_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 195
regress;--said I well?--and thy name shall be Brook. It is
a merry knight. Will you go, An-heires?
_Shal._ Have with you, mine host.
_Page._ I have heard the Frenchman hath good skill in
his rapier. 200
_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. 205
_Host._ Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag?
_Page._ Have with you. I had rather hear them scold
than fight. [_Exeunt Host, Shal., 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 210
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. [_Exit._ 215
NOTES: II, 1
1: _I_] om. F1.
5: _physician_] Dyce (Johnson conj.). _precisian_ Ff Q3.
See note (V).
8: _you_] F1 F3 F4. _yout_ Q3. _your_ F2.
9: _at the least_] _at the last_ F4.
_soldier_] F1 Q3 F2. _a soldier_ F3 F4.
19: _an_] om. F3 F4.
20: _with the_] _i' th'_] F3 F4.
25: _putting_] _pulling_ Jackson conj.
_men_] _fat men_ Theobald. _mum_ Hanmer.
28: SCENE II. Pope.
30: _coming_] _going_ Q3.
45: _What? thou liest!_] _What thou liest?_ F1 Q3 F2 F3.
_What, thou liest!_ F4.
46: _will hack_] _will lack_ Warburton. _we'll hack_ Johnson conj.
51: _praised_] Theobald. _praise_ Ff Q3.
55: _place_] _pace_ Capell conj.
55, 56: _Hundredth Psalm_] Rowe. _hundred Psalms_ Ff Q3.
57: _tuns_] Ff Q3. _tun_ Rowe. _tons_ Dyce.
67: _sure_] F1 Q3. _sue_ F2 F3 F4. _nay_ Rowe.
78: _know_] _knew_ F4.
_strain_] _stain_ Pope.
97: [They retire] Theobald.
98: SCENE III. Pope.
102-104: Printed as prose in Ff Q3.
103: _one_] _and one_ F4.
104: _the_] F1 Q3. _thy_ F2 F3 F4. _a_ Anon. (N. & Q.) conj.
107: _he_] om. F3 F4.
113, 114: _Away_ ... _sense_] _Away Sir Corporal!_ Nym.
_Believe_ ... _sense._ Johnson conj.
117: _hath_] _have_ Q3.
119: _bite_ ... _He_] _bite_--_upon my necessity, he_
Warburton conj.
121: _avouch; 'tis_] F1 Q3 F2. _avouch, tis_ F3 F4.
123: [_and there's the humour of it_] These words, not found
in Ff Q3 are added from Q1 Q2 by Capell.
126: _English_] humour Pope (from Q1 Q2).
_his_] _its_ Pope.
128: _drawling, affecting_] F2 F3 F4. _drawling-affecting_ F1 Q3.
133: [Mrs ... forward.] Theobald.
SCENE IV. Page and Ford meeting their wives. Pope.
140: _head. Now,_] _head, Now:_ F1. _head, Now,_ Q3.
_head. Now:_ F2 F3 F4. _head now_. Johnson.
149: _have_] _would have_ S. Walker conj.
151: SCENE V. Pope.
163: _this_] _his_ Pope.
175: SCENE VI. Pope.
176, 180: _Cavaleiro_] F1 Q3 F2. _Cavalerio_ F3 F4.
184: _my_] om. Rowe
186: _hath_] om. Q3. _he hath_ Warburton.
192-194: This speech is given to Shallow in Ff, to Ford in Q3.
194, 196: _Brook_] (Q1 Q2) Pope. Broome Ff Q3. See note (VI).
197: _An-heires_] F1 Q3 F2. _An-heirs_ F3. _an-heirs_ F4.
_mynheers_ Theobald conj. _on, here_ Id. conj. _on, heris_
Warburton. _on, hearts_ Heath conj. _on, heroes_ Steevens conj.
_and hear us_ Malone conj. _cavaleires_ Singer (Boaden conj.).
_eh, sir_ Becket conj.
207: _hear_] _have_ Hanmer.
209: _stands_] _stand_ F4.
210: _frailty_] _fealty_ Theobald. _fidelity_ Collier MS.
SCENE II. _A room in the Garter Inn._
_Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL._
_Fal._ I will not lend thee a penny.
_Pist._ Why, then the world's mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.
_Fal._ Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you
should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon 5
my good friends for three 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 10
her fan, I took't upon mine honour thou hadst it not.
_Pist._ Didst not thou share? hadst thou not fifteen
pence?
