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

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, Keisar, and Pheezar, I will entertain Bardolph ; he shall draw, he shall tap: said I well, Bully

Hector?

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Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will [Exit BARD. Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

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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.
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. 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 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 leer of invitation: I can construe the action of 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. I

Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy, say I.

Num. The humour rises; it is good humour me the angels.

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and bere another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examin'd 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 dung-bill shine.
Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Fal. Oh! she did so course o'er my exteriors + Fig. 1 Gold coin.

For Hungarian.

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 ber: 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 the humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.

go;

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, [pack i Falstaff will learn the humour of this age, Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page. [Exeunt FALSTAFF and ROBIN. Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam bolds,

And high and low beguile the rich and poor:
Base Phrygian Turki
Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack,

be humours of revenge.

Nym. I have operations in my head, which

I

Pist. Wilt thou revenge?

Nym. By welkin, and her star!

Pist. With wit, or steel?

Nym. With both the humours, 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,
And his soft couch defle.

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.

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Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal

fire.

servants shall come in house withal; and I An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he warrant you, no tell-tale, nor no breed-bate :** 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.

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In the old tapestries, Caiu and Judas were repre sented with yellow beards.

of his hands, as any is between this and his head; he hath fought with a warrener.⚫

Quick. How say you?-Oh! I should remem ber 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 Page 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.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master. Quick. We shall all be shent : + Run in here, good young man; go into this closet. [Shuts SIMPLE in the closet.] He will not stay long. What, John Rugby! John, what, John, I say! -Go, Joba, go inquire for my master; 1 doubt he be not well, that he comes not home :-and down, down, adown-a, &c. [Sings.

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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 in tend vat I speak ? 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 born-mad. [Aside. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe ! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a la Cour,-la grand affaire.

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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's me! Qu'a y j'oublie ? 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. 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 flegmatic; 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.

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 bere nor there.

Caius. You jack'nape; give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his throat 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 here:by gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, be shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit SIMPLE.

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 out 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 goujere!

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. [Exeunt CAIUS and RUGBY. Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your own. No, I know Anne's mind for that: neve 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, I pray you.

Enter FENTON.

Fent. 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? 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 about your eye?

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that? Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tail;-good faith, it is such another Nan :-but, I detest,+ an honest maid as ever broke bread :-We bad 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 ber before me, com

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 but my finger in the fire, and need not. Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you ?-Rugby, baillez | mend meme 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, I may call him my master, ook you for I keep his house; and I wash, wring,

The keeper of a warren. ↑ Scolded, reprimanded.

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

[Exit.

now. 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.

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ACT II.

comfort in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother 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

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.what he puts into the press, when he would put

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 I; 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,

For thee to fight,

John Falstaff.

us two. I had rather be a giantess, and lie under Imount 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 batches, 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 delay, till he hath pawn'd his horses to mine Host of the

Garter.

What a Herod of Jewry is this? O wicked, 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 Fle- chariness of our honesty. Oh! that my husmish drunkard picked (with the devil's name) band saw this letter ! it would give eternal food out of my conversation, that he dares in this to his jealousy. 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 putting 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.

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 trifleɛ ;what is it?

Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment, or so, I could be knighted.

Mrs. Page. Why, look, where he comes; and my good man too: he's as far from jealousy, as am from giving him cause; and that, I hope,

is an unmeasurable distance.

Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman.
Mrs. Puge. 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 wooes both high and low, both rich

and poor,

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 Actæon he, with Ringwood at thy heels:
Oh! odious is the name !

Ford. What name, Sir?

Pist. The horn, I say: Farewell.
Take beed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds
do sing.-
Away, Sir corporal Nym.——
Believe it, Page; he speaks sense.
SO

Mrs. Page. What?-thon liest!-Sir Alice Ford --These knights will hack; and thou shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry.

:

[Exit PISTOL.

Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light-here, read, Nym. And this is true. [To PAGE.] I like not read; perceive how I might be knighted.-I sball think the worse of fat men, as long as the humour of lying. He hath wronged me in have an eye to make difference of men's liking: some humours; I should have borne the bu And yet he would not swear; praised women's moured letter to her but I have a sword, and modesty and gave such orderly and well-be- it shall bite upon my necessity. He loves your haved reproof to all uncomeliness, that I would wife; there's the short and the long. My name have sworn his disposition would have gone to is corporal Nym; I speak, and I avouch. 'Tis the truth of his words: but they do no more true :-my name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your adbere and keep place together, than the hun-wife.-Adieu! I love not the humour of bread dredth Psalm to the tune of Green sleeves, and cheese; and there's the humour of it. Adieu. [Exit NYM. What tempest, I trow, threw this whale, with so Page. The humour of it, quoth 'a! here's a many tuns of oil in his belly, ashore at Windsor ? How shall I be revenged on him? I think the fellow frights humour out of its wits. Ford. I will seek out Falstaff. 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

• Most probably Shakspeare wrote physician.

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

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Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, fand tell him, my name is Brook; only for a though the priest o' the town commended him for jest.

a true man.

Ford. 'Twas a good sensible fellow: Well.
Page. How now, Meg?

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 on,

Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George ?-Harkhearts? 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.

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 ?

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 ?

Page. Marry, were they.

Shal. Have with you, mine host.

Page. I bave 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 passess, 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.

[Ereunt 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 [Exit.

bestowed.

SCENE II-A Room in the Garter Inn.

Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL.
Fal. will not lend thee a peuny.
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 should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow Nym; or else you had looked through the grate like a geminy

Ford. I like it never the better for that.-of baboons. I am damned in hell, for swearing 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 bim: 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 gentlemen; 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 band.

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 bath appointed them contrary places: for, believe me, I bear 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,

• The Chinese, or sharpers, were called Cataians.

to gentlemen my friends, you were good soldiers and tall fellows: and when mistress Bridget los 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. 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 Pick't-batch, go.-You'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue !-you stand upon your honour -Why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as I can do, to keep the terms of mine honour precise. I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle, to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce ** your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your redlattice + 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.

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Fal. Good-morrow, good wife.
Quick. Not so, an't please your worship.
Fal. Good maid, theu.

Quick. I'll be sworn; as my mother was, the first hour I was born.

Pal. I do believe the swearer : What with me?

Quick. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two?

Ful. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll Vouchsafe thee the hearing.

Quick. There is one mistress Ford, Sir :-I pray, come a little nearer this ways:-I myself dwell with master doctor Caius.

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 !

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 have brought her to such a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, (all musk,) and so rust. ling, I warrant 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 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 so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pensioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

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 wott 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.

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 page; no remedy.

Fal. Why, I will.

Quick. Nay, but do so then: and, look you, be 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.

Fal. Say'st thou so, old Jack? go thy ways; I'll make more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expense of so much money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank thee: Let them say, 'tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter.

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.

Fal. Call him in; [Exit BARDOLPH.] Such
Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erflow such
liquor. Ah! ha! mistress Ford and mistress
Page, have I encompassed 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? Give us leave, drawer. [Exit BARDOLPH. Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook. Fal. Good master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you.

if money go before, all ways do lie open.

Ford. Good Sir John, I sue for yours: not to charge you; for I must let you understand, I Quick. Why, you say well: But I have an- think myself in better plight for a lender than other messenger to your worship: Mistress Page you are the which hath something embolden'd hath her hearty commendations to you too ;-me to this unseasoned intrusion; for they say, and let me tell you in your ear, she's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one (I tell you) that will not miss your morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windsor, whoe'er be the other: 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!

Fat. But, I pray thee, tell me this: has Ford's wife, and Fage's wife, acquainted each other how they love me?

A mistake of Mrs. Quickly's for quandaries.
+ Know.
1 Fretful, peevish.

Fal. Money is a good soldier, Sir, and will on. Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles me: if you will help me to bear it, Sir John, take all, or half, for easing me of the carriage.

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.

Ford. Sir, I hear you are a scholar,-I will be brief with you ;--and you have been a man long known to me, though I had never so good

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