Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse she hath a legion of angels. Pift. As many devils entertain; and to her, boy, fay I. 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, examin'd my parts with most judicious eyliads; femetimes, the beam of her view gilded my foot; sometimes, my portly belly. Pist. Then did the fun on dung-hill shine. Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with fuch a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did feem to scorch me up like a burning-glass. Here's another letter to her; she bears the purse too; the 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 * She is a Region in Guiana, all Gold and Bounty.) If the Tradition be true (as I doubt not, but it is) of this Play being wrote at Queen Elizabeth's Command; this Passage, perhaps, may furnish a probable Conjecture that it could not appear 'till after the Year 1598. The mention of Guiana, then so lately difcover'd to the English, was a very happy Compliment to Sir W. Raleigh, who did not begin his Expedition for South America 'till 1595, and return'd from it in 1596, with an advantageous Account of the great Wealth of Guiana. Such an Address of the mistress mistress Page, and thou this to mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive. Pift. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, And by my fide wear steel? then, Lucifer, take all ! Nym. I will run no base humour; here, take the humour letter, I will keep the 'haviour of reputation. Fal. Hold, Sirrah, bear you these letters tightly, Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. [To Robin. Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go; Trudge, plod away o'th' hoof seck shelter, pack! Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page. [Exit Falstaff and Boy. Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts; for gourd, and Fullam holds : And high and low beguiled the rich and poor. Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, Bafe Phrygian Turk ! Nym. I have operations in my head, which be hu mours of revenge. Pift. Wilt thou revenge? Nym. By welkin, and her star. Pift. With wit, or steel? Nym. With both the humours, I: I will discuss the humour of this love to Ford. Pift. And I to Page shall eke unfold, His dove will prove, his gold will hold, Nym. My humour shall not cool; I will incenfe Ford to deal with poifon; I will possess him with yellowness; for the Revolt of Mien is dangerous: that is my true humour. Pist. Thou art the Mars of male-contents: I fecond thee; troop on. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Changes to Dr. Caius's House. Enter Mrs. Quickly, Simple, and John Rugby. Quic. WHAT John Rugby I pray thee, go to the cafement, and fee if you can fee my master, master Doctor Caius, coming; if he do, i'faith, and find any body in the house, here will be old abufing of God's patience, and the King's English. Rug. I'll go watch. Quic. Go, and we'll have a posset for't foon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a fea-coal fire. [Exit Rugby.] An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever fervant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor no breed-bate; his worst fault is, that he is given to pray'r; he is fomething peevish that way; but no-body but has his fault; but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is. Sim. Ay, for fault of a better. 2 Quic. And master Slender's your master? the Revolt of Mien) I suppose we may read, the revolt of men. Sir T. Hanmer reads, this revolt of mine. Either may Hh Quic. 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-colour'd beard. Quic. A foftly-fprighted 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. Quic. How fay you? oh, I should remember him; does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in his gate? Sim. Yes, indeed, does he. Quic. Well, heav'n send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell master parson Evans, I'll do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish Enter Rugby. Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master. Quic. We shall all be shent; run in here, good young man; go into this closet; [Shuts Simple in the clofet.] He will not stay long. What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I fay; go, John, go enquire for my master; I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not home: and down, down, a-down-a, &c. [Sings. SCENEX. Enter Doctor Caius. Caius. Vat is you fing? I do not like des toys; pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd; a box, a green-a box; do intend vat I speak? a green-a box. Quic. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad, he went not in himself; if he had fou d the young man, he would have been horn-mad. [Afide. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe, mai foi, il fait ford chaud; je m'en vaie à la Cour la grande affaire. Quic. Is it this, Sir? Caius. Ouy, mettez le au mon pocket; Depéchez, quickly; ver is dat knave Rugby? Quic. 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 the Court. Rug. 'Tis ready, Sir, here in the porch. Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long: od's me! Qu' ay j'oubliè? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I will not for the varld I shall leave behind. Quic. Ay-me, he'll find the young man there, and be mad. Caius. O Diable, Diable! vat is in my closet ? villaine, Larron! Rugby, my rapier. [Pulls Simple out of the closet. Quic. Good master be content. Caius. Wherefore shall I be content-a? Quic. The young man is an honest man. Caius. What shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honeft man, dat shall come in my closet, Quic. I befeech you, be not fo flegmatick; hear the truth of it. He came of an errand to me from parfon Hugh. Caius. Vell. Sim. Ay, forfooth, to defire her to Quic. Peace, I pray you. Caius. Peace-a your tongue.-Speak-a your tale. Sim. To defire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to mistress Anne Page for my. mafter in the way of marriage. Hh 3 Quic |