_Fal._ Reason, you rogue, reason: thinkest thou I'll endanger
my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about 15
me, I am no gibbet for 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 keep the terms of my honour precise: I, I, I 20
myself sometimes, leaving the fear of God on the left hand,
and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle,
to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce
your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice
phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of 25
your honour! You will not do it, you!
_Pist._ I do relent: what would 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. 30
_Fal._ Good morrow, good wife.
_Quick._ Not so, an't please your worship.
_Fal._ Good maid, then.
_Quick._ I'll be sworn;
As my mother was, the first hour I was born. 35
_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 vouchsafe
thee the hearing.
_Quick._ There is one Mistress Ford, sir:--I pray, come 40
a little nearer this ways:--I myself dwell with Master
Doctor Caius,--
_Fal._ Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,--
_Quick._ Your worship says very true:--I pray your
worship, come a little nearer this ways. 45
_Fal._ I warrant thee, nobody hears;--mine own people,
mine own people.
_Quick._ Are they so? God bless them, and make them
his servants!
_Fal._ Well, Mistress Ford;--what of her? 50
_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 55
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, 60
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 woman's heart; and, I
warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her: I 65
had myself twenty angels given me this morning; but
I defy all angels--in any such sort, as they say--but in the
way of honesty: and, I warrant you, they could never get
her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all:
and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pensioners; 70
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 75
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 80
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. 85
_Quick._ Why, you say well. But I have another messenger
to your worship. Mistress Page hath her hearty
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 90
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. 95
_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? 100
_Quick._ That were a jest indeed! they have not so
little grace, I hope: that were a trick indeed! But Mistress
Page would desire you to send her your little page,
of all loves: her husband has a marvellous infection to the
little page; and, truly, Master Page is an honest man. 105
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 110
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 115
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 120
with this woman. [_Exeunt Mistress Quickly and Robin._]
This news distracts me!
_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._ 125
_Fal._ Sayest thou so, old Jack? go thy ways; I'll make
more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet
look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expense of so much
money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank thee. Let
them say 'tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter. 130
_Enter BARDOLPH._
_Bard._ Sir John, there's one Master Brook below would
fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath
sent your worship a morning's draught of sack.
_Fal._ Brook is his name?
_Bard._ Ay, sir. 135
_Fal._ Call him in. [_Exit Bardolph._] Such Brooks are
welcome to me, that o'erflow such liquor. Ah, ha! Mistress
Ford and Mistress Page have I encompassed you? go to; via!
_Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised._
_Ford._ Bless you, sir!
_Fal._ And you, sir! Would you speak with me? 140
_Ford._ I make bold to press with so little preparation
upon you.
_Fal._ You're welcome. What's your will?--Give us
leave, drawer. [_Exit Bardolph._
_Ford._ Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; 145
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 150
plight for a lender than you are: the which hath something
emboldened me to this unseasoned 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 155
me: if you will help 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. 160
_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 165
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 170
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. 175
_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 180
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 185
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 190
her hands?
_Ford._ Never.
_Fal._ Have you importuned her to such a purpose?
_Ford._ Never.
_Fal._ Of what quality was your love, then? 195
_Ford._ Like a fair house built on another man's ground;
so that I have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where
I erected it.
_Fal._ To what purpose have you unfolded this to me?
_Ford._ When I have told you that, I have told you all. 200
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 205
in your place and person, generally allowed 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 210
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 215
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 220
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, too strongly 225
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! 230
_Fal._ 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 be with her, I may tell you, by her
own appointment; even as you came in to me, her assistant, 235
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 240
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 masses of money; for the which his wife
seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the 245
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 will
stare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel: 250
it shall hang like a meteor o'er the cuckold's horns. Master
Brook, thou shalt know I will predominate over the
peasant, and thou shalt lie with his wife. --Come to me
soon at night. Ford's a knave, and I will aggravate his
style; thou, Master Brook, shalt know him for knave and 255
cuckold. Come to me soon at night. [_Exit._
_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 260
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 villanous wrong, but
stand under the adoption of abominable terms, and by him
that does me this wrong. Terms! names!--Amaimon 265
sounds well; Lucifer, well; Barbason, well; yet they are
devils' additions, the names of fiends: but Cuckold!
