Enter Simple. How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not The Book of Riddles about you, have you?

Sim. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake, upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas ?1

Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you.
A word with you, coz: marry, this, coz; there is,
as 'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off
by sir Hugh here;-do you understand me?
Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if
it be so, I shall do that that is reason,

Shal. Nay, but understand me.
Slen. So I do, sir.

Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it.

Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his country, simple though I stand here.

Eva. But that is not the question; the question is concerning your marriage.

Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon any reasonable demands.

Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the mouth; therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid?

Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? Slen. I hope, sir,-I will do, as it shall become one that would do reason.

Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards her.

Shal. That you must: will you, upon good dowry, marry her?

Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon your request, cousin, in any reason.

what I do, is to pleasure you, coz; Can you love Shal, Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet cozi the maid?

49

Anne. Will't please your worship to come in, sir Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well.

Anne. The dinner attends you, sir.

Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon
Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth:
my cousin Shallow: [Exit Simple. A justice o.
a man:-I keep but three men and a boy yet, till
peace sometime may be beholden to his friend for
my mother be dead: but what though? yet I live
like a poor gentleman born.

they will not sit, till you come.
Anne. I may not go in without your worship:

Slen. Pfaith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as though I did.

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in.

bruised my shin the other day with playing at
Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you: I
veneys for a dish of stewed prunes; and, by my
sword and dagger with a master of fence, three
troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since.
town?
Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the

Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.

Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not? quarrel at it, as any man in England:-you are Anne. Ay, indeed, sir.

seen Sackerson3 loose, twenty times; and have
Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have
taken him by the chain: but, I warrant you, the
women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it
they are very ill-favoured rough things.
pass'd:4-but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em ;

Re-enter Page.

Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we stay for you.

Šlen. I'll eat nothing; I thank you, sir.
sir: come, come.
Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose,

Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way.
Page. Come on, sir.

Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall
Anne. Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.
go first.
Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la: I will

Anne. I pray you, sir.

Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if there be no great love in the beginning, yet hea-not do you that wrong; ven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we are married, and have more occasion to know one another: I hope, upon familiarity will grow more contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry her, that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the faul' is in the 'ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, according to our meaning, resolutely;-his meaning is good. Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well. Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la.

Re-enter Anne Page.

Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne:-Would were young, for your sake, mistress Anne! Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships' company.

Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. Eva. Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace.

Exeunt Shal, and Sir H. Evans,

some: you do yourself wrong, indeed, la.
Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly than trouble-

SCENE II.-The same.

[Exeunt.

Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple.

Eva. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' mistress Quickly, which is in the manner of his house, which is the way: and there dwells one nurse, or his dry nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wringer.

Sim. Well, sir.

Eva. Nay, it is petter yet:-give her this let-
tance with mistress Anne Page; and the letter is,
