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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.

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

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.

Page. Hang 'em, slaves; I do not think the knight wcnld 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.

Ford. I 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

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 of lying. 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 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.

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?

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, I follow.-Good even, and twenty, good master Page! Master Page, will you go with us? we have sport in haud.

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 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 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 regress; 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.

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 Get like rats.

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

Ford. I melancholy? I am not melancholy. 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. Goin 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 aot?

Page. Yes; and you heard what the other told me? Ford. Do you think there is truth in them?

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.

SCENE II.-A room in the Garter Inn. Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL.

[Exit.

Fal. I will not lend thee a penny. 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 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 and she bade me tell your worship, that her husband rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice is seldom from home; but, she hopes, there will come phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shel-a time. I never knew a woman so dote upon a man; ter 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.

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?

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 your little

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

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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!

fection to the little page: and, truly, master Page is an honest man. Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life thau 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, 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.

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 expence 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.

Fal. Mistress Ford; - come, mistress FordQuick. 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 geutlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, (all musk) and so rushling, 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 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 Ful. 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.

42

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 [Exit Bardolph. leave, drawer! Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook.

Fal. Good master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you.

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 money go before, all ways do lie open.

lowed for your many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations.

Fal. O, sir!

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 wooing, win her to consent to you; if any man may, you may as soon as any. Fal. Would it apply well to the vehemence of your affection, that I should win what you would enjoy? Methinks, you prescribe to yourself very preposterously.

Ford. O, understand my drift! she dwells so securely on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of my soul dares not present itself:she is too bright to be looked against. Now, could I come to her with any detection in my hand, my desires had instance and argument Fal. Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on. Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here trou-to commend themselves; I could drive her then from bles 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 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 one eye upon my follies, as you hear them unfolded, turn another into the register of your own,that I may pass with a reproof the easier, sith you yourself know, how easy it is to be such an offender.

Fal. Very well, sir; proceed!

Ful. Well, sir.

the ward of her purity, her reputation, her marriagevow, 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!

shall.

Fal. Master Brook, I say you Ford. Want no money, sir John, you shall want none. Fal. Want no mistress Ford, master Brook, you shall want none. I shall be with her, (I may tell you,) by her own appointment ;even as you came in to me, her assistant, or go-between, parted from me: I say, I shall be with her between ten and eleven; for at that time the jealous rascally knave, her husband, will be forth. Come you to me at night; you shall know how I speed. Ford. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know Ford, sir?

the Ford. There is a gentlewoman in this town, her hus- Fal. Hang him, poor cuckoldly knave! I know him not:-yet I wrong him, to call him poor; they say, band's name is Ford. jealous wittolly knave hath masses of money; for the which his wife seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my harvest-home.

Ford. I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, bestowed much on her; followed her with a doting observance; engrossed opportunities to meet her; fee'd every slight occasion that could but niggardly give me sight of her; not only bought many presents to give her, but have given largely to many, to know what she would have given: briefly, I have pursued her, as love 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 I have purchased at an infinite rate; and that hath taught me to say this:

Love like a shadow flies, when substance love pursues;
Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues.
Fal. Have you received no promise of satisfaction at
her hands?

Ford. Iwould 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 shalt know, I will predominate o'er the peasant, and thou shalt lie with his wife. Come to me soon at night:-Ford's a knave, and I will aggravate his stile; thou, master Brook, shalt know him for a :-come to me soon at night. [Exit. knave and cuckold:Ford. What a damned Epicurean rascal is this!—My heart is ready to crack with impatience. Who says, this is improvident jealousy? 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 villainous 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 devils' adFal. To what purpose have you unfolded this to me? ditions, the names of fiends: bat cuckold! wittol-cnFord. When I have told you that, I have told you all. ckold! the devil himself hath not such a name. Page Some say, that, though she appear honest to me, yet, in is an ass, a secure ass, he will trust his wife, he will not other places, she enlargeth her mirth so far, that there is be jealous: I will rather trust a Fleming with my butshrewd construction made of her. Now, sir John, here ter, parson Hugh the Welchman with my cheese, an is the heart of my purpose: You are a gentleman of ex-Irishman with my aqua-vitae bottle, or a thief to walk cellent breeding, admirable discourse, of great admit-my ambling gelding, than my wife with herself: then tance, authentic in your place and person, generally al-she plots, then she ruminates, then she devises: and

Ford. Never.

Fal. Have you importuned her to such a purpose?
Ford. Never.

