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SCENE III.A room in the Garter Inn. Enter FALSTAFF, Host, BARDOLPH, NYM, PISTOL, and ROBIN.

Would I Fal. Mine host of the Garter,

Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne:
were young, for your sake, mistress Anne!
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.

Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scholarly, and wisely.

Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers.

Host. Discard, buliy Hercules; cashier: let them wag; trot, trot.

Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.

Host. Thou 'rt an emperor, Caesar,Keiser, and Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector? Fal. Do so, good mine host.

Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth: Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon my cou- Host. I have spoke; let him follow: let me see thee sin Shallow: Exit Simple.] A justice of peace some-froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit Host. time may be beholden to his friend for a man :-I keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: But what though?yet 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 talked 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?

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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.

[Exit Bard. Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

Nym. He was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the humour of it.

Fal. I am glad, I am 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 minute's rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico for the phrase!

Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
Piss. Why then, let kibes ensue.
Fal. There is no remedy; I must coneycatch; I
must shift.

Pist. Young ravens must have food.
Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist. I ken 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

Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we stay two yards about: but I am now about no waste; I am for you.

Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.

about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she

Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose, sir: carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe

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SCENE II. The same
Enter Sir HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE.

[Exeunt.

the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, Iam sir Iohn 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 I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the angels.

:

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her and here Eva. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' honse, another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good which is the way: and there dwells one mistress Quick-eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

ly, 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.

a

Pist. Then did the sun on dung-hill shine.
Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Eva. Nay, it is petter yet: -- - give her this letter; Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such for it is a 'oman, that altogether's acquaintance with greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did mistress Anne Page: and the letter is, to desire and seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Here's anrequire her to solicit your master's desires to mistress other letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is a Anne Page: I pray you, be gone; I will make an end of region in Guiana,all gold and bounty. I will be cheater my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to come. to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; [Exeunt. they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade

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to them both. Go,bear thou this letter to mistress Page; | Quick. We shall all be shent! Run in here,good young
and thou this to mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, man; go into this closet. [Shuts Simple in the closet.]
we will thrive.
He will not stay long. What, John Rugby! John,
what, John, I say! Go, John, go enquire for my
master! I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not
home:- and down, down, adown-a, etc. [Sings.
Enter Doctor CAIUS.
Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese 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.

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 the hu-
mour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.
Fal. Hold, sirrah, [to Rob.]bear you these letters
tightly;

Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. -
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, 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.

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. Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and ful-Je m'en vais à la Cour, la grand affaire.

lam holds,

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Nym. With both the humours, I:

Jwill 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,
And his soft couch defile.

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!-I pray thee, go to the casement, and see if you can see my master, master Doctor 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 fault 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?
Sim. Ay, forsooth.

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 yon? O, I should remember him; does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in Sim. Yes, indeed, does he. his gait? Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortane! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish

Re-enter RUGBY.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.

Quick. Is it this, sir?

Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depeche,
quickly:- Vere is dat knave Rugby?
Quick. What, John Rugby! John!
Rug. Here, sir.

Caius. You are John Rugby,and you are Jack Rugby.
Come, take-a your rapier, and tome after my heel to

de court.

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

Caius. By my trot,I tarry too long:-Od's me! Qu'ai j'oublié? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vil! 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? - Villainy! larron! [Pulling Simple out.]Rugby,my rapier. Quick. Good master, be content.

Cuius. Verefore shall I be content-a? Quick. The young man is an honest man, Caius. Vat shall the 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 Caius. Vell.

Hugh.

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 mo
some paper! Tarry you a little-a while.
[Writes.
Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been tho-
roughly 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,
I 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 avis'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: I vill cut his troat in de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make: - you may be gone; it is not good you tarry by gar. I vill cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit Simple.

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Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend.

Caius. It is no matter-a for dat :- do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? by gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our 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: What, the good-jer! Caius. Rugby, come to the court vit me; By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door!-Follow my heels, Rugby.

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What a Herod of Jewry is this?-O wicked, wicked,
world!-one, that is well nigh worn to pieces with age,
to show himself a young gallant! What an unweighed
behaviour hath this Flemish drunkard picked (with
the devil's name) out of my conversation, that he dares
in this manner assay me? Why, he hath not been thrice
in my company !-What should I say to him? — I was
then frugal of my mirth: - heaven forgive me!—
Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the put-
ting down of men. How shall I be revenged on him?
for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of
puddings.
Enter Mistress FORD.

Mrs Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to your house.

[Exeunt Caius and Rugby.
Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your own.
No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in
Windsor knows more of Anne's 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, look very ill.
I pray you.

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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? Shall I not lose my suit?

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?

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Mrs Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. Yon

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 shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry.

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that? Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale; good faith, it Mrs Ford. We burn day-light-here, read, read;— is such another Nan; but, I detest, an hones't maid perceive how I might be knighted. I shall think the as ever broke bread:- - We had an hour's talk of that worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make diffewart; - I shall never laugh but in that maid's com-rence of men's liking: and yet he would not swear; pany! 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 meQuick. Will? 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.

