MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR,

Person of t per a ma.

dr

sor.

Sir John FALSTAFF.

BARDOLPH, Ferrox.

PISTOL, followers of Falstaff Shallow, a country justice.

|Nym, SLENDER, cousin to Shallow,

Robix, page to Falstaff. Mr FORD,

two gentlemen dwelling at Wind- SIMPLE, servant to Slender. Mr Page,

Rugby,servant to Dr Caius. William Pace, a boy, son to Mr Page.

Mrs Ford. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch parson.

Mrs Pace. Dr Caius, a French physician.

Mrs Anne Page, her daughter, in love with Fenton. Host of the Garter Inn.

Mrs QUICKLY,servant to Dr Caius.

Servants to Page, Ford, etc.
SCENE, - Windsor, and the parts adjacent.

coram.

a

A CT I.

she is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a

go ot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles and SCENEI. – Windsor. Before Page's house. desire a marriage between master Abraham, and misEnter Justice Shallow, Slender, and tress Anne Page. Sir Hugh Evans.

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star- pound? chamber matter of it: if he were twenty sir John Fal-| Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. staffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and gifts. Shal. Ay,cousin Slender,and Cust-alorum. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, good gifts. master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Fallbill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, arinigero. staff there? Shal. Ay, that we do; and have done any time these Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do three hundred years.

despise one that is false; or, as I despise one that is not Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; true. The knight, sir John, is there; and I beseech you, and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the door may give the dozen whiteluces in their coat.

[knocks] for master Page. What, hoa ! Got pless your Shal. It is an old coat.

house here! Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat

Enter Pace. well; it agrees well, passant : it is a familiar beast to Page. Who's there? man, and signifies-love.

Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old justice Shallow: and here young master Slender; that, Slen. I may quarter, coz?

coat. peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if matters Shal. You may, by marrying.

grow to your likings. Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.

Page. I am glad to see your worships well : I thank Shal. Not a whit.

you for my venison, master Shallow. Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you; much good there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple con- do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; jectures : but this is all one: If sir John Falstaff have it was ill kill'd: – How doth good mistress Page ? committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church and I love you always with my heart, la; with my heart. and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atone- Page. Sir, I thank you. ments and compromises between you.

Shal. Sir, I thank you ; by yea and no, I do. Shal. The Conncil shall hear it; it is a riot.

Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard fear of Got in a riot: the Council, look you, shall de- say, he was out-run on Cotsale. sire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take Page. It could not be judged, sir. your vizaments in that.

Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Shal. Ha !o' my life, if I were young again, the sword Shal. That he will not; — 'tis your fault, 'tis your shonld end it.

fault :~ 'Tis a good dog. Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and endit: Page. A cur, sir. and there is another device in my prain, which, per- Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can there adventure,prings goot discretions with it. There is An- bemore said ? he is good, and fair. Is sir John Falne Page, which is daugther to Master George Page, staff here? which is pretty virginity.

Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good Slen. Mistress Aune Page? She has brown hair, and office between you. speaks small like a woman.

Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak. Eva. It is that fery verson for all the’orld, as just as Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. yon will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies, Page. Sir, he doth in some sortconfess it. and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his deathos- Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd ; is not that bed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections !) give, when so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed, he

a

.

you hear it.

hath ;-at a word, he hath;-believe me; - Robert Shal-God, and not with drunken knaves. low, esquire, saith, leis wrong'd.

Eva. So Got’udge me, that is a virtuous mind.' Page. Here comes sir'Johu.

Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; Enter Sir Joux FalstAFF, BARDOLPH, Nyu, and Pistol.

Enter Mistress Anne Page with wine; Mistress FORD Fal. Now, master Shallow; you'll complain of me to

and Mistress Page following. the king ?

Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my within.

(Exit Anne Page. deer, and broke open my lodge.

Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter?

Page. How now, mistress Ford ? Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer'd.

Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well Fal. I will answer it straight. - I have done all this:- met: by your leave, good mistress. (Kissing her. That is now answer'd.

Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome: Shal. The Council shall know this.

Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner; come, Fal. 'Twere better for you, if it were known in coun- gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. sel: you'll be laugh'd at.

(Exeunt all but Shal. Slender, and Evans. Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, good worts.

Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke of Songs and Sonnets here :your head; what matter have you against me?

Enter SIMPLE.
Slen.Marry,sir, I have matter in my head against you; How now, Simple! Where have you been? I must
and against your coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, wait on myself, must I? You have not The book of
Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and Riddles al

about
you,

have you? made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket. Sim. Book of Riddles ! why, did you not lend it to Bard. You Banbury cheese!

Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

afore Michaelmas? Pist. How now, Mephostophilus?

Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A Slen. Ay,it is no matter.

word with you, coz: marry, this, coz; There is, as Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's my 'twere, a tender, a kind oftender, made afar off by sir humour.