Fal. Of what quality was your love then?
Ford. Like a fair house, built upon another man's
edifice by mistaking the
ground; so that I have lost my
place where I erected it.

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Rug. Alas, sir, I cannot fence.
Caius. Villainy, take your rapier.
Rug. Forbear; here's company.

Enter Host, SHALLOW, SLENDER, and PAGE.

Host. 'Bless thee, bully doctor.
Shal. 'Save you, master doctor Caius.
Page. Now, good master doctor!
Slen. Give you good-morrow, sir.

Caius. Vat be all you, one, two, tree, four, come for? Host. To see thee fight, to see thee foin, to see thee traverse, to see thee here, to see thee there; to see thee pass thy punto, thy stock, thy reverse, thy distances, thy montant. Is he dead, my Ethiopian? Is he dead, my Francisco? ha, bully! What says my Aesculapius? my Galen? my heart of elder? ha! is he dead, bully Stale? is he dead?

Caius. By gar, he is de coward Jack priest of the vorld; he is not show his face.

Host. Thou art a Castilian king, Urinal! Hector of Greece, my boy!

Caius. By gar, me do look, he shall clapper-de-claw me; for, by gar, me vill have it.

Host. And I will provoke him to't, or let him wag. Caius. Me tank you for dat.

Host. And moreover, bully, but first, master guest, and master Page, and eke cavalero Slender, go you through the town to Frogmore. [Aside to them. Page. Sir Hugh is there, is he?

Host. He is there: see what humour he is in; and I will bring the doctor about by the fields :will it do well? Shal. We will do it.

Page. Shal. and Slen. Adieu, good master doctor. [Exeunt Page, Shallow, and Slender. Caius. By gar, me vill kill de priest; for he speak for a jack-an-ape to Anne Page.

Host. Let him die: but, first, sheath thy impatience; throw cold water on thy choler: go about the fields with me through Frogmore; I will bring thee where mistress Anne Page is, at a farm-house a-feasting; and thou shall woo her. Cry'd game, said I well?

Caius. By gar, me tank you for dat: by gar, Ilove you; and I shall procure-a you de good guest, de earl, de knight, de lords, de gentlemen, my patients. Host. For the which, I will be thy adversary towards Anne Page; said I well?

Caius. By gar, 'tis good; vell said.
Host. Let us wag then.
Caius. Come at my heels, Jack Rugby.

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[Exeunt.

Enter Sir HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE. Eva. I pray you now, good master Slender's servingman, and friend Simple by your name, which way have you looked for master Caius, that calls himself Doctor of Physic?

Sim. Marry, sir, the city-ward, the park-ward, every way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town way.

Eva. I most fehemently desire you, you will also look that way.

Sim. I will, sir.

Caius. I pray you, bear vitness, dat me have stay six Eva. 'Pless my soul! how full of cholers I am, and or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is no come. trempling of mind!—I shall be glad, if he have decciShal. He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a cu-ved me:- how melancholies I am! - I will knog his rer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should fight, you go against the hair of your professions; is it not true, master Page?

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Shal. It will be found so, master Page. Master doctor Caius, I am come to fetch you home. I am sworn of the peace; you have showed yourself a wise physician, and sir Hugh hath shewn himself a wise and patient churchman: you must go with me, master doctor. Host. Pardon, guest Justice! A word, monsieur Muck-water.

Caius. Muck-vater! vatis dat?

Host. Muck-water, in our English tongue, is valour, bully.

Caius. By gar, then I have as much muck-vater as de Englishman. -Scurvy jack-dog priest! by gar, me vill cut his ears.

Hest. He will clapper-claw thee tightly, bully.

Caius. Clapper-de-claw! vatis dat?

Host. That is, he will make thee amends.

urinals about his knave's costard, when I have good
opportunities for the 'ork:-'pless my soul! [Sings.
To shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals;
There will we make our peds of roses,
And a thousand fragrant posies.
To shallow

'Mercy on me! I have a great dispositions to cry.
Melodious birds sing madrigals;—
When as I sat in Pabylon.-

And a thousand vagram posies.
To shallow--

Sim. Yonder he is coming, this way,
Eva. He's welcome :-

sir Hugh.

To shallow rivers, to whose falls—— Heaven prosper the right! - What weapons is he? Sim. No weapons, sir: there comes my master, master Shallow, and another gentleman from Frogmore, over the stile, this way.

Eva. Pray you, give me my gown; or else keep it in your arms.

Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLender. Shal. How now, master parson? Good-morrow, good sir flugh. Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful.

