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? would offer it: but these that accuse him in his in- 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 loth 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 gentleman cavalero-justice, I say. Shal. I follow, mine host, I follow.-Good even, and twenty, good master Page! Master Page, will you go with us? We have sport in hand. Host. Tell him, cavalero-justice; tell him bullyrook. Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought, between Sir Hugh the 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 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 guest-cavalier? Ford. None, I protest; 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 a merry knight.-Will you go on, hearts? Shal. Have with you, mine host. 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 like rats. SCENE II-A Room in the Garter Inn. 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-fllow + Nyin; or else you had look'd through the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am damn'd 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. Reason, you rogue, reason:-Think'st theu, I'll endanger my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet fot you :-Go.-A short knife and a throng;-to your manor of Pickt hatch, 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 sometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left keep the terms of my honour precise. I, I, I myself haud, 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 red-lattice¶ phrases, and your bold. beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you? Pist. I do relent; what wouldst thou more of man? Fal. I do believe the swearer: What with me? Quick. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Fal. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll vouch safe 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: 1 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 rushling Ï 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; Host. Here, boys, here, here! Shall we wag? and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye Page. Have with you;-I had rather hear them wink of her.-I had myself twenty angels given scold than fight. [Exeunt Host, Shallow, and Page. me this morning: but I defy all angels, (in any Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands such sort, as they say,) but in the way of honesty: so firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off-And, I warrant you, they could never get her so my opinion so easily: she was in his company at much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all: 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 bestow'd. [Exit. Pay you again in stolen goods. + Draws along with you. Ale-house. A mistake of Mrs. Quickly's for quandary. and yet there has been earls, uay, 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 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. Quick. Why, you say well but I have another messenger to your worship: mistress Page hath her Jearty commendations to you too;-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 you 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. 3 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 her your little page, of all lovest; 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, he may come and go between you both; and, in any case, have a nay-words, 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. 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. 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. 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. Ful. 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. Ford. There is a gentlewoman in this town, her husband's name is Ford. Fal. Well, Sir. Ford. I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, bestow'd much on her; follow'd her with a doting observance; engross'd 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 fiying what pursues. Fal. Have you received no promise of satisfaction at her hands? me? Ford. When I have told you that, I have told you all. Some say, that, though she appear honest to me, yet, in other places, she enlargeth her mirth so far, that there is shrewd construction made of her. Now, Sir John, here is the heart of my purpose: you are a gentleman of excellent breeding, admirable discourse, of great admittance +, authentic in your place and person, generally allow'd for your inany warlike, 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 1 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 vehemency 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 38 bright to be look'd against. Now, could I come to her with any detection in my hand, my desires had instance and argument to commend themselves; I could drive her then from the ward of her purity, her reputation, her marriage vow, 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! Fal. Master Brook, I say you shall. Ford. Want no money, Sir John, you shall want none. Fal. Want no mistress Ford, master Brook, you shall want none. I shall 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? Fal. Hang him, poor cuckoldly knave! I know him not yet I wrong him, to call him poor; they say, the jealous wittolly knave hath mas ses of money; for the which his wife seems to me well-favour'd. I will use her as the key of the cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my harvest home. Ford. I would you knew Ford, Sir; that you might avoid him, if you saw him. Fal. Hang him, mechanical salt-butter rogue! I SCENE III.