Wittol!--Cuckold! the devil himself hath not such a name. Page
is an ass, a secure ass: he will trust his wife; he will not
be jealous. I will rather trust a Fleming with my butter, 270
Parson Hugh the Welshman with my cheese, an Irishman
with my aqua-vitæ bottle, or a thief to walk my ambling
gelding, than my wife with herself: then she plots, then
she ruminates, then she devises; and what they think in
their hearts they may effect, they will break their hearts 275
but they will effect. God be praised for my jealousy!--Eleven
o'clock the hour. I will prevent this, detect my
wife, be revenged on Falstaff, and laugh at Page. I will
about it; better three hours too soon than a minute too
late. Fie, fie, fie! cuckold! cuckold! cuckold! [_Exit._ 280
NOTES: II, 2
SCENE II.] SCENE VII. Pope.
3: _open_] _open. --I will retort the sum in equipage._
Theobald (from Q1 Q2). _open. -- ... equipoize_ Jackson conj.
6: _coach-fellow_] _couch-fellow_ Theobald.
12: _Didst not thou_] F1 Q3 F2. _Didst thou not_ F3 F4.
17: _throng_] (Q1 Q2) Ff Q3. _thong_ Pope.
20: _terms_] _termes_ F1 Q3. _terme_ F2. _term_ F3 F4.
_honour_] _hononor_ F1.
_I, I, I_] _I_ Pope. _I, ay, I_ Grant White.
21: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _heaven_ Ff Q3.
23: _yet you, rogue,_] Pope. _yet, you rogue,_ Ff Q3. _yet you,
you rogue,_ Collier MS.
24: _rags_] _rages_ Becket conj. _brags_ Singer (Anon.,
N. & Q., conj.).
25: _bold-beating_] _bull-baiting_ Hanmer. _bold-bearing_ Warburton.
_bold cheating_ Heath conj. _blunderbust_ Halliwell MS.
27: _relent_] Ff Q3. _recant_ (Q1 Q3).
_would thou_] _would'st thou_ Pope. _would you_ Anon. conj.
30: SCENE VIII. Pope.
43: _on: Mistress_] _one Mistress_ Grant White (Douce conj.).
48: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _Heaven_ Ff Q3.
63: _in_] om. Hanmer.
66: _this_] _of a_ Collier MS.
104: _loves_] _love_ Rowe.
110: _she is one_] _truly she is one_ Rowe.
116: _need_] _heede_ Q3.
123: _punk_] _pink_ Warburton.
124: _your fights_] _yond' frigat_ Hanmer (Warburton conj.).
125: _them all_] _all_ Q3.
[Exit] Rowe.
131: SCENE IX. Pope.
131, 136: _Brook, Brooks_] Pope (from Q1 Q2). _Broome, Broomes_
Ff Q3, and passim. See note (VI).
137: _that o'erflow_] Capell. _that oreflows_ Ff. _that that ore'
flowes_ Q3. _that o'erflow with_ Pope.
139: _Bless_] F4. '_Bless_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _God save_ (Q1 Q2).
156: _all, or half_] _half, or all_ Collier MS.
167: _imperfection_] _imperfections_ Pope.
178: _fee'd_] _free'd_ Q3.
180: _bought_] _brought_ Q3.
185: _jewel that_] F4. _jewel, that_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _jewel; that_
Theobald.
_that_] om. Rowe.
215: _vehemency_] _vehemence_ F4.
219: _soul_] _suit_ Collier MS.
225: _other her_] _other_ Pope.
_too, too_] _too-too_ Ff Q3. _too_ Rowe.
231: _I say you shall_] _Master Brooke, I say you shall_
(Q1 Q2) Theobald.
242: _cuckoldly_] _cuckoldy_ Rowe.
246: _cuckoldly rogue's_] F1 Q3. _cuckold-rogue's_ F2 F3 F4.
257: SCENE X. Pope.
261: _false_] _fair_ Q3.
263: _this wrong_] _the wrong_ Pope.
267: _Wittol!--Cuckold_] _Wittoll, Cuckold_ Ff Q3. _wittol-cuckold_
Malone.
276: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _Heaven_ Ff Q3.
SCENE III. _A field near Windsor._
_Enter CAIUS and RUGBY._
_Caius._ Jack Rugby!
_Rug._ Sir?
_Caius._ Vat is de clock, Jack?
_Rug._ Tis past the hour, sir, that Sir Hugh promised
to meet. 5
_Caius._ By gar, he has save his soul, dat he is no come;
he has pray his Pible well, 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. 10
_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.
