you

Host. What say you to young master Fenton? he ca- | Why, now let me die, for I have lived long enough; pers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes ver- this is the period of my ambition : 0 this blessed hour! ses, he speaks holyday, he smells April and May: he Mrs Ford. O sweet sir John! will carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons ; he will Fal. Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, miscarry't.

tress Ford. Now shall I sin in my wish: I would thy Page. Not by my consent, I promise yon. The gen- husband were dead ; l'll speak it before the best lord, tleman is of no having: he kept company with the wild I would make thee my lady, Prince and Poins; he is of too high a region, he kuows Mrs Ford. I your lady, sir John ! alas, I should be a too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes pityfullady! with the finger of my substance : if he take her, let him Fal. Let the court of France show me such another; take her simply; the wealth I have waits on my con- I see how thine eye would emulate the diamond: thou sent, and my consent goes not that way.

hast the right arched bent of the brow, that becomes Ford. I beseech you, heartily, some of you go home the ship-tire, the tire-valiant, or any tire of Venetian with me to dinner; besides your cheer, you shall have admittance. sport; I will show you a monster. -- Master doctor, Mrs Ford. A plain kerchief, sir John: my brows be

shall go ;-so shall you, master Page; — and you, come nothing else; nor that well neither. sir Hugh.

Fal. Thou art a traitor to say so : thou would'st make Shal. Well, fare you well :-we shall have the freer an absolute courtier; and the firm fixture of thy foot wooing at master Page's.

would give an excellent motion to thy gait, in a semi(Exeunt Shallow and Slender. circled farthingale. I see what thou wert, if fortune Caius. Go home, John Rugby; I come anon. thy foe were not; nature is thy friend: come, thou

[Exit Rugby. canst not hide it. Host. Farewell, my hearts : I will to my honest knight Mrs Ford. Believe me, there's no such thing in me! Falstaff, and drink canary with him. (Exit Host. Fal. What made me love thee? let that persuade

Ford. (Aside.) I think, I shall drink in pipe-wine first thee, there's something extraordinary in thee! Come, with him ; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles? I cannot cog, and say, thou art this and that, like a All. Have with you, to see this monster. Exeunt. many of these lisping hawthorn buds, that come like

women in men’s apparel, and smell like Bucklersbury SCENE III.- Aroom in Ford's house, in simple time; I cannot: but I love thee; none but Enter Mrs Ford and Mrs Page,

thee; and thou deservest it. Mrs Ford. What, John! what, Robert!

Mrs Ford. Do not belray me, sir! I fear, you love Mrs Page. Quickly, quickly! Is the buck-basket - Mrs Page. Mrs Ford. I warrant: - what, Robin, I say. Fal. Thou might'st as well say, I love to walk by the Enter Servants with a basket.

Counter-gate; which is as hateful to me as the reek of Mrs Page. Come, come, come!

a lime-kiln. Mrs Ford. Here, set it down!

Mrs Ford. Well, heaven knows, how I love you; and Mrs Page. Give your men the charge; we must be you shall one day find it. brief.

Fal. Keep in that mind ; I'll deserve it. Mrs Ford. Marry, as I told you before, John, and Mrs. Ford. Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I Robert, be ready heré hard hy in the brew-house; and could not be in that mind. when I suddenly call you, come forth,and (without any Rob. (Within.] Mistress Ford, mistress Ford ! here's pause or staggering,) take this basket on your should- mistress Page at the door, sweating, and blowing, and ers: that done, trudge with it in all haste, and carry looking wildly, and would needs speak with you preit among the whitsters in Datchet Mead, and there sently. empty it in the muddy ditch, close by the Thames' Fal. She shall not see me; I will ensconce me behtud Mrs Page. You will do it?

side. the arras. Mrs Ford. I have told them over and over; they lack Mrs. Ford. Pray you, do so; she's a very tattling wono direction: be gone, and come when you are called. man. —

[Falstaff hides himself. (Exeunt Servants.

Enter Mistress Page and Robis.
Mrs Page. Here comes little Robin.