Slen. Ah, sweet Anne Page!

Page. Save you, good sir Hugh!

Eva. 'Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you! Shal. What! the sword and the word! do you study them both, master parson?

Page. And youthful still, in your doublet and hose, this raw rheumatick day?

Eva. There is reasons and causes for it.

Page. We are come to you, to do a good office,master parson.

Eva. Fery well: what is it?

Page. Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who, belike, having received wrong by some person, is at most odds with his own gravity and patience, that ever

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Page. I think you know him; master doctor Caius, the renowned French physician.

Eva. Got's will, and his passion of my heart! I had as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge. Page. Why?

Eva. He has no more knowledge in Hipocrates and Galen, and he is a knave besides; a cowardly knave, as you would desires to be acquainted withal. Page. I warrant you, he's the man should fight with Slen. O, sweet Anne Page! him.

Shal. It appears so, by his weapons: asunder; -here comes doctor Caius.

keep them

Enter Host, CAIUS, and RUGBY.
Page. Nay, good master parson, keep in your weapon.
Shal. So do you, good master doctor.
Host. Disarm them, and let them question; let them
keep their limbs whole, and hack our English.
Caius. I pray you, let-a me speak a vord vit your car:
verefore vill you not meet-a me?

Eva. Pray you, use your patience; in good time.
Caius. By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John

ape.

Eva. Pray you, let us not be laughing-stogs to other men's humours; I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make you amends :-I will knog your urinals about your knave's cogscomb, for missing your meetings and appointments.

Caius. Diable! - Jack Rugby, — mine Host de Jarterre, have I not stay for him, to kill him? have I not, at de place I did appoint?

Eva. As I am a Christians soul, now, look you, this is the place appointed; I'll be judgment by mine host of the Garter.

Host. Peace, I say, Guallia and Gaul, French and Welch; soul-curer and body-curer.

Caius. Ay, dat is very good! excellent! Host. Peace, I say; hear mine host of the Garter. Am I politick? am I subtle ? am I a Machiavel? Shall I lose my doctor? no; he gives me the potions, and the motions. Shall I lose my parson? my priest? my sir Hugh? no; he gives me the proverbs, and the no-verbs. Give me thy hand, terrestrial; so:— Give me thy hand, celestial; so.- - Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places: your hearts are mighty, your skins are whole, and let burnt sack be the issue. Come, lay their swords to pawn! - Follow me, lad of peace; follow, follow, follow!

Shal. Trust me, a mad host!- Follow, gentleman, follow!

Slen. O, sweet Anne Page!

[Exeunt Shallow, Slender, Page, and Host. Caius. Ha! do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot of us? ha, ha! Eva. This is well; he has made us his vlouting-stog. - I desire you, that we may be friends, and let us

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.

SCENE II.

-

[Exeunt.

The street in Windsor. Enter Mistress PAGE, and ROBIN. Mrs Page. Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether had you rather, lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels? like a

Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you man, than follow him like a dwarf. Mrs Page. O you are a flattering boy; now, I see, you'll be a courtier. Enter FORD.

Ford. Well met, mistress Page: whither go you? MrsPage. Truly,sir,to see your wife. Is she at home? Ford. Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want of company: I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry.

Mrs Page. Be sure of that, -two other husbands. Ford. Were had you this pretty weathercock? Mrs Page. I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of. What do you call your knight's name, sirrah? Rob. Sir John Falstaff.

Ford. Sir John Falstaff!

MrsPage. He, he; I can never hit on's name.-There is such a league between my good man and he! - Is your wife at home, indeed? Ford. Indeed, she is.

Mrs Page. By your leave, sir; -I am sick, till I see her. [Exeunt Mrs Page and Robin.

Ford. Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any thinking? Sure they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot point blank twelve score. He pieces-out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion, and advantage: and now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind!-and Falstaff's boy with her!

Good plots! they are laid; and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure aud wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. [Clock strikes.] The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me search; there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be rather praised for this, than mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm, that Falstaff is there: I will go.

Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, Host, Sir HUGH
EVANS, CAIUS, and RUGBY.
Shal. Page, etc. Well met, master Ford.
Ford. Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at
home; and, I pray you, all go with me.

Shal. I must excuse myself, master Ford.
Slen. And so must I, sir; we have appointed to dine
with mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for
more money than I'll speak of.

Shal. We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.

Slen. I hope, I have your good will, father Page? Page. You have, master Slender; I stand wholly for you:- - but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether. Caius. Ay, by gar; and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a Quickly tell me so much.

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