_Rug._ Alas, sir, I cannot fence.
_Caius._ Villainy, take your rapier. 15
_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. 20
_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 distance, thy
montant. Is he dead, my Ethiopian? is he dead, my Francisco? 25
ha, bully! What says my Г†sculapius? 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 de
vorld; he is not show his face.
_Host._ Thou art a Castalion-King-Urinal. Hector of 30
Greece, my boy!
_Caius._ I pray you, bear vitness that me have stay six
or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is no come.
_Shal._ He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a
curer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should 35
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, 40
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. 45
_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 shewed yourself a wise physician,
and Sir Hugh hath shewn himself a wise and patient
churchman. You must go with me, master doctor. 50
_Host._ Pardon, guest-justice. --A word, Mounseur Mock-water.
_Caius._ Mock-vater! vat is dat?
_Host._ Mock-water, in our English tongue, is valour,
bully. 55
_Caius._ By gar, den, I have as mush mock-vater as de
Englishman. --Scurvy jack-dog priest! by gar, me vill cut
his ears.
_Host._ He will clapper-claw thee tightly, bully.
_Caius._ Clapper-de-claw! vat is dat? 60
_Host._ That is, he will make thee amends.
_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. 65
_Host._ And, moreover, bully,--But first, master guest,
and Master Page, and eke Cavaleiro 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 70
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, Shal., and Slen._
_Caius._ By gar, me vill kill de priest; for he speak for a 75
jack-an-ape to Anne Page.
_Host._ Let him die: sheathe 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 shalt woo her. Cried 80
I aim? said I well?
_Caius._ By gar, me dank 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 patients.
_Host._ For the which I will be thy adversary toward 85
Anne Page. Said I well?
_Caius._ By gar, 'tis good; vell said.
_Host._ Let us wag, then.
_Caius._ Come at my heels, Jack Rugby. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: II, 3
SCENE III.] SCENE XI. Pope.
3: _de_] F3 F4. _the_ F1 Q3 F2.
11: _is no dead so as I vill kill him_] Ff Q3. _is not so dead
as me vill make him_ Pope. _be not so dead as I shall make him_
(Q1 Q2).
21: _tree_] _trees_ F4.
25: _Francisco_] _Françeyes_ (Q1 Q2) Warburton.
26: _Galen_] _Gallon_ (Q1 Q2). _Galien_ F1 F2. _Gallen_ Q3 F3 F4.
29: _vorld_] _varld_ Hanmer.
30: _Castalion_] _Castallian_ (Q1 Q2). _Cardalion_ Hanmer.
_Castillian_ Capell.
41: _the_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4.
51: _A word_] Theobald (from Q1 Q2). A Ff Q3. _Ah_ Hanmer.
51, 54: _Mock-water_] _Muck-water_ Malone (Farmer conj.).
71: _by_] om. F3 F4.
80: _Cried I aim?_] Dyce (Douce conj.). _Cried game_ (Q1 Q2).
_Cride-game_ Ff Q3. _Try'd game_ Theobald. _Cock o' th' game_
Hanmer. _Cry aim_ Warburton. _and cry 'amie'_ Becket conj.
_Dry'd game_ Jackson conj. _Curds and cream_ Collier MS.
89: This line given to _Host_ in F3 F4.
ACT III.
SCENE I. _A field near Frogmore._
_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE._
_Evans._ I pray you now, good Master Slender's serving-man,
and friend Simple by your name, which way
have you looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor
of physic?
_Sim._ Marry, sir, the pittie-ward, the park-ward, every 5
way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town way.
_Evans._ I most fehemently desire you you will also
look that way.
_Sim._ I will, sir. [_Exit._
_Evans._ Pless my soul, how full of chollors I am, and 10
trempling of mind!--I shall be glad if he have deceived
me. --How melancholies I am!--I will knog his urinals
about his knave's costard when I have goot opportunities
for the ork. --Pless my soul!-- [_Sings._
To shallow rivers, to whose falls 15
Melodious birds sings 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. [_Sings._ 20
Melodious birds sing madrigals--
Whenas I sat in Pabylon--
And a thousand vagram posies.
To shallow &c.
_Re-enter SIMPLE._
_Sim._ Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh. 25
_Evans._ He's welcome. -- [_Sings._
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, 30
over the stile, this way.
_Evans._ 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 35
student from his book, and it is wonderful.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] Ah, sweet Anne Page!