What's the matter ? how now?
Enter Robix.
Mrs Page. O mistress Ford, what have you

done? Mrs Ford. How now, my eyas-musket? what news You're shamed, you are overthrown, you are andone with you?

for ever! Rob. My master sir Johu is come in at your back-door, Mrs Ford. What's the matter, good mistress Page ? mistress Ford, and requests your company.

Blrs Page. O well-a-day, mistress Ford! having an Mrs Page. You little Jack-a-lent, have you been honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of true to us?

suspicion ! Rob. Ay, I'll be sworn : my master knows not of your Mrs Ford. What cause of snspicion ? being here; and hath threatened to put me into ever- Mrs Page. What cause of suspicion! lasting liberty, if I tell you of it; for, he swears, he'll you! how am I mistook in you !

Mrs Ford. Why, alas! what's the matter? Mrs Page. Thou’rt a good boy; this secrecy of thine Alrs Page. Your husband's coming hither, woman, shall be a tailor to thee, and shall make thee a new with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gendoublet and hose. — I'll go hide me.

tlerian, that, he says, is here now in the house, by your Mrs Ford. Do so !-Go, tell thy master, I am alone!- consent, to take an ill advantage of his absence. You Mistress Page, remember you your cue! (E.rit Robin. are undone. Mrs Page. I warrant thee; ifi do not act it, hiss me! Mrs Ford. Speak louder! (Aside.] — 'Tis not so,'ı

(Exit Mrs Page. hope. -Mrs Pord. Go to then! we'll use this unwholesome Mrs Page. Pray heaven it be not so, that you have humidity, this gross watry pumpion ; we'll teach such a man here! but 'tis most certain, your husband's him to know turtles from jays.

coming with half Windsor at his heels, to search for Enter FastAFF.

such a one. I come before to tell you; if you know Fal. llave I caught thee, my heavenly jewel? yourself clear, why I am glad of it: but if yon have a

Out opon

turn me away.

friend here, convey, convey him out! Benot amazed ;| Mrs Ford. Shall we send that foolish carrion, miscall all your senses to you; defend your reputation, tress Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the or bid farewell to your good life forever!

water; and give him another hope, to betray him to Mrs Ford. What shall I do? — There is a gentleman, another punishment? my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame, so Mrs Page. We'll do it; let him be sent for to-mormuch as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound, row eight o'clock, to have amends. he were out of the house.

Re-enter Ford, Page, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans. Mrs Page. For shame, never stand you had rather, Ford. I cannot find him: may be the knave bragged and you hadrather; your husband's here at hand, be- of that, he could not compass. think you of some conveyance: in the house you can- Mrs Page. Heard you that? not hide him.-0, how have you deceived me!-Look, Mrs Ford. Ay, ay, peace !- You use me well, mashere is a basket; if he be of any reasonable stature, he ter Ford, do you? may creep in here; and throw foullinen upon him, as Ford. Ay, I do so. if it were going to bucking: or, it is whiting-time, Mrs Ford. Heaven make you better than your send him by your two men to Datchet Mead.

thoughts! Mrs. Ford. Ile's too big to go in there: what shall Ford. Amen. I do?

Mrs Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, master Re-enter Falstaff.

Ford. Fal. Let me see’t, let me see't! O let me see't! I'llin, Ford. Ay, ay; I must bear it. I'll in ; — follow your friend's counsel ;-I'll in. Eva. If there be any pody in the house, and in the

Mrs Page. What! sir John Falstaff! Are these your chambers, and in the coilers, and in the presses, letters, knight?

heaven forgive my sins at the day of judgment! Fal. I love thee, and none but thee; help me away! Caius. By gar, nor I too; dere is no bodies. let me creep in here! I'll never

Page. Fie, fie, master Ford! are you not asliamed ? [He goes into the basket; they cover him with What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination ? foul linen.