-Windsor Park. Caius. Jack Rugby! Rug. Sir. Caius. Vat is de clock, Jack? [Exit. Rug. "Tis past the hour, Sir, that Sir Hugh promised to meet. Caius. By gar, he has save his soul, dat he is no come; he has pray his Pible vell, dat he is no come; by gar, Jack Rugby, he is dead already, if he be come. Rug. He is wise, Sir: he knew, your worship would kill him, if he came. Caius. By gar, de herring is no dead, so as I vill kill him. Take your rapier, Jack; I vill tell you how I vill kill him. + Add to his title. Rug. Alas, Sir, I cannot fence. Enter HOST, SHALLOW, SLENDER, and PAGE. Shal. 'Save you, master doctor Caius. 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 Is he dead, my Ethiopian I distance, thy montant. Is he dead, my Francisco? Ha, bully! What says y Esculapius? 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 shew his face. Host, Thou art a Castilian‡ king, Urinal! Hector of Greece, my boy! Caius. I pray you, bear vitness that me have stay six or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is na come. Shal. He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a curer 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? Page. Master Shallow, you have yourself been a great fighter, though now a man of peace. Shal. Bodykins, master Page, though I now be old, and of the peace, if I see a sword out, my finger itches to make one: though we are justices, and doctors, and churchmen, master Page, we have some salt of our youth in us; we are the sons of women, master Page. Page. 'Tis true, master Shallow. Master I am Shal. It will be found so, master Page. doctor Caius, I am come to fetch you home. sworn of the peace: you have shew'd 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! Vat is dat? Host. Muck-water, in our English tongue, is valour, Host. And I will provoke him to't, or let him wag. Host. And moreover, bully,-But first, master guest, and master Page, and eke cavalero Slender, go you through the town to Frogmore. Page. Sir Hugh is there, is he? [Aside to them. Host. He is there: see what humour he is in; and 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 impa tience; 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 game, said feasting; and thou shall woo her: Cried I well? Caius. By gar, me tank you for dat: by gar I love you; and I shall procure-a you de good guest, de earl, de knight, de lords, de gentlemen, my pa tients. Host. For the which, I will be thy adversary to- Caius. Come at my heeis, Jack Rugby. [Exeunt. To shallow rivers, to whose fallsHeaven 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. Era. 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 Hugh. Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is won derful. Sten. Ah, sweet Anne Page! Page. Save you, good Sir Hugh! Era. '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 yo thful still, in your doublet and hose, this raw rheumatic day? Era. There is reasons and causes for it. Page. We are come to you, to do a good office, master parson. Era. Fery well: what is it? Page. Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who Delike, having received wrong by some person, is at most odds with his own gravity and patience, that Page. I think you know him; master doctor Caius, the renown'd French physician. Era. Got's will, and his passion of my heart! I had as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge. Puge. Why? Era. He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates 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 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 cogs comb, 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 Christian's 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 politic? 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, gentlemen, 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! Era. This is well; he has made us his vloutingstog -I desire you, that we may be friends: and let us knog our prains together, to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, cogging companion, the host of the Garter. Caius. By gar, vit all my heart; he promise to bring me vere is Anne Page: by gar, he deceive me too. Eva. Well, I will smite his noddles:-Pray you follow. [Exeunt. SCENE II-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? Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a 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 yout Mrs. Page. 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. Where had you this pretty weather-cock? 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. Mrs. Page. 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? Shal, It appears so, by his weapons :-Keep them Hath he any thinking? Sure they sleep; he hath no asunder-Here comes doctor Caius. with him. Slen. O, sweet Anne Page! Enter HOST, CAIUS, and RUGBY. Page. Nay, good master parson, keep in your weaShal. So do you, good master doctor. [pon. 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 word vit your ear: Verefore vill you not meet a-me? Eva. Pray you, use your patience: in good time. • Head. Babylon, the first line of the 137th Psalm. use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot pointblank twelve score. He pieces-out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion, and advan tage: 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 borrow'd veil of mo desty from the so seeming mistress Page, divulge Specious. Fool. + Flouting-stock. Page himself for a secure and wilful Actæon; 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 mock'd; 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, &c. 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. Sten. 