_Page._ Save you, good Sir Hugh!
_Evans._ Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you!
_Shal._ What, the sword and the word! do you study 40
them both, master parson?
_Page._ And youthful still! in your doublet and hose
this raw rheumatic day!
_Evans._ There is reasons and causes for it.
_Page._ We are come to you to do a good office, master 45
parson.
_Evans._ 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 you saw. 50
_Shal._ I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never
heard a man of his place, gravity, and learning, so wide of
his own respect.
_Evans._ What is he?
_Page._ I think you know him; Master Doctor Caius, 55
the renowned French physician.
_Evans._ Got's will, and his passion of my heart! I had
as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge.
_Page._ Why?
_Evans._ He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates and 60
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
him.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] O sweet Anne Page! 65
_Shal._ It appears so, by his weapons. Keep them asunder:
here comes Doctor Caius.
_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 70
keep their limbs whole, and hack our English.
_Caius._ I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your
ear. Verefore vill you not meet-a me?
_Evans._ [_Aside to Caius_] Pray you, use your patience:
in good time. 75
_Caius._ By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John
ape.
_Evans._ [_Aside to Caius_] Pray you, let us not be laughing-stocks
to other men's humours; I desire you in friendship,
and I will one way or other make you amends. 80
[_Aloud_] I will knog your urinals about your knave's cogscomb
[for missing your meetings and appointments].
_Caius._ Diable!--Jack Rugby,--mine host de Jarteer,--have
I not stay for him to kill him? have I not, at de
place I did appoint? 85
_Evans._ As I am a Christians soul, now, look you, this
is the place appointed: I'll be judgement by mine host of
the Garter.
_Host._ Peace, I say, Gallia and Gaul, French and
Welsh, soul-curer and body-curer! 90
_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 95
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 100
swords to pawn. Follow me, lads of peace; follow, follow,
follow.
_Shal._ Trust me, a mad host. Follow, gentlemen,
follow.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] O sweet Anne Page!
[_Exeunt Shal., Slen., Page, and Host._ 105
_Caius._ Ha, do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot
of us, ha, ha?
_Evans._ This is well; he has made us his vlouting-stog. --I
desire you that we may be friends; and let us knog our
prains together to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, 110
cogging companion, the host of the Garter.
_Caius._ By gar, with all my heart. He promise to bring
me where is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive me too.
_Evans._ Well, I will smite his noddles. Pray you,
follow. [_Exeunt._ 115
NOTES: III, 1
5: _pittie-ward_] F1 Q3. _pitty-wary_ F2 F3 F4. _city-ward_ Capell.
_pit way_ Collier MS.
_the park-ward_] _the park way_ Collier MS.
7: _also_] om. Q3.
10: _chollors_] F1 Q3 F2. _chollars_ F3 F4.
14: _sings_] Ff. _sing_ Q3.
15, 19, 24, 27: _To shallow_] (Q1 Q2) Ff Q3. _By shallow_ Theobald.
18: _fragrant_] (Q1 Q2) Ff. _vagram_ Q3. _vragrant_ Hanmer.
_vagrant_ Johnson.
20: _dispositions_] F1 Q3. _disposition_ F2 F3 F4.
21: _madrigals_] _madrigall_ F2 F3 F4.
23: _vagram_] Ff Q3. _vagrant_ Pope. _vragant_ Hanmer. _vagrant_
Johnson.
27: _to whose_] _in whose_ Q3.
34: SCENE II. Pope.
36: _student_] F3 F4. _studient_ F1 Q3 F2.
37, 65, 105: [Aside] Edd.
62: _desires_] F1 Q3. _desire_ F2 F3 F4.
66: SCENE III. Pope.
68: _in_] om. Q3.
74: [Aside...] Edd. See note (VII).
78: [Aside...] Staunton.
_Pray you_] _I pray you_ Q3.
_laughing-stocks_] _laughing stogs_ J. rec. Edd.
81: [Aloud] Staunton.
_your_] _your your_ F4. _you your_ Rowe.
_urinals_] (Q1 Q2) Capell. _urinal_] Ff Q3.
82: [_for ... appointments_] Pope (from Q1 Q2). om. Ff Q3.
89: _Gallia and Gaul_] F3 F4. _Gallia and Gaule_ F1 Q3 F2.