I would not have your distemper in this kind, for the Mrs Page. Help to cover your master, boy! Call your wealth of Windsor Castle. men, mistress Ford! – You dissembling knight! Ford. 'Tis niy fault, master Page : I suffer for it. Mrs Ford. What, John, Robert, Johu! (Exit Robin. Eva. You sutser for a pad conscience; your wife is as Re-enter Servants.

honest a 'omans, as I will desires among five thousand, Go take up these clothes here, quickly! where's the and five hundred too. cowl-stati? look, how you drumble : carry them to Caius. By gar, I see 'tis an honest woman. thelaundress in Datchet Mead; quickly, come! Ford. Well; -- I promised you a dinner; come, Enter Ford, Page, Carl's, and Sir Hugh Evans.

come, walk

the park : I pray you, pardon me; I will Ford. Pray you, come near: if I suspect without hereafter make known to you, why I have done this.cause, why then mahe sport at me, then let me be your Come, wife ;-come, mistress Page; I pray you, parjest ; I deserve it. - How now? whither bear you this ? don me; pray heartily, pardon me! Serv. To the laundress, forsooth.

Page. Let's goin, gentlemen ; but, trust me, we'll Mrs Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they mock him. I do invite you to-morrow miorning to my bear it? You were best meddle with buch-washing. house to breakfast; after, we'll a-birding together;

Ford. Buck? I would I could wash myself of the buck! I have a fine hawk forthe bush: shall it be so? Buck, buck, buck? Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck; Ford. Any thing. and of the season too; it shall appear.-[Exeunt Ser- Eva. If there is one, I shall make two in the company. vants with the basket.] Gentlemen, I have dreamed Caius. If there be one or two, I shall make-a de turd. to-night; I'll tell you my dream. Here, here, here be Eva. In your teeth: for shame. my keys: ascend my chambers, search, seek, find out: Ford. Pray you go, master Page! l'll warrant we'll unkennel the fox! - Let me stop this Eva. I pray you now, remembrance to-morrow on the way first! – So, now uncape.

lousy knave, mine host ! Page. Good master Ford, be contented: you wrong Caius. Dat is good; by gar, vit all my heart. yourselftoo much.

Eva. A lousy kuave; to have his gibes, and his mockFord. True, master Page.--Up, gentlemen ; you shall eries.

(Exeunt. see sport anon: follow me, gentlemen! [Exit. Eva. This is fery fantastical humours, and jealousies. SCENE IV.-A room in Page's house. Caius. By gar, 'tis no de fashion of France: it is not Enter Fentox and Mistress Ange Page. jealous in Prance.

Pent. I see, I cannot get thy father's love; Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen ; see the issue of Therefore, no more turn me to him, sweet Nan. his search! (Exeunt Evans, Page, and Caius. Anne. Alas! how then ? Mrs Page. Is there not a double excellency in this? Fent. Why, thou must be thyself. Mro Ford. I know not which pleases me berier, that He doth object, I am too great of birth; my husband is deceived, or sir Joho..

And that, my state being gall’d with my expense, Mrs Page. What a taking was hein, when your bus- I seek to heal it only by his wealth: band asked who was in the basket!

Besides these, other bars he lays before me, Mrs Ford. I am half afraid he will have need of wash- My riots past, my wild societies ; ing; so throwing him into the water will do him a And tells me, 'tis a thing impossible benefit.

I should love thee, but as a property. Mrs Page. Hang hím, dishonest rascal! I would all Anne. May be, he tells you true. of the same strain were in the same distress.

Fent. No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! Mrs Ford. I think, my husband hath some special Albeit, I will confess, thy father's wealth suspicion of Falstall's beiug here; for I never saw him Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne ; so gross in his jealousy till now.

Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Mrs Page. I will lay a plot to try that: and we will yet Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealed bags;

: have more tricks with Falstaff : his dissolute disease And 'tis the very riches of thyself will scarce obey this medicine.

That now I aim at.

:

Anne. Gentle master Fenton.

Anne. Good mother, do not marry me to yond' fool! Yet seek my father's love! still seek it, sir!

Mrs Page. I mean it not; I seek you a better husband. If opportunity and humblest suit

Quick. That's my master, master doctor. Cannot attain it, why then,-Hark yon hither, Anne. Alas, I had rather he set quick i' the earth,

[They converse apart. And bowl'd to death with turnips. Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and Mrs QUICKLY. Mrs Page. Come, trouble not yourself: good master Shal. Break their talk, mistress Quickly; my kins- Fenton, man shall speak for himself.