А СТ II. SCENE I.-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 suffice 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,

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? Ithink, 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 twin-brother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, Iprotest, 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 lie under mount Pelion. 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 to keep him above deck,

Mrs Page. So will I; 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 him on with a fine-baited dclay, till

he hath pawn'd his horses to mine host of the Garter. Mrs Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any villainy against him, that may not sully the chariness of our honesty. O, that my husband saw this letter! it would give eternal food to his jealousy.

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?
Page. Marry, were they.

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 dis-at the Garter?

tance.

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 NYм. 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.

Ford. I like it never the better for that. Does he lie

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

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purse, when he looks so merrily. How now, mine host?

Pist. He wooes both high and low, both rich and poor, comes: there is either liquor in his pate,or money in his
Both young and old, one with another, Ford;
He loves thy gally-mawfry; Ford, perpend.
Ford. Love my wife?

Pist. With liver burning hot: prevent, or go thou,
Like sir Actaeon, with Ringwood 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 corporal Nym.
Believe it, Page; he speaks sense.

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[Exit Pistol.

Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Nym. And this is true; [to Page.] I like not the humour oflying. 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; Ispeak, and Iavouch. 'Tis true: - my nameis 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 Falstatf.

Page. I never heard such a drawling, affecting rogue.
Ford. IfI do find it, well.

Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, though the priest o' the town commended him for a true man. Ford. 'Twas a good sensible fellow: well.

Page. How now, Meg?

Enter Host, and SHALLOW.

Host. How now, bully-rook? thou'rt a gentleman: cavalero-justice, I say.

Shal. I follow, mine host, I 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, bullyrook.

Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought, between sir Hugh the Welch 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 beholdit? 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 guestcavalier?

Ford. None, Iprotest: 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 re-
gress; said I well? and thy name shall be Brook: It is
merry knight. - Will you go on, hearts?
Shal. Have with you, mine host.

a

Page. I have heard, the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier.

times

Shal. Tut, sir, I could have told you more: in these 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 Get like rats.

Mrs Page. Whither go you, George? -- Hark you. Mrs Ford. How now, sweet Frank? why art thon melancholy?

Ford. I melancholy? I am not melancholy.
you home, go.
Mrs Ford. 'Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy
Will you go, mistress Page?

head now.

--

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.
Mrs Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne?
Quick. Ay, forsooth; And, I pray, how does good

mistress Anne?

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Host. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? Page. Have with you:-I had rather hear them scold than fight. [Exeunt Host, Shallow, and Page. Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot 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 further 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. Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL. Fal. I will not lend thee a penuy. Pist. Why, then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.-I will retort the sum in equipage.

Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you

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should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for there reprieves for you and your coach-fellow, Nym; or else you had looked through the grate like a geminy of baboons. I am damned in hell, for swearing to gentlemen,my friends, you were good soldiers, and tall fellows: and when mistress Bridget lost the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadst it not.

Pist. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence?

Fal. But what says she to me? be brief, my good she Mercury. 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 Quick. Why, you say well. But I have another mesupon your honour! Why, thou unconfinable base-senger to your worship: Mistress Page hath her hearty ness, it is as much as I can do, to keep the terms of my commendations to you, too;--and let me tell you in honour precise. I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving your ear, she's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine (I tell you) that will not miss you morning nor evening honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle, to hedge, prayer, as any is in Windsor, whoe'er be the other and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you? 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.

Fal. Good-morrow, good wife.

Quick. Not so, an't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

and she bade me tell your worship, that her husband
is seldom from home; but, she hopes, there will come
a time. I never knew a woman so dote upon a man;
surely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth.
Fal. Not I, I assure thee; setting the attraction of my
good parts aside, I have no other charms.
Quick. Blessing 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?

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Quick. I'll be sworn ; as my mother was, the first hour page, of all loves; her husband has a marvellous inI was born.

Fal. I do believe the swearer. What with me? Quick. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two?

Fal. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll vouchsafe thee the hearing.

fection 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 page; no remedy.

Quick. There is one mistress Ford, sir; I pray,
come a little nearer this ways! I myself dwell with Fal., Why, I will.
master doctor Caius.

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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!

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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; I 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.

Enter BARDOLPH.

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 Fal. Say'st thou so, old Jack? go thy ways; I'll make lay at Windsor, could never have brought her to such more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expence of so gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach much money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling thee. Let them say, 'tis grossly done; so it be fairly so sweetly, (all musk) and so rushling, I warrant you, done, no matter. 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 womans'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 I defy all angels, (in any such sort, as they say,) but in the way of honesty-and, I warrant you, they could never get her Fal. Call him in. [Exit Bardolph.] Such Brooks are so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all: welcome to me, that o'erflow such liquor. Ah! ha! and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pen-mistress Ford and mistress Page, have I encompassed sioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

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 Fal. Brook, is his name? Bard. Ay, sir.

you? go to; via!

of sack.

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