Hugh here;-Do you understand me? Slen. Where's Simple,my man?-can you tell,consin? Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; ifit be Eva.Peace: I pray you! Now let us understand: There so, I shall do that that is reason. is three umpires in this matter, as I understand: that Shal. Nay, but understand me. is-master Page, fidelicet, master Page ; and there is Slen. So I do, sir.

; ; myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party is, lastly Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender : I will and finally, mine host of the Garter.

description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them. Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note- pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his book; and we will afterwards'ork upon the cause, with country, simple though I stand here. as great discreetly as we can.

Eva. But this is not the question ; the question is Fal. Pistol, –

concerning your marriage. Pist. He hears with ears.

Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir. Eva. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, He Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress hears with ears? Why it is affectations.

Anne Page. Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon any Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, (or I would I might reasonable demands. never come in mine own great chamber again else) of Eva. But can you affection the ’oman ? Let us comseven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward sho- mand to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for vel-boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence a- divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

mouth; – Therefore, precisely, can you carry your Fal. Is this true, Pistol ?

good will to the maid? Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.

Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her ? Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! — Sir John and Slen. I hope, sir, I will do, as it shall become one master mine,

that would do reason. I combat challenge of this latten bilbo :

Eva. Nay, Got's lord'and his ladies, you must speak Word of denial in thy labras here;

possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest.

her. Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he.

Shal. That you must: Will you, upon good dowry, Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humours; I marry her? will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nut- Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon your hook's humour on me; that is the very note of it. request, cousin, in any reason.

Slen. By this hat, then he in the red face had it: for Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz; though I cannot remember what I did when you made what I do, is to pleasure you, coz: Can you love the me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.

maid? Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John ?

Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; bat if Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaveu had drunk himself out of his five sentences.

may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is ! are married, and have niore occasion to know one anoBard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; ther: I hope, upon familiarity will grow more conand so conclusions pass'd the careires

tempt; but if you say, marry her, I will marry her, Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely. matter : i'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the faul honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if I be is in the’ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, according to our drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of meaning, resolutely; — his meaning is good.

very well.

Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

SCENE III. — Aroom in the Garter Inn. Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hang'd, la, Enter FALSTAFF, Host, BARDOLPH, Nym, Pistol, Re-enter Anne Pace.

and Robis. Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne: - Would I Fal. Mine host of the Garter, were young, for your sake, mistress Anne!

Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scholarly, Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires and wisely. your worships' company.

Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne.

followers. Eva. Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them

grace. (Exeunt Shallow and Sir H. Evans. wag; trot, trot. Anne. Will’t please your worship to come in, sir? Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week. Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am Host. Thou ’rt an emperor, Caesar,Keiser, and Phee

zar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall Anne. The dinner attends you, sir.

tap : said I well, bully Hector ? Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth: Go, Fal. Do so, good mine host. 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: Jam at a word; follow. (Exit Host. time may be beholden to his friend for a man :-I keep Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: An old cloak makes a new jerkin ; a withered servingBut what though?yet I live like a poor gentleman born. man, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu.

Anne. I may not go in without your worship: they Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive. will not sit till you come.

Exit Bard. Slen. I'faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot as though I did.

wield? Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in.

Nym. He was gotten in drink: is not the humour Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you : I bruised conceited ? His mind is not heroic, and there's the my shin the other day with playing at sword and dag- humourofit. ger with a master of fence, three veneys for a dish of Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinderbox; his stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? singer, he kept not time. be there bears i'the town?

Aym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's rest. Anne. I think, there are, sir; I heard them talked of. Pist. Convey, the wise it call : Steal! foh; a fico for Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel the phrase ! at it, as any man in England:– You are afraid, if you fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels. see the bear loose, are you not?

Pist. Why then, let kibes ensue. Anne. Ay, indeed, sir.

Fal. There is no remedy; I must coneycatch; I Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen must shift. Sackerson loose, twenty times; and have taken him Pist. Young ravens must have food. by the chain :' but, I warrant yon, the women have so Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town? cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass’d:— but women, Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good. indeed, cannot abide'em; they are very ill-favoured Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about. rough things.

Pist. Two yards, and more.
Re-enter Page.

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

about thrist. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.

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 come, come.

the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way.

of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am sir Page. Come on, sir.

Iohn Falstaff's. Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go

first.

Pist. He hath studied her well and translated her Anne. Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.

well; out of honesty into English. Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la: I will not Nym. The anchoris deep. Will that humour pass? do you that wrong.

Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her Anne. I pray you, sir.

husband's purse; she hath legions of angels. Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly, than troublesome; Pist. As many devils entertain ; and, To her, boy, you do yourself wrong, indeed, la. (Exeunt. say I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the SCENE II. - The same

angels. Enter Sir Hugh Evars and SIMPLE.