I will not be your friend, nor enemy: Slen. I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: slid, 'tis but My daughter will I question how she loves you, venturing.

And as I find her, so am I affected; Shal. Benot dismay'd.

Till then, farewell, sir!-She must needs go in; Slen. No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for Her father will be angry. [Zxeunt Mrs Page and Anne. that,--but that I am afeard.

Fent. Farewell, gentle mistress! farewell, Nan ! Quick. Hark ye: master Slender would speak a word Quick. This is my doing now;-Nay, said I, will you with you.

cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look Anne. I come to him.—This is my father's choice. on, master Fenton :--this is my doing. 0, what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults

Fent, I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year! Give my sweet Nan this ring! There's for thy pains. Aside.

(Exit.

[ Quick. And how does good master Fenton ? Pray Quick. Now heaven send thee good fortune! A kind you, a word with you!

heart he hath: a woman would run through fire and Shal. She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst water for such a kind heart. But yet, I would my masa father!

ter had mistress Anne; or I would master Slender had Slen. I had a father, mistress Anne;- my uncle can her ; or, in sooth, I would master Fenton had her: I tell you good jests of him:-pray you,uncle, tell mis- will do what I can for them all three; for so I have protress Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out mised, and I'll be as good as my word; but speciously of a pen, good uncle.

for master Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Shal. Mistress Anne, myc cousin loves

you.

sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses; what a beast Slèn. Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in am I to slack it?

[Exit. Gloucestershire. Shal. He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.

SCENE V.-A Room in the Garter Inn. Slen. Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under

Enter FALSTAFF and BARDOLPH. the degree of a 'squire,

al. Bardolph, I say, – Shal. He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds Bard. Here, sir. jointure.

Fal. Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in't. Anne. Good master Shallow, let him woo for himself. (Exit Bard.] Have I lived to be carried in a basket, Shal. Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that like a barrow of butcher's offal: and to be thrown into good comfort.-She calls you, coz; I'll leave you. the Thames? Well, if I be served such another trick, Anne, Now, master Slender.

I'll have my brains ta'en out, and buttered, and give Slen. Now, good mistress Anne.

them to a dog for a new year's gift. The rogues slightAnne. What is your will ?

ed me into the river with as little remorse as they Slen. My will? od's heartlings, that's a pretty jest, would have drowned a bitch’s blind puppies, fifteen i' indeed! I ne'er made my will yet, I thank heaven; I am the litter : and you may know by my size, that I have a not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise. kind of alacrity in sinking; if the bottom were as deep

Anne. I mean, master Slender, what would you with as hell, I should down. I had been drowned, but that me?

the shore was shelvy and shallow; a death that I abhor; Slen. Truly, for mine own part, I would little or no- for the water swells a man; and what a thing should I thing with you: your father, and my uncle, have made have been, when I had been swelled! I should have motions; ifit be my luck, so; ifnot, happy man be his been a mountain of mummy. dole! They can

tell
you
how things go, better than I

Re-enter BARDOLPH, with the wine. can: you may ask your father; here he comes. Bard. Here's mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with you. Enter Pace, and Mistress Pace.

Fal. Come, let me pour in some sack to the Thames Page. Now, master Slender:- love him, daughter water; for my belly's as cold, as if I had swallowed Anne.

snow-balls for pills to cool the reins. Call herin! Why, how now! what does master Fenton here? Bard. Come in, woman! You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house:

Enter Mrs QUICKLY. Itold you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.

Quick. By your leave; I cry you mercy: give your Pent. Nay, master Page, be not impatient! worship good-morrow. Mrs Page. Good master Fenton, come not to my Fal. Take away these chalices. Go brew me e pottle child!

of sack finely; Page. Sheis no match for you.

Bard. With eggs, sir ? Fent. Sir, will you hear me?

Fal. Simple of itself; l'll no pullet-sperm in my Page. No, good master Fenton.

brewage.- [Exit Bard.]-How now? Come, master Shallow; come, son Slender; in :- Quick. Marry, sir, I come to your worship from misKnowing my mind, you wrong me, master Feuton. tress Ford.