_Gawle and Gawlia_ (Q1 Q2). _Gallia and Wallia_ Halliwell
MS. Hanmer. _Guallia and Gaul_ Malone (Farmer conj.). _Gallia
and Guallia_ Collier (Farmer MS. conj.).
95: _lose my parson, my priest_] _lose my Priest_ Pope.
96: [_Give me thy hand, terrestrial; so_] Theobald (from Q1 Q2).
om. Ff Q3. _Give me thy hands, celestial and terrestrial; so._
Collier MS.
101: _lads_] (Q1 Q2) Warburton. _lad_ Ff Q3.
108: _vlouting-stog_] _vlouting-stock_ Pope.
110: _scall_] _scald_ Pope. _Scal'_ Capell.
112: _with_] _vith_ Hanmer. _vit_ rec. Capell.
113: _where_] _vhere_ Pope. _ver_ Hanmer. _vere_ rec. Capell.
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. 5
_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?
_Mrs Page._ Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
_Ford._ Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for 10
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 weathercock?
_Mrs Page._ I cannot tell what the dickens his name is 15
husband had him of. --What do you call your knight's
name, sirrah?
_Rob._ Sir John Falstaff.
_Ford._ Sir John Falstaff!
_Mrs Page._ He, he; I can never hit on's name. There 20
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 25
he any thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them.
Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, 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 30
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 35
Page himself for a secure and wilful Actæon; and to these
violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. [_Clock
heard._] 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 40
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. 45
_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 50
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, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my 55
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. 60
_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 65
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 show you a monster. Master doctor, you shall go; 70
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 Shal. and Slen._
_Caius._ Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
[_Exit Rugby._
_Host._ Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight 75
Falstaff, and drink canary with him. [_Exit._
_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._
NOTES: III, 2
SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.
11: _company_] _your company_ Collier MS.
19: Ford. _Sir John Falstaff!_] omitted in F3 F4 and Rowe.
20: _on's_] _on his_ Rowe.
25: SCENE V. Pope.
37: [Clock heard] Capell.
39: _search: there_] _search where_ Collier MS.
42: SCENE VI. Pope.
46-48: Printed as verse in Ff Q3 and Rowe.
47: _her_] _here_ F2.
59: _April_] _all April_ (Q1 Q2).
60: _buttons_] _betmes_ (Q1 Q2). _destiny_ Anon. conj.
63: _Poins_] _Poyntz_ F1 Q3 F2. _Poinz_ F3 F4.
SCENE III. _A room in FORD'S house._
_Enter MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE._
_Mrs Ford._ What, John! What, Robert!
_Mrs Page._ Quickly, quickly!--is the buck-basket--
_Mrs Ford._ I warrant. What, Robin, I say!
_Enter _Servants_ with a basket._
_Mrs Page._ Come, come, come.
_Mrs Ford._ Here, set it down. 5
_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: 10
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 Page._ You will do it?
_Mrs Ford._ I ha' told them over and over; they lack 15
no direction. Be gone, and come when you are called.
[_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 back-door, 20
Mistress Ford, and requests your company.
_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 threatened to put me into everlasting 25
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. 30
[_Exit Robin._] Mistress Page, remember you your cue.
_Mrs Page._ I warrant thee; if I do not act it, hiss me.
[_Exit._
_Mrs Ford._ Go to, then: we'll use this unwholesome
humidity, this gross watery pumpion; we'll teach him to
know turtles from jays. 35
_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: O this blessed hour!
_Mrs Ford._ O sweet Sir John!
_Fal._ Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, 40
Mistress Ford. Now shall 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! 45
_Fal._ Let the court of France show me such another. I
see how thine eye would emulate the diamond: thou hast
the right arched beauty 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 50
nothing else; nor that well neither.
_Fal._ By the Lord, 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 55
were not, Nature 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 60
lisping hawthorn-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. 65
_Fal._ Thou mightst 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. 70
_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 75
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
woman. [_Falstaff hides himself._ 80
_Re-enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN._
What's the matter? how now!
_Mrs Page._ O Mistress Ford, what have you done?
You're shamed, you're overthrown, you're undone for ever!
_Mrs Ford._ What's the matter, good Mistress Page?
_Mrs Page._ O well-a-day, Mistress Ford! having an 85
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! 90
_Mrs Ford._ Why, alas, what's the matter?
_Mrs Page._ Your husband's coming hither, woman,
with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman
that he says is here now in the house, by your consent, to
take an ill advantage of his absence: you are undone. 95
_Mrs Ford._ 'Tis not so, I hope.
