius. Verefore shall I be content-a? Quick. The young man is an honest man. Caius. Vat shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatick; hear the truth of it: He came of an errand to me from parson Hugh. Caius. Vell. Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to Quick. Peace, I pray you. Caius. Peace-a your tongue: Speak-a your tale. Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to mistress Anne Page for my master, in the way of marriage. Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put my finger in the fire, and need not. Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you?- Rugby, baillez me some paper :-Tarry you a little-a while [Writes. Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so loud, and so melancholy ;-But notwithstanding, man, I'll do your master what good I can: and the very yea and the no is, the French Doctor, my master,-1 may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat, and drink, make the beds, and do all myself; Sim. "Tis a great charge, to come under one body's hand. Quick. Are you advis'd o' that? you shall find it a great charge: and to be up early, and down late-but notwithstanding (to tell you in your ear; I would have no words of it;) my master himself is in love with mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that,-I know Anne's mind,that's neither here nor there. Caius. You jack'nape; give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh, by gar, it is a shallenge: 1 vill cut his troat in de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jacka-nape priest to meddle or make :-you may be gone; it is not good you tarry here:-by gar, 1 vill cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master. Quick. We shall all be shent: Run in here, have a stone to trow at his dog. (Exit Simple. good young man; go into this closet. Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. [Shuts Simple in the closet. He will not stay long.Caius. It is no matter-a for dat :-do not you What, John Rugby! John, what, John, I say! tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? --Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt.by gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have aphe be not well, that he comes not home :-and pointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our down, down, adown-a, &c. weapon:-by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page. Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well: we must give folks leave to prate: Enter Doctor Caius. [Sings. Caius Vat is you sing? I do not like dese What, the good-jer! Caius. Rugby, come to the court vit me ;-By manner assay me? Why, he hath not been thrice gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your in my company !-What should I say to him? head out of my door :-Follow my heels, Rugby.I was then frugal of my mirth :-heaven for [Exeunt Caius and Rugby. give me !-Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliaQuick. You shall have An fools-head of your ment for the putting down of fat men. How own. No, I know Anne's miad for that: never shall I be rerenged on him? for revenged I will a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings. mind than I do; nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven. Fent. [Within.] Who's within there, ho? Quick. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, 1 pray you. Enter Fenton. Fen. How now, good woman: how dost thou ? Quick. The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask. Fent. What news? how does pretty mistress Anne ? Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way; I praise heaven for it Fent Shall I do any good, thinkest thou ? Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding, master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a book, she loves you:-Have not your worship a wart above your eye? Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that? Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale ;-good faith, it is such another Nan:-but, I detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread :-We had an hour's talk of that wart;-1 shall never laugh but in hat maid's company! But, indeed, she is given too much to allicholly and musing: But for you -Well, go to. Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day: Hold, there's money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: if thou seest her before me, commend me Enter Mistress Ford. Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to your house. Mrs. Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. You look very ill. Mrs Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; I have to show to the contrary. Mrs. Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind. Mrs. Ford. Well, I do then; yet, I say, I could show you to the contrary: O, mistress Page, give me some counsel! Mrs. Page. What's the matter, woman? Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for one trifling respect, I could come to such honour! Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman; take the honour: What is it ?-dispense with trifles ;what is it? Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment, or so, I could be knighted. Mrs. Page. What ?-thou liest !-Sir Alice Ford!These knights will hack; and so thou should'st not alter the article of thy gentry. Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light; here, read, read;-perceive how I might be knighted.shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking: And yet he would not swear; praised women's modesty and gave such orderly and well behaved reproof to all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his disposition would have gone to the truth of his words: but they do no more adhere and keep place together, than the hundredth psalm to the tune of Green sleeves. What tempest. I trow, threw this whale, with so many tuns of oil in his belly, ashore at Windsor? How shall I be revenged on him? I think, the best way were to entertain him with hope, till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own grease.-Did you ever hear the like? Mrs. Page. Letter for letter; but that the name of Page and Ford differs!-To thy great comfort in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twinbrother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first: for, I protest, mine never shall. I warrant he hath a thousand of these letters, writ with blank SCENE 1 Before Page's House. space for different names, (sure more,) and these Enter Mistress Page, with a letter. are of the second edition: He will print them ont of doubt: for he cares not what he puts into Mrs. Page. What! have I 'scaped love-letters the press, when he would put us two. 1 had In the holy-day time of my beauty, and am 1 rather be a giantess, and fie under mount Penow a subject for them? Let me see? [Reads. lion. Well, will find you twenty lascivious Ask me no reason why I love you; for though turtles, ere one chaste man. Quick. Will 1? i' faith, that we will: and I will tell your worship more of the wart, the next time we have confidence: and of other wooers. Fent. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now. [Exit. Quick. Farewell to your worship.-Truly, an honest gentleman; but Anne loves him not; for I know Anne's mind as well as another does: Out upon't! what have I forgot? [Exit. ACT II. of us? love use reason for his precisian, he admits Mrs. Ford. Why, this is the very same; the him not for his counsellor; You are not young, very hand, the very words: What doth he think no more am 1; go to then, there's sympathy; you are merry, so am I; Ha! ha! then there's more sympathy; you love sack, and so do I would you desire better sympathy? Let it suf. fice thee, mistress Page (at the least, if the love of a soldier can suffice) that I love thee. will not say, pity me, 'tis not a soldier-like phrase; but I say, love me. By me, Thine own true knight, By day or night, Or any kind of light, John Falstaff: Mrs. Page. Nay, I know not: It makes me almost ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'll entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure, unless he know some Istrain in me, that I know not myself, he would never have boarded me in this fury. Mrs. Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure to keep him above deck. Mrs. Page. So will 1; if he come under my hatches, I'll never to sea again. Let's be revenged on him; let's appoint him a meeting; give him a show of comfort in his suit; and lead on with a fine-baited delay, till he hath pawn'd What a Herod of Jewry is this! wicked, his horses to mine Host of the Garter. wicked world!-one that is well nigh worn to Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any pieces with age, to show himself a young gal-villany against him, that may not sully the lant! What an unweighed behaviour hath this chariness of our honesty. O, that my husband Flemish drunkard picked (with the devil's name) saw this letter! it would give eternal food to his out of my conversation, that he dares in this jealousy. Mrs. Page. Why, look, where he comes; and my good man too: he's as far from jealousy, as I am from giving him cause; and that, I hope, is an unmeasurable distance. Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman. Mrs. Page. Let's consult together against this greasy knight: Come hither." [They retire. Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Nym. Ford. Well, I hope it be not so. Pist. Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs: Sir John affects thy wife. Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young. Pist. He woos both high and low, both rich and poor, Both young and old, one with one another, Ford: He loves the gally-mawtry; Ford, perpend. Ford. Love my wife? Pist. With liver burning hot: Prevent, or go thon, Like Sir Acteon he,with Ring-wood at thy heels: O, odious is the name! Ford. What name, sir? Pist. The horn, I say: Farewell. Take heed; have open eye; for thieves do foot by night: Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo birds do sing. Away, Sir comporal Nym Believe it, Page; he speaks sense. [Exit Pist. Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Nym. And this is true. [To Page.] I like not the humour of lying. He hath wronged me in some humours; I should have borne the humoured letter to her: but I have a sword, and it shall bite upon my necessity. He loves your wife; there's the short and the long. My name is corporal Nym; I speak, and I avouch. "Tis true-my name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife.-Adieu! I love not the hunour of bread and cheese; and there's the humour of it. Adieu. [Exit Nym. Page. The humour of it, quoth'a! here's a fellow frights humour out of his wits. Ford. I will seek out Falstaff. Page. I never heard such a drawling, affecting rogue. Ford. If I do find it, well. Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, though the priest of the town commended him for a true Ford. Do you think there is truth in them? Page. Hang'em, slaves! I do not think the knight would offer it: but these that accuse him in his intent towards our wives, are a yoke of his discarded men; very rogues, now they be out of service. Ford. Were they his men? Ford. I like it never the better for that.-Does he lie at the Garter? Page. Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this voyage towards my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head. Ford. I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be loath to turn them together: a man may be too confident: I would have nothing lie on my head; I cannot be thus satisfied. Page. Look, where my ranting host of the Garter comes: there is either liquor in his pate, or money in his purse, when he looks so mer rily.-How now, mine host? Enter Host and Shallow. Host. How now, bully-rook? thou'rt a gentleman: cavalero-justice, I say. Shal. I follow, mine host, 1 follow.-Good even, and twenty, good master Page! Master Page, will you go with us? we have sport in hand. Host. Tell him, cavalero-justice; tell him, bully-rook. Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought between Sir Hugh the Welsh priest, and Caius the French doctor. Ford. Good mine host o' the Garter, a word with you. Host. What say'st thou, bully-rook? [They go aside. Shal. Will you [to Page] go with us to behold it? my merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons; and, I think he hath appointed them contrary places: for, believe me, I hear the parson is no jester. Hark, I will tell you what our sport shall be. Host. Hast thou no suit against my knight, my guest-cavalier? Ford. None, I protest; but I'll give you a pottle of burnt sack to give me recourse to him, and tell him, my name is Brook; only for a jest. Host. My hand, bully: thou shalt have egress Ford. Twas a good sensible fellow: Well. and regress; said I well 7 and thy name shall Page. How now, Meg? man. Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George? Hark you. Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank? why art thou melancholy? Ford. I melancholy! I am not melancholy. Get you home, go. Mrs. Ford. 'Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now.-Will you go, Mistress Page? Mrs. Page. Have with you.-You'll come to dinner, George 7-Look, who comes yonder: she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight. [Aside to Mrs. Ford. Enter Mistress Quickly. Mrs. Ford. Trust me, I thought on her: she'll fit it. Mrs. Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne? Quick. Ay, forsooth; And, I pray, how does good mistress Anne ? Mrs. Page. Go in with us, and see; we have an hour's talk with you. [Exeunt Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quickly. Page. How now, Master Ford? Ford. You heard what this knave told me; did you not? Page. Yes; and you heard what the other told me? be Brook; It is a merry knight.