(Exeunt Page, Shal. and Slen. Fal. Mistress Ford ! I have had ford enough. I was Quick. Speak to mistress Page!

thrown into the ford : I have my belly full of ford. Fent. Good mistress Page, for that I love your Quiek. Alas the day! good heart, that was not her daughter

fault: she does so take on with her men; they mistook In such a righteous fashion as I do,

their erection. Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and manners, Fal. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's I must advance the colours of my love,

promise. And pot retire: let me have your good will!

Quick. Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it would

a

a

:

IV.

yearn your heart to see it.Der husband goes this morn-in that surge, like a horse-shoe; thiuk of that, -hising a birding; she desires you once more to come to sing hot, -think of that, master Brook! her between eight and nine: I must carry her word Ford. In good sadness, sir, I am sorry, that for my quickly: she'll make you amends, I warrant you. sake yon have sull'ered all this. My suit then is despeFal. Well, I will visit her: tell her 60; and bid her rate; you'll undertake her no more. think, what a manis: let her consider his frailty, and Fal. Master Brook, I will be thrown into Aetna, as I then judge of my merit.

have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her Quick. I will tell her.

husband is this morning gone a birding : I have receiFal. Do so. Between nine and ten, say'st thou? ved from her another embassy of meeting;'twixt eight Quick. Eight and nine, sir.

and nine is the hour, master Brook. Fal. Well, be gone: I will not miss her.

Ford. 'Tis past eight already, sir. Quick. Peace be with you, sir!

[Exit.

Fal. Is it? I will then address me to my appointment. Fal. I marvel, I hear not of master Brook; he sent Come to me at your convenient leisure, and you shall me word to stay within; I like his money well. O, here know, how I speed; and the conclusion shall be crowned he comes.

with your enjoying her: adieu. You shall have her, Enter FORD.

master Brook; master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford. Ford. Bless yon, sir!

(Exit. Fal. Now, master Brook? you come to know, what Ford. Humph! ha! is this a vision ? is this a dream? hath passed between me and Ford's wife?

do I sleep? Master Ford, awake! awake, master Ford ! Ford. That, indeed, sir John, is my business. there's a hole made in your best coat,master Ford. This Fal. Master Brook, I will not lie to you ; I was at her 'tis to be married ! this’tis to have linen and buck-bashouse the hour she appointed me.

kets !-Well, I will proclaim myself what I am : I will Ford. And how sped you, sir?

now take the lecher; he is at my house; he cannot Fal. Very ill-favouredly, master Brook.

'scape me; 'tis impossible he should; he cannot creep Ford. How so, sir ? Did she change her determina-into a hallpenny purse, vor into a pepper-box; bat,lest tion?

the devil that guides him should aid him, I will search Fal. No, master Brook; but the peaking cornuto, her impossible places. Though what I am I cannot avoid, husband, master Brook, dwelling in a continual 'larum yet to be what I would not, shall not make me tame; if of jealousy, comes in the instant of our encoun- i have horns to makeone mad, let the proverb go with ter, after we had embraced, kissed, protested, and, as me, I'll be horn-mad.

(Esit. it were, spoke the prologue of our comedy ; and at his heels a rabble of his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his distemper, and, forsooth, to search

А ст his house for his wife's love.

SCENEI.-The Street. Ford. What, while you were there?

Enter Mrs Page, Mrs QUICKLY, and William. Fal. While I was there.

Mrs Page. Is he at master Ford's already, thinks't Ford. And did he search for you, and could not find thou? you?

Quick. Sure he is by this, or will be presently; but Fal. You shall hear. As good luck would have it comes truly, he is very courageous mad, about his throwing in one mistress Page; gives intelligence of Ford's into the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come sudapproach ;and, by her invention, and Ford’s wife's dis- denly. traction, they conveyed me into a buck-basket. Mrs Page. I'll be with her by and by; I'll but bring

r Ford. A buck-basket !

my young man here to school. Look, where his master Fal. By the lord, a buck-basket: rammed me in with comes ; 'tis a playing-day, I see. foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings,and grea

Enter Sir Hugh Evans. sy napkins; that, master Brook, there was the rank- How now, sir Hugh? no school to-day? est compound of villainous smell, that ever offended Eva. No; master Slender is let the boys leave to play. no stril,

Quick. Blessing of his heart! Ford. And how long lay you there?