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 eyly, which is in the manner of his purse,or his dry nurse, liads : sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his sometimes my portly belly. wringer.

Pist. Then did the sun on dung-hill shine. Simp. Well, sir.

Nym. I thank thee for that humorr. 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 a 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 ton; she is a Anne Page: I pray you, be gone; I will make an end of region in Guiana,all gold and bonnty. 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

for you.

to them both. Go,bear thon 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, Pist. Shaill sir Pandarns of Troy become,

what, John, I say! Go, John, go enquire for my And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all! master! I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not

Nym. I will run no base humour: here, take the hu- home: and down, down, adown-a, etc. (Sings. mour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.

Enter Doctor Caius. Fal. Hold, sirrah, (to Rob.] bear you these letters Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys. Pray tightly;

you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd; a Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. box, a green-a box! Do intend vat I speak? a greenRogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go; a box. Trudge, plod, away, o'the hoof; seek shelter, pack! Quick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad he Falstaff will learn the humour of this age,

went not in himself: if he had found the young man, French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page. he would have been horn-mad.

(Aside. [Exeunt Falstaf'and Robin. Caius. Fe, fefe, 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,

Quick. Is it this, sir? And high and low beguile the rich and poor:

Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depeche, Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, quickly :- Vere is dat knave Rugby? Base Phrygian Turk!

Quick. What, John Rugby! John! Nym. I have operations in my head, which be hu- Rug. Here, sir. mours of revenge.

Caius. You are John Rugby,and you are Jack Rugby. Pist. Wilt thou revenge?

Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to Nym. By welkin, and her star!

de court. Pist. With wit or steel ?

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch. Nym. With both the humours, I:

Caius. By my trot,I tarry too long:--Od's me! Qu'ai Jwill discuss the humour of this love to Page. j'oublié? 'dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold,

not for the varld I shall leave behind. How Falstall, varlet vile,

Quick. Ah me!he'll find the young man there, and be His dove will prove, his gold will hold,

mad. And his soft couch defile.

Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? – VilNym. My humour shall not cool: I will incense Page lainy !larron! (Pulling Simple out.]Pługby,my rapier. to deal with poison: I will possess him with yellowess, Quick. Good master, be content. for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that is my true Cuius, Verefore shall I be content-a? humour.

Quick. The young man is an honest man, Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents: I second Caius. Vat shall the honest man do in my closet?dere thce; troop on.

[Exeunt. is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.

Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatick; hear the SCENEIV.- Aroom in Dr Caius' house. truth of it: lle came of an errand to me from parson Enter Mrs QuickLY, SIMPLE, and Rugby.

Caius. Vell.

Hugh. Quick. What; John Rugby!- I pray thee, go to the Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to casement, and see if you can see my master, master Quick. Peace, I pray you. Doctor Caius, coming: if he do, i'faith, and find any Čaius. Peace-a your tongue :-Speak-a your tale. body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God's Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, patience, and the king's English.

to speak a good word to mistress Anne Page for my Rug. I'll go watch.

[Exit Rugby. master, in the way of marriage. Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put my in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. — An ho- finger in the fire, and need not. nest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you? — Rugby, baillez me in house withal ; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor some paper! Tarry you a little-a while. (Writes. no breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoprayer; he is something peevish that way: but nobody roughly moved, you should have heard him so lond, but has his fault; – but let that pass. —Peter Simple, and so melancholy ;- but notwithstanding, man, I'll you say your name is ?

do your master what good I can: and the very yea and Sim, Ay, for fault of a better.

the no is, the French doctor, my master, - I may call Quick. And master Slender's your master?

him my master, look you, for I keep his honse; and I Sim. Ay, forsooth.

wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard, like a make the beds, and do all myself; glover's paring knife?

Sim. 'Tis a great charge, to come under one body's Sim. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with hand. a little yellow beard; a Caiu-coloured beard.

Quick. Are you avis’d o' that? you shall find it a great Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not?

charge: and to be up early and down late ; – but not Šim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands, withstanding, (to tell you in your ear; I would have as any is between this and his head; he hath fought no words of it;) my master himselfis in love with miswith a warrener.

tress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that, -I know Quick. How say you ?- 0, I should remember him; Aune's mind, that's neither here nor there. does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strat in Caius. You jack’nape; give-a dis letter to sir Hugh; Sim. Yes, indeed, does he.

his gait? by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his troat in de park; Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse for- and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle tune! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can for or make: - you may be gone; it is not good you tarry your master: Anneis a good girl, and I wish

here: — by gar. I vill cut all his two stones; by gar, Re-enter Rugby.

he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.

[Exit Simple.

a

your house.

Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend.