-Will you go, Cavaliers? Shal. Have with you, mine host. Page. I have heard, the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier. Shal Tut, sir, I could have told you more: In these times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and I know not what: 'tis the heart, master Page: 'tis here, 'tis here. I have seen the time, with my long sword, I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats. Host. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? Page. Have with you:-1 had rather hear them scold than fight. [Exeunt Host, Shal. and Page. Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I can not put off my opinion so easily; She was in his company at Page's house; and, what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look fur ther into't: and I have a disguise to sound Fal staff: If I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise, 'tis labour well bestowed. [Erit. SCENE II. A Room in the Garter Inn. Enter Falstaff and Pistol. Fal. I will not lend thee a penny. Which I with sword will open.- Pist. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence? they could never get her so much as sip on a Quick. Marry, she hath received your letter; Quick. Ay, forsooth; and then you may come and see the picture, she says, that you wot of; Fal. Reason, you rogue, reason: Think'st master Ford, her husband, will be from home. thou, I'll endanger my soul gratis? At a word, Alas! the sweet woman leads an ill life with hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you: him; he's a very jealousy man; she leads a very -go-A short knife and a throng-to your ma- frampold life with him, good heart. nor of Pickthatch, go.-You'll not bear a letter Fal. Ten and eleven: Woman, commend me for me you rogue! you stand upon your honour! to her; I will not fail her. -Why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much; Quick. Why, you say well: But I have anoas I can do to keep the terms of my honour ther messenger to your worship: Mrs. Page hath precise. I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving the her hearty commendations to you too;-and let fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine me tell you in your ear, she's as fartuous a civil honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle, to modest wife, and one (I tell you) that will not hedge, and to lurch; and yet, you, rogue, will miss you morning nor evening prayer, as any ensconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, is in Windsor, whoe'er be the other: and she your red-lattice phrases, and your bold-beating bade me tell your worship, that her husband is oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You seldom from home; but she hopes, there will will not do it, you! come a time. I never knew a woman so dote upon a man; surely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth. Pist. I do relent; what would'st thou more of man? Enter Robin. Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with you. Fal. Let her approach. Enter Mistress Quickly. Quick. Give your worship good-morrow. Quick. Not so, an't please your worship. Quick. I'll be sworn; as my mother was, the first hour I was born. Fal. I do believe the swearer: What with me? Quick. Shall 1 vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Fal Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll Vouchsafe thee the hearing. Fal. Not I, I assure thee; setting the attractions of my good parts aside, I have no other charms. Quick. Blessings on your heart for't! Fal. But, I pray thee, tell me this: has Ford's wife, and Page's wife, acquainted each other how they love me? Quick. That were a jest, indeed!-they have not so little grace, I hope:-that were a trick indeed! But Mistress Page would desire you to send her your little page of all loves; her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page; and, truly, master Page is an honest man. Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life than she does; do what she will, say what she will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she list, rise when she list, all is as she will; and, truly, she deserves it: for if there be a kind woman in Windsor, she is one. You must send her your Quick. There is one Mistress Ford, sir;-page; no remedy. pray, come a little nearer this ways:-1 myself Fal. Why, I will. dwell with master doctor Cains. Fal. Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,— Quick. Your worship says very true: I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways. Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears:-mine own people, mine own people. Quick. Are they so? Heaven bless them, and make them his servants! Fal. Well: mistress Ford :-What of her? Quick. Why, sir, she's a good creature. Lord, lord! your worship's a wanton: Well, heaven forgive you, and all of us, I pray! Quick. Nay, but do so then: and, look you, he may come and go between you both; and, in any case, have a nay word, that you may know one another's mind, and the boy never need to understand any thing; for 'tis not good that children should know any wickedness: old folks, you know, have discretion, as they say, and know the world. Fal. Fare thee well: commend me to them both: there's my purse; 1 am yet thy debtor.Boy, go along with this woman. This news distracts me ! [Exeunt Quickly and Robin. Pist. This punk is one of Cupid's carriers:Clap on more sails; pursue, up with your fights; Give fire; she is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! [Exit Pistol Fal. Mistress Ford :-come, mistress Ford,Quick. Marry, this is the short and the long of it: you have brought her into such a canaries as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windsor, could never Fal. Say'st thou so, old Jack? go thy ways, have brought her to such a canary. Yet there I'll make more of thy old body than I have has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, done. Will they yet look after thee? Wilt thou, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after after the expense of so much money, be now a coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling gainer? Good body, I thank thee: Let them say, 80 sweetly (all musk); and so rushling, I warrant tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter. you, in silk and gold; and in such alligant terms; and in such wine and sugar of the best, and the fairest, that would have won any woman's heart and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myself twenty angels given me this morning: but defy all angels, (in any such sort, as they say.) out in the way of honesty :-and, I warrant you, Enter Bardolph. Bard. Sir John, there's one master Brook below would fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you: and hath sent your worship a morning's draught of sack. Fal. Brook is his name? Bard. Ay, sir. |