ÀIrs Page. Sir Hugh, my husband says, my son proFal. Nay, you shall hear, master Brook, what I have lits nothing in the world at his book; I pray you, ask suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. Be- him some questions in his accidence. ing thus crammed in the basket, a conple of Ford's Eva.Come hither, William ;hold up your rhead;come! knaves, his híuds, were called forth by their mistress, to Mrs Page. Come on, sirrah! hold up your head; ancarry me in the name of foul clothes to Datchet-lane: swer your master, be not afraid ! they took me on their shoulders, met the jealous Eva. 'William, how many numbers is in nouns? knave their master in the door,who asked them once or Will. Two. twice, what they had in their basket. I quaked for fear, Quick. Truly, I thought there had been one number lest the lunatie knave would have searched it; but more; because they say, od's nouns. fate, ordaining he should be a cuckold, held his hand. Eva. Peace your tattlings!-What is fair, William? Well; on went he for a search, and away went I for Wiil. Pulcher. foul clothes. But mark the sequel, master Brook : 1| Quick. Poulcats! there are fairer things than poulsuffered the pangs of three several deaths: first, an in-cats, sure. tolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous rotten Eva. You are a very simplicity 'uman; I pray you, bell-wether; next, to be compassed, like a good bilbo, peace ! - What is lapis, William ? in the circumference of a peck, hilt to poiut, heel to Will. A stone. head; aud then, to be stopped in, like a strong distilla-| Era. And what is a stone, William ? tion, with stinking clothes, that fretted in their own Will. A pebble. grease : think of that, -- a man of my kidney, — think Eva. No, it is lapis; I pray you, remember in your of that;

that a

am as subject to heat as butter; a man of prain. continual dissolution and thaw ; it was a miracle to Will. Lapis. 'scape suffocation. And in the height of this bath,when Eva. That is good, William. What is he, William, I was more than half stewed in grease,like a Dutch dish, that does lend articles ? to be thrown into the Thames, and cooled, glowing hot, Will. Articles are borrowed of the pronoun; and be

а

anon.

Eva. Ay.

thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hic, haec, Mrs Ford. Why, does he talk of him? hoc.

Mrs Page. Of none but him; and swears, he was carEva. Nominativo, hig, hag, hog;-pray you, mark : ried out, the last time he searched for him, in a basket : genitivo, huius: well, what is your accusative case protests to my husband, he is now here; and hath Will. Accusativo, hinc.

drawn him and the rest of their company from their Eva, I pray you, have your remembrance, child; sport, to make another experiment of his suspicion: Accusativo, hing, hang, hog.

butlam glad, the knight is not here; now he shall see Quick. Hang hog is Latin for bacon, I warrant you. his own foolery. Eva. Leave your prabbles, 'oman.—What is the fo- Mrs Ford. How near is he, mistress Page? cative case, William ?

Mrs Page. Hard by; at street end; he will be here Will, 0- vocativo , 0. Eva. Remember, William; focative is caret. Mrs Ford. I am undone!- the knight is here. Quick. And that's a good root.

Mrs Page. Why, then you are utterly shamed, and Eva. 'Oman, forbear!

he's but a dead man. What a woman are you?— Away Mrs Page. Peace!

with him, away with him! better shame than murder. Eva. What is your genitive case plural, William? Mrs Ford. Which way should he go? how should I Will. Genitive case ?

bestow him? Shall I put him into the basket again?

Re-enter FALSTAFF. Will. Genitive,-horum, harum, horum.

Fal. No, I'll come no more i' the basket: may I not Quick. 'Vengeance of Jenny's case! fie on her! – go out, ere he come? never name her, child, if she be a whore.

Mrs Page. Alas, three of master Ford's brothers Eva. For shame, 'oman!

watch the door with pistols, that none shall issue out; Quick. You do ill to teach the child such words : he otherwise you might slip away ere he came. But what teaches him to hick and to hack, which they'll do fast make you here? enough of themselves;and to call horum:-fie upon you! Fal. What shall I do?—I'll creep up into the chimney.