For thee to fight,

Joux FalstarF. Caius. It is no matter-a for dat:— do not you tell-a What a Herod of Jewry is this?~0 wicked, wicked, me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? — by gar, I world !--one, that is well nigh worn to pieces with age, vill kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host to show himself a young gallant! What an unweighed of de Jarterre to measure our weapon :-by gar, I vill behaviour hath this Flemish drunkard, picked (with myself have Anne Page.

the devil's name) out of my conversation, that he dare's Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well: in this manner assay me? Why,he hath not been thrice we must give folks leave to prate:What, the good-jer! in my company !- What should I say to him? – I was

Caius. Rugby, come to the court vit me; By gar, then frugal of my mirth: - heaven forgive me! if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putmy door!-- Follow my heels, Rugby.

ting down of men. How shall I be revenged on him? [Exeunt Caius and Rugby. for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your own. puddings. No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in

Enter Mistress Ford. Windsor knows more of Anne's mind than I do; nor Mrs Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven. Pent. (Within.] Who's within there, ho?

Mrs Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. You Quick. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, look very ill. I pray you.

Mrs Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; I have to show Enter Fenton.

to the contrary. Fent. How now, good woman; how dost thou? Mrs Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind. Quick. The better that it pleases your good worship Mrs Ford. Well, I do then; yet, I say, I could show to ask.

you to the contrary: 0, mistress Page, give me some Fent. What news? how does pretty mistress Anne? counsel !

Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, Mrs Page. What's the matter, woman? and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you Mrs Ford. O woman, if it were not for one trifling that by the way; I praise heaven for it.

respect, I could come to such honour! Fent. Shall I do any good, thinkest thou ? Shall I not Mrs Page. Hang the tride, woman; take the honour: lose my suit?

what is it? Dispense with trifles; what is it? Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but not- Mrs Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal withstanding, master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a book, moment, or so, I could be knighted. she loves you: – have not your worship a wart above Mrs. Page. What?—thou liest !-Sir Alice Ford! your eye e ?

These knights will hack; and so thou shouldst not alFent. Yes, marry, havel; what of that?

ter the article of thy gentry, 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 honr'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 alli- praised women's modesty: and gave such orderly and cholly and musing: but for you — Well, go to. well-behaved reproof to all uncomeliness, that I would

Pent. Well, I shall see her to-day: hold, there's have sworn his disposition would have gone to the money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: truth of his words: but they do no more adhere and if thou seest her before me, commend me

keep place together than the hundredth psalm to the Quick. Willi? i'faith, that we will : and I will tell tune of Green sleeves. What tempest, I trow, threw your worship more of the wart, the next time we have this whale, with so many tuns of oil in his belly, ashore confidence; and of other wooers.

at Windsor? How shall I be revenged on him? I think, Fent. Well,farewell; I am in great haste now. [Exit. the best way were to entertain him with hope, till the Quick. Farewell to your worship.Truly, an honest wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own grease. gentleman; but Anne loves him not; for I know Anne's - Did you ever hear the like? mind as well as another does. Out upon't! what Mrs. Page. Letter for letter; but that the name of have I forgot ?

[Exit. Page and Ford differs ! — Tothy great comfort in this

mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother of thy

leiter: but let thine inherit first; for, I protest, mine А ст II.

never shall. I warrant, he hath a thousand of these letSCENE I. -- Before Page's house. ters, writ with blank space for different names, (sure

Enter Mistress Page, with a letter. more,) and these are of the second edition: he will Mrs Page. What! have I’scaped love-letters in the print them out of doubt; for he cares not what he puts holy-day time of my beauty, and am I now a subject into the press, when he would put us two. I had rather for them? Let me see:

[Reads. be a giantess, and lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will Ask me no reason why I love you; for though love find you twenty lascivions turtles, ere one chaste man. use reason for his precisian, he admitshim not for his Mrs Ford. Why, this is the very same; the very hand, counsellor: you are not young, no more am I; go to the very words: what doth he think of us? then, there's sympathy: You are merry, so am I; Ha! Mrs Page. Nay, I know not:it makes me almost rearly ha! then there's more sympathy : you love sack, and to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'll entercain myso do I; would you desire better sympathy? Let it self like one, that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure, suffice thee, mistress Page, (at the least, if the love unless he know some strain ia me, that I know not myof a soldier can suffice,) that I love thee. I will not self, he would never have boarded me in this fury. say, pity me, 'tis not a soldier-like phrase ; but I say, Mrs Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure to keep love me. By me,

him above deck, Thine own true knight,,

Mrs Page. So will I; if he come under my hatches, By day or night,

I'll never to sca again. Let's be revenged on him: let's Or any kind of light,

appoint him a meeting; give him a show of comfort in With all his might,

his suit; and lead him on with a finc-baited delay, till

a