lay their swords to pawn: peace; follow, follow, follow. Shal. Trust me, a mad host: men, follow.

Slen. O, sweet Anne Page!

Follow me, lad of

[Exeunt SHAL. SLEN. PAGE, and Host. Caius. Ha! do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot of us? ha, ha!

Eva. This is well; he has made us his 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.

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 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 his name is my husband had him of: What do you call your knight's name, sirrah?

Mrs. Page. By your leave, sir; - I am sick, till I see her. [Exeunt Mrs. PAGE and ROBIN. Ford. Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes; hath he any thinking? Sure they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces-out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion, and advantage: and now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind! and Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots! - they are laid; and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure 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 mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm, that Falstaff is there: I will go.

4 Shall encourage.

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

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

Slen. I hope I have your good-will, father Page. Page. You have, master Slender; I stand wholly for you: but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether,

Caius. Ay, by gar; and de maid is love-a me; my nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush.

Host. What say you to young master Fenton ? writes verses, he speaks holyday 5; he smells April he capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he and May: he will carry't, he will carry't.

The

Page. Not by my consent, I promise you. the wild Prince and Poins; he is of too high a gentleman is of no having: he kept company with knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my region, he knows too much. No, he shall not 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 show you a monster. Master doctor, you shall go; —so shall you, master Page; ;- and you, sir Hugh. Shal. Well, fare you well: freer wooing at master Page's.

we shall have the

[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.

[Erit 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-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. 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 brewhouse; 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 5 Out of the common style.

:

Fal. I love thee, and none but thee; help me away: let me creep in here; I'll never —

[He goes 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 3; carry them to the laundress 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. you this?

How now? whither bear

Serv. To the laundress, forsooth.

Mrs. Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they bear it? You were best meddle with buckwashing.

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.] Gentlenen, 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: So now uncape.4

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. Eva. This is fery fantastical humours, and jealousies.

Caius. By gar, 'tis no de fashion of France: it is not jealous in France.

Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen; see the issue of his search [Exeunt EVANS, PAGE, and CAIUS. Mrs. Page. Is there not a double excellency in this?

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. 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 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 Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the water; and give him another hope, to betray him to another punishment?

Mrs. Page. We'll do it; let him be sent for tomorrow eight o'clock, to have amends.

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.

A staff for carrying a large tub or basket. 4 Unbag the fox.

* Drone.

Mrs. Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, master Ford.

Ford. Ay, ay; I must bear it.

Eva. If there be any pody in the house, and in the chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses, heaven forgive my sins!

Caius. By gar, nor I too; dere is no bodies.

What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination? Page. Fie, fie, master Ford! are you not ashamed? I would not have your distemper in this kind, for

the wealth of Windsor Castle.

Ford. 'Tis my fault, master Page: I suffer for it. Eva. You suffer for a pad conscience; your wife is as honest a 'omans, as I will desires among five thousand, and five hundred too.

Caius. By gar, I see 'tis an honest woman.

Ford. Well; - I promised you a dinner: — Come, come, walk in the park: I pray you, pardon me; I will hereafter make known to you, why I Page: I pray you pardon me; pray heartily, parhave done this. Come, wife; -come mistress

don me.

SCENE IV. - A Room in Page's House.

Enter FENTON, and Mistress ANNE PAGE. Fent. I see, I cannot get thy father's love; Therefore, no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.

Anne. Alas! how then?

Fen.

He doth object, I am too great of birth;
Why, thou must be thyself.
And that, my state being gall'd with my expence,
I seek to heal it only by his wealth:
Besides these, other bars he lays before me,
My riots past, my wild societies;
I should love thee, but as a property.
And tells me, 'tis a thing impossible

Anne. May be, he tells you true.
Fent. No, heaven so speed me in my time to
come!

Albeit, I will confess, thy father's wealth
Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne:
Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value
Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealed bags;
And 'tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.

Anne.

Gentle master Fenton, Yet seek my father's love: still seek it, sir:

Come, master Shallow: come, son Sl Knowing my mind, you wrong me, m [Exeunt PAGE, SHALLOW, 4 Quick. Speak to mistress Page. Fent. Good mistress Page, for tha daughter

In such a righteous fashion as I do,
Perforce, against all checks, rebukes,
I must advance the colours of my lov
And not retire: Let me have your go
Anne. Good mother, do not marr
fool.

Mrs. Page. I mean it not; I seek
husband.

Quick. That's my master, master d Anne. Alas, I had rather be set qui And bowl'd to death with turnips. Mrs. Page. Come, trouble not yo master Fenton.

I will not be your friend, nor enemy:
My daughter will I question how she
And as I find her, so am I affected;
'Till then, farewell sir: She must
Her father will be angry.

[Exeunt Mrs. PAC Fent. Farewell, gentle mistress; f Quick. This is my doing now; will you cast away your child on physician? Look on master Fenton: doing.