Eva. 'Oman, art thou lunatics ? hast thou no under- Mrs Ford. There they always use to discharge their standings for thy cases, and the numbers of the gen- birding-pieces. Creep into the kilnhole! ders? Thou art as foolish christian creatures as I Fal. Where is it? would desires.

Mrs Ford. He will seek there, on my word. Neither Mrs Page. Priythee, hold thy peace !

press, coffer, chest, trunk, well, vault, but he hath an Eva. Shew me now, William, some declensions of abstract for the remembrance of such places, and your pronouns.

goes to them by his note. There is no hiding you in Will. Forsooth, I have forgot.

the house. Eva. It is ki, kae, cod; if you forget your kies, your Fal. I'll go ont then. kaes, and your cods, you must be preeches. Go your Mrs Page. If you go out in your own semblance, you ways, and play, go!

die, sir John. Unless you go out disguised.Mrs Page. He is a better scholar, than I thought he Mrs Ford. How might we disguise him ?

Mrs Page. Alas the day, I know not. There is no Eva. He is a good sprag memory. Farewell, mistress woman's gown big enough for him; otherwise, he Page!

might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so Mrs Page. Adien, good sir Hugh! [Exit Sir Hugh.] escape. Get you home,hoy - Come,we stay too long.(Exeunt. Fal.Good hearts, devise something: any extremity,

rather than a mischief. SCENE II.-Aroom in Ford's house.

Mrs Ford. My maid's aunt, the fat woman of BrentEnter FALSTAFF and Mrs FORD.

ford, has a gown

above. Fal.Mistress Ford, your sorrow hath eaten up my suf- Mrs Page. On my word, it will serve him; she's as big ferance; I see, you are obsequious in your love, and I as he is; and there's her thrum'd hat, and her mufler profess requital to a hair's breadth ; not only, mistress too. Run up, sir John! Ford, in the simple office of love, but in all the accou- Mrs Ford. Go, go, sweet sir John! mistress Page and trement, complement, and ceremony of it. But are you I will look some linen for your head. sure of your husband now?

Mrs Page. Quick, quick! we'll come dress yon Mrs Ford. He's a birding, sweet sir John.

straight : put on the gown the while! (Exit Falstaff Mrs Page. [Within.] What hoa, gossip Ford! what Mrs l'ord. I would, my husband would meet him in hoa!

this shape: he cannot abide the old woman of PrentMrs Ford. Step into the chamber, sir John!

ford; he swears, she's a witch, forbade her my house,

[Exit Falstaff and hath threatened to beat her. Enter Mrs Page.

Mrs Page. Heaven guide him to thy husband's cudMrs Page. How now, sweetheart? who's at home gel! and the devil guide his cudgel afterwards ! besides yourself?

Mrs Ford.But is my husband coming? Mrs Ford. Why, none but mine own people. Mrs Page. Ay, in good sadness, is he; and talks of Mrs Page. Indeed?

the basket too, howsoever he hath had intelligence. Mrs Ford. No, certainly:— speak louder! ( Aside. Mrs Ford. We'll try that; for I'll appoint my men to Mrs Page. Truly, I am so glad, you have nobody here. carry the basket again, to meet him at the door with it, Mrs Ford. Why?

as they did last time. Mrs Page. Why, woman, your husband is in his old Mrs Page. Nay, but he'll be here presently: let's go lunes again : he so takes on yonder with my husband; dress him like the witch of Brentford. so rails against all married mankind; so curses all Mrs Ford. I'll first direct my men, what they shall do Eve's Gaughters, of what complexion soever; and so with the basket. Go up, I'll bring linen for him straight. buffets himself on the forehead, crying Peer-out,

(Exit. peer-out! that any madness, I ever yet beheld, seem- Mrs Page. Hang him, dishonest varlet! we cannot ed but tameness, civility, and patience, to this his misuse him enough. distemper, he is in now: I am glad, the fat knight is We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do, not here.

Wives may be merry, and yet honest too:

was.