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 linger'd 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 mush. Host. What say you to young master Fenton? He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks holiday, he smells April and May he will carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons; he will carry't. Page. Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is of no having ‡: he kept company with the wild Prince and Poins; he is of too high a region, he knows too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him take her simply; the wealth I have, waits on my consent, and my consent goes not that way. Ford. I beseech you, heartily, some of you go home with me to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport; I will shew you a monster.Master doctor, you shall go;-so shall you, master Page; and you, Sir Hugh. Shal. Well, fare you well:-We shall have the freer wooing at master Page's. [Exeunt Shallow and Slender. Caius. Go home, John Rugby; I come anon. [Exit Rugby. Host. Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight Falstaff, and drink canary with him. [Exit Host. Ford. [Aside.] I think, I shall drink in pipe-wine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles? All. Have with you, to see this monster. [Exeunt. SCENE III-A Room in FORD's House. Enter Mrs. FORD and Mrs. PAGE. Mrs. Ford. What, John! What, Robert! Mrs. Page. Quickly, quickly: Is the buck-basketMrs. Ford. I warrant :-What, Robin, I say. Enter Servants with a Basket. Mrs. Page. Come, come, come. Mrs. Page. Give your men the charge :-We must be brief. Mrs. Ford. Marry, as I told you before, John, and Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew-house; and when I suddenly call you, come forth, and (without any pause, or staggering,) take this basket on your shoulders: that done, trudge with it in all haste, and carry it among the whitsters in Datchet mead, and there empty it in the muddy ditch, close by the Thames' side. Mrs. Puge. You will do it? Mrs. Ford. I have told them over and over; they lack no direction: be gone, and come when you are call'd. [Exeunt Servants. Mrs. Page. Here comes little Robin. Enter ROBIN. Mrs. Ford. How now, my eyas-musket? What news with you? Rob. My master, Sir John, is come in at your backdoor, mistress Ford; and requests your company. • Shall encourage. + Out of the common style. Mrs. Page. You little Jack-a-lent, have you been true to us? Rob. Ay, I'll be sworn: my master knows not of your being here; and hath threaten'd to put me into everlasting liberty, if I tell you of it; for he swears, he'll turn me away. Mrs. Page. Thou'rt a good boy; this secrecy of thine shall be a tailor to thee, and shall make thee a new doublet and hose.-I'll go hide me. Mrs. Ford. Do so:-Go tell thy master, I am alone. Mistress Page, remember you your cue. [Exit Robin. Mrs. Page. I warrant thee; if I do not act it, hiss me. [Exit Mrs. Page. Mrs. Ford. Go to then; we'll use this unwholesome humidity, this gross watry pumpion;-we'll teach him to know turtles from jays. Enter FALSTAFF. Fal. Have I caught thee, my heavenly jewel! Why, now let me die, for I have lived long enough; this is the period of my ambition: 0 this blessed hour! Mrs. Ford. O sweet Sir John! Fal. Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, mistress Ford. Now shail I sin in my wish: I would thy husband were dead; I'll speak it before the best lord, I would make thee my lady. Mrs. Ford. I your lady, Sir John! Alas, I should be a pitiful lady. Fal. Let the court of France shew me such another; I see how thine eye would emulate the diamond: thou hast the right arched bent of the brow, that becomes the ship-tire, the tire-valiant, or any tire of Venetian admittance +. Mrs. Ford. A plain kerchief, Sir John: my brows become nothing else: nor that well neither. Fal. Thou art a traitor to say so: thou wouldst make an absolute courtier: and the firm fixture of thy foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait, in a semi-circled farthingale. I see what thou wert, if fortune thy foe were not; nature is thy friend: come, thou canst not hide it. Mrs. Ford. Believe me, there's no such thing in me. Fal. What made me love thee? Let that persuade thee, there's something extraordinary in thee. Come, I cannot cog, and say, thou art this and that, like a many of these lisping haw-thorn buds, that come like women in men's apparel, and smell like Bucklersbury in simple-time; I cannot; but I love thee; none but thee; and thou deservest it. Mrs. Ford. Do not betray me, Sir; I fear, you love mistress Page. Fal. Thou might'st as well say, I love to walk by the Counter-gate; which is as hateful to me as the reek of a lime-kiln. Mrs. Ford. Well, heaven knows, how I love you; and you shall one day find it. Fal. Keep in that mind: I'll deserve it. Mrs. Ford. Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I could not be in that mind. Rob. [Within.] Mistress Ford, mistress Ford! Here's mistress Page at the door, sweating, and blowing, and looking wildly, and would needs speak with you presently. Fal. She shall not see me; I will ensconce || me behind the arras ¶. Mrs. Ford. Pray you, do so; she's a very tattling [Falstaff hides himself woman. Mrs. Ford. What's the matter, good mistress Page? Mrs. Page. O well-a-day, mistress Ford! Having an honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of suspicion! Mrs. Ford. What cause of suspicion? Mrs. Page. What cause of suspicion?-Out upon you! How am I mistook in you! Mrs. Ford. Why, alas! What's the matter? Mrs. Page. Your husband's coming hither, wo man, with all the officers in Windsor, to search for A puppet thrown at in Lent, like shrove cocks. + Venetian fashions. Formerly chiefly inhabited by druggists. Prison. Hide. * |