Fent. I thank thee; and I pray

Quick. Now heaven send thee good kind heart he hath: a woman would fire and water for such a kind heart would my master had mistress Anne master Slender had her; or, in so master Fenton had her: I will do w them all three; for so I have promise as good as my word; but speciously Fenton. Well, I must of another John Falstaff from my two mistress beast am I to slack? it.

SCENE V. A Room in the Ga

Enter FALSTAFF and BARDO
Fal. Bardolph, I say,-
Bard. Here, sir.

Fal. Go fetch me a quart of sack in't. [Exit BARD.] Have I lived to a basket, like a barrow of butcher's be thrown into the Thames? Well; i such another trick, I'll have my brai and buttered, and give them to a do year's gift. The rogues slighted me with as little remorse as they would h blind puppies, fifteen i' the litter: a know by my size, that I have a kind sinking; if the bottom were ever so de

was shelvy and shallow: a death that the water swells a man; and what a th

Quick. Alas the day! good heart, that was not her fault; she does so take on with her men; they mistook their erection.

Fal. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's promise.

Quick. Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn your heart to see it. Her husband goes this morning a birding; she desires you once more to come to her between eight and nine: I must carry her word quickly; she'll make you amends, I warrant you.

Fal. Well, I will visit her: Tell her so; and bid her think, what a man is: let her consider his frailty, and then judge of my merit.

Fal. Now, master Brook? you come to know what hath passed between me and Ford's wife?

Ford. That, indeed, sir John, is my business. Fal. Master Brook, I will not lie to you; I was at her house the hour she appointed me.

Ford. And how sped you, sir?

Fal. Very ill-favouredly, master Brook. Ford. How so, sir? Did she change her determination?

Fal. No, master Brook; but the peaking cornuto, her husband, master Brook, dwelling in a continual 'larum of jealousy, comes me in the instant of our encounter, after we had embraced, kissed, protested, and, as 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 his house for his wife's love.

Ford. What, while you were there?
Fal. While I was there.

Ford. And did he search for you, and could not find you?

Fal. You shall hear. As good luck would have it, comes in one mistress Page, gives intelligence of Ford's approach; and, by her invention, and

Ford's wife's distraction, they conveyed me into a buck-basket?

Ford. A buck-basket?

Fal. Yea, a buck-basket: rammed me in with foul shirts and socks, foul stockings, and greasy napkins; that, master Brook, there was the rankest compound of villainous smell, that ever offended nostril.

Ford. And how long lay you there?

Fal. Nay, you shall hear, master Brook, what I have suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. Being thus crammed in the basket, a couple of Ford's knaves, his hinds, were called forth by their mistress, to carry me in the name of foul clothes to Datchet lane: they took me on their shoulders; met the jealous knave their master in the door; who asked them once or twice what they had in their basket: I quaked for fear, lest the lunatic knave would have searched it; but Fate, ordaining he should be a cuckold, held his hand. Well; on went he for a search, and away went I for foul clothes. But mark the sequel, master Brook: I suffered the pangs of three several deaths: first, an intolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous bell-wether: next, to be compassed like a good bilbo 8, in the circumference of a peck, hilt to point, heel to head: and then, to be stopped in, like a strong distillation, with stinking clothes: think of that, — a man of my kidney, think of that; that am as subject to heat as butter; a man of continual dissolution and thaw; it was a miracle to 'scape suffocation. And in the height of this bath, when I was more than half stewed in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames, and cooled, glowing hot, in that surge, like a horseshoe; think of that;-hissing hot, — think of that, master Brook.

Ford. In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for my sake you have suffered all this. My suit then is desperate; you'll undertake her no more.

Fal. Master Brook, I will be thrown into Etna, as I have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her husband is this morning gone a birding I have received from her another embassy of meeting; 'twixt eight and nine is the hour, master Brook.

Ford. 'Tis past eight already, sir.

ment.

Fal. Is it? I will then address me to my appointCome to me at your convenient leisure, and you shall know how I speed; and the conclusion shall be crowned with your having her: Adieu. You shall have her, master Brook; master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford.

[Exit.

Ford. Hum! ha! is this a vision? is this a dream? do I sleep? Master Ford, awake; awake, master Ford; there's a hole made in your best coat, master Ford. This 'tis to be married! this 'tis to have linen and buck-baskets! Well, I will proclaim myself what I am: I will now take the lecher; he is at my house: he cannot 'scape me; 'tis impos sible he should; he cannot creep into a halfpenny purse, nor into a pepper-box. but, lest the devil that guides him should aid him, I will search impossible places. Though what I am I cannot avoid, yet to be what I would not, shall not make me tame: if I have horns to make one mad, let the proverb go with me, I'll be horn mad. [Exit.

Bilboa, where the best blades are made,