_Mrs Page._ Pray heaven it be not so, that you have
such a man here! but 'tis most certain your husband's coming,
with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one.
I come before to tell you. If you know yourself clear, 100
why, I am glad of it; but if you have a friend here, convey,
convey him out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to
you; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good
life for ever.
_Mrs Ford._ What shall I do? There is a gentleman 105
my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame so much
as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound he were
out of the house.
_Mrs Page._ For shame! never stand 'you had rather'
and 'you had rather:' your husband's here at hand; bethink 110
you of some conveyance: in the house you cannot
hide him. O, how have you deceived me! Look, here is a
basket: if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep
in here; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going
to bucking: or,--it is whiting-time,--send him by your two 115
men to Datchet-mead.
_Mrs Ford._ He's too big to go in there. What shall
I do?
_Fal._ [_Coming forward_] Let me see't, let me see't,
O, let me see't!--I'll in, I'll in. --Follow your friend's 120
counsel. --I'll in.
_Mrs Page._ What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your
letters, knight?
_Fal._ I love thee. --Help me away. --Let me creep in
here. --I'll never-- 125
[_Gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen._
_Mrs Page._ Help to cover your master, boy. --Call your
men, Mistress Ford. --You dissembling knight!
_Mrs Ford._ What, John! Robert! John! [_Exit Robin._
_Re-enter _Servants_._
Go take up these clothes here quickly. --Where's the cowl-staff?
look, how you drumble!--Carry them to the laundress 130
in Datchet-mead; quickly, come.
_Enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS._
_Ford._ Pray you, come near: if I suspect without cause,
why then make sport at me; then let me be your jest;
I deserve it. --How now! whither bear you this?
_Serv._ To the laundress, forsooth. 135
_Mrs Ford._ Why, what have you to do whither they
bear it? You were best meddle with buck-washing.
_Ford._ Buck!--I would I could wash myself of the buck!--Buck,
buck, buck! Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck; and
of the season too, it shall appear.
[_Exeunt Servants with the basket._] 140
Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night; I'll tell you
my dream. Here, here, here be my keys: ascend my chambers;
search, seek, find out: I'll warrant we'll unkennel the
fox. Let me stop this way first. [_Locking the door._] So,
now uncape. 145
_Page._ Good Master Ford, be contented: you wrong
yourself too much.
_Ford._ True, Master Page. Up, gentlemen; you shall
see sport anon: follow me, gentlemen. [_Exit._
_Evans._ This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies. 150
_Caius._ By gar, 'tis no the fashion of France; it is not
jealous in France.
_Page._ Nay, follow him, gentlemen; see the issue of
his search. [_Exeunt Page, Caius, and Evans._
_Mrs Page._ Is there not a double excellency in this? 155
_Mrs Ford._ I know not which pleases me better, that
my husband is deceived, or Sir John.
_Mrs Page._ What a taking was he in when your husband
asked who was in the basket!
_Mrs Ford._ I am half afraid he will have need of washing; 160
so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit.
_Mrs Page._ Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would all of
the same strain were in the same distress.
_Mrs Ford._ I think my husband hath some special suspicion
of Falstaff's being here; for I never saw him so gross 165
in his jealousy till now.
_Mrs Page._ I will lay a plot to try that; and we will
yet have more tricks with Falstaff: his dissolute disease
will scarce obey this medicine.
_Mrs Ford._ Shall we send that foolish carrion, Mistress 170
Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the water;
and give him another hope, to betray him to another punishment?
_Mrs Page._ We will do it: let him be sent for to-morrow,
eight o'clock, to have amends. 175
_Re-enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS._
_Ford._ I cannot find him: may be the knave bragged
of that he could not compass.
_Mrs Page._ [_Aside to Mrs Ford_] Heard you that?
_Mrs Ford._ You use me well, Master Ford, do you?
_Ford._ Ay, I do so. 180
_Mrs Ford._ Heaven make you better than your
thoughts!
_Ford._ Amen!
_Mrs Page._ You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford.
_Ford._ Ay, ay; I must bear it. 185
_Evans._ If there be any pody in the house, and in the
chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses, heaven forgive
my sins at the day of judgement!
_Caius._ By gar, nor I too: there is no bodies.
_Page._ Fie, fie, Master Ford! are you not ashamed? 190
What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination? I would
not ha' your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Windsor
Castle.
