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, French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page, [Exeunt Falstaff and Robin Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam holds, And high and low, beguile the rich and poor: Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, Base Phrygian Turk! Nym. I have operations in my head, which be humours of revenge. Pist. Wilt thou revenge 7. iPist. With wit, or steel? Nym. With both the humours, 1: I 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 incense Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness, for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that is my true humour. Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents; I second thee; troop on. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Dr. Caius House. Enter Mrs. Quickly, Simple, and Rugby. Quick. What; John Rugby!-1 pray thee, go to the casement, and see if you can see my master, master Dr. Caius, coming: if he do, i'faith, and find any body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God's patience, and the king's English. 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 intend 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 7 dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld 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. 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- 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,- 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 Rug. Ont, alas! here comes my master. vill cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not 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. [Shuts Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. Simple in the closet. He will not stay long. tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? Caius. It is no matter-a for dat:-do not you What, John Rugby John, what, John, I say! -Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt,-by gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have apbe be not well, that he comes not home-and pointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our down, down, adown-a, &c. [Sings. 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: Caius Vat is you sing? I do not like desel What, the good-jer! Enter Doctor Caius. 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 1-What should I say to him? head out of my door :-Follow my heels, Rugby.-1 was then frugal of my mirth :-heaven for [Exeunt Caius and Rugby. give me -Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parlia Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your ment for the putting down of fat men. How own. No, I know Anne's mind for that: never shall I be revenged on him 7 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;-I shall never laugh but in that 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 Quick. Will I? 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. SCENE 1 Before Page's House. Enter Mistress Page, with a letter. Mrs. Page. What! have I 'scaped love-letters In the holy-day time of my beauty, and am I now a subject for them? Let me see? [Reads. Ask me no reason why I love you; for though love use reason for his precisian, he admits him not for his counsellor; You are not young, 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. I 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, With all his might For thee to fight, John Falstaff. Enter Mistress Ford. Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to your house. Mrs. Page. And, trust me, 1 was coming to you. You look very ill. Mrs Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; A 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: 0, 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 geutry. Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light; here, read, read;-perceive how I might be knighted.-1 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 space for different names, (sure more,) and these are of the second edition: He will print them out of doubt: for he cares not what he puts into the press, when he would put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and fie under mount Pe lion. Well, I will find you twenty lascivious turtles, ere one chaste man. Mrs. Ford. Why, this is the very same; the very hand, the very words: What doth he think of us? 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 strain 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 a to keep him above deck. Mrs. Page. So will 1; if he come under my a 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. Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Nym. Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young. Both young and old,one with one another, Ford: Pist. With liver burning hot: Prevent, or go Like Sir Acteon he,with Ring-wood at thy heels: 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 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. 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 merrily.-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. doctor. Ford. Good mine host o' the Garter, a word with you. Host. What say'st thou, bully-rook? Believe it, Page; he speaks sense. [Exit Pist. Ford. I will be patient; 1 will find out this. Host. Tell him, cavalero-justice; tell him, Nym. And this is true. To Page.] I like not bully-rook. the humour of lying. He hath wronged me in Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought between some humours; I should have borne the hu-Sir Hugh the Welsh priest, and Caius the French moured 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 ue-my name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife-Adieu! I love not the humour 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. 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?-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. 1 Mrs. Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne? Quick. Ay, forsooth; And, I pray, how does good mistress Anne 7 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? [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 and regress; said I well? and thy name shall 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:-I 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 for ther into't: and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff; If I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise, 'tis labour well bestowed. [Exit. SCENE II. A Room in the Garter Inn. Fal. I will not lend thee a penny, Which I with sword will open.- Pist. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not they could never get her so much as sip on a Quick. Marry, she hath received your letter; for the which she thanks you a thousand times: and she gives you to notify, that her husband will be absence from his house between ten and eleven. Fal. Ten and eleven? Quick. Ay, forsooth; and then you may come and see the picture, she says, that you wot of; master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the sweet woman leads an ill life with him; he's a very jealousy man; she leads a very frampold life with him, good heart. Fal. Ten and eleven: Woman, commend me to her; I will not fail her. Fal. Reason, you rogue, reason: Think'st thou, I'll endanger my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you: -go-A short knife and a throng;-to your manor of Pickthatch, go.-You'll not bear a letter for me you rogue ! you stand upon your honour! -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 (1 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. 1 do relent; what would'st thou more of man? Enter Robin. Fal. Not I, I assure thee; setting the attractions of my good parts aside, I have no other charms. Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with Quick. Blessings on your heart for't! 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. 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 womair in Windsor, she is one. You must send her your sir;-page; no remedy. 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. Quick. There is one Mistress Ford, pray, come a little nearer this ways:-1 myself dwell with master doctor Caius. Fal. Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,Quick. Your worship says very true: 1 pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways. Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears :-mine own people, mine own people. Quick. Are they sof 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! Fal. Why, I will. Quick. Nay, but do so theu: 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, so 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? 1 Fal. Call him in: [Erit Bardolph.] Such Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erflow such liquor. Ah! ah! mistress Ford and mistress Page, have 1 encompass'd you go to; via! Re-enter Bardolph, with Ford disguised. Ford. Bless you, sir. Fal. And you, sir! Would you speak with me? Ford. I make bold to press with so little preparation upon you. Fal. You're welcome; What's your will 7 nest to me, yet, in other places, she enlargeth Ford. Believe it, for you know it-There is money; spend it, spend it, spend more; spend all I have; only give me so much of your time in exchange of it, as to lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife: use your art of Fal. Good master Brook, I desire more ac-wooing, win her consent to you; if any man quaintance of you. may, you may as soon as any. Ford. Good Sir John, I sue for yours: not to charge you; for I must let you understand, I think myself in better plight for a lender than you are; the which hath something embolden'd me to this unseason'd intrusion; for they say, if Ford. O, understand my drift! she dwells so money go before, all ways do líe open. securely on the excellency of her honour, that Fal. Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on. the folly of my soul dares not present itself; she Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here is too bright to be looked against. Now, could troubles me if you will help me to bear it, Sir I come to her with any detection in my hand, John, take all, or half, for easing me of the car-my desires had instance and argument to comriage. Fal. Sir, I know not how I may deserve to be your porter. Ford. I will tell you, sir, if you will give me the hearing; Fal. Speak, good master Brook; I shall be glad to be your servant. mend themselves; I could drive her then from the ward of her purity, her reputation, her marriage-vow, and a thousand other her defences, which now are too strongly embattled against me: What say you to't, Sir John? Fal. Master Brook, I will first make bold with your money; next give me your hand; and last, as I am a gentleman, you shall, if you will, enjoy Ford's wife. Ford. O good sir! Fal. Master Brook, I say you shall. Ford. Want no money, Sir John, you shall want none. Ford. Sir, I hear you are a scholar,-1 will be brief with you and you have been a man long known to me, though I had never so good means, as desire, to make myself acquainted with you. I shall discover a thing to you, wherein I must very much lay open mine own imperfection: but. good Sir John, as you have Fal. Want no mistress Ford, master Brook, one eye upon my tollies, as you hear them un-you shall want none. I shall be with her (1 folded, turn another into the register of your may tell you) by her own appointment; even own; that I may pass with a reproof the easier, as you came in to me, her assistant, or go-besith you yourself know, how easy it is to be such tween, parted from me: 1 say, I shall be with an offender. her between ten and eleven; for at that time the jealous rascally knave, her husband, will Ford. There is a gentlewoman in this town, be forth. Come you to me at night; you shall her husband's name is Ford. Fal. Well, sir. Fal. Very well, sir; proceed. know how I speed. Ford. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know Ford, sir? Ford. I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, bestowed much on her; followed her with Fal. Hang him, poor cuckoldly knave! 1 a doting observance; engrossed opportunities know him not-yet 1 wrong him to call him to meet her; fee'd every slight occasion, that poor; they say, the jealous wittolly knave hath could but niggardly give me sight of her; not masses of money; for the which his wife seems only bought many presents to give her, but have to me well-favoured, I will use her as the key given largely to many, to know what she would of the cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my have given: briefly, I have pursued her, as love harvest-home. hath pursued me; which hath been on the wing of all occasions. But whatsoever I have merited, either in my mind or in my means, meed, I am sure, I have received none; unless experience be a jewel: that 1 have purchased at an infinite rate; and that hath taught me to say this: Love like a shadow flies, when substance lope pursues; Pursuing that that flies, and flying what sues. pur Ford. I would you knew Ford, sir; that you might avoid him, if you saw him. Fal. Hang him, mechanical salt-butter rogue ! I will stare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel; it shall hang like a meteor o'er the cuckold's horns: master Brook, thou and thou shalt lie with his wife.-Come to me shalt know, I will predominate o'er the peasant, gravate his style: thon, master Brook, shalt zoon at night :-Ford's a knave, and I will ag know him for a knave and cuckold :-come to Fal. Have you received no promise of satis-me soon at night. faction at her hands? Ford. Never. [Exit. Ford. What a damned Epicurean rascal is this!-My heart is ready to crack with impa Fal. Have you importuned her to such a pur- tience.-Who says this is improvident jealousy pose 7 Ford. Never. -My wife hath sent to him, the hour is fixed, the match is made. Would any man have thought this ?-See the hell of having a false woman! my bed shall be abused, my coffers ransacked, my reputation gnawn at; and I shall not only receive this villanous wrong, but stand under the adoption of abominable terms, and by him that does me this wrong. Terms! names! Amaimon sounds well; Lucifer, well; Barbason, well; yet they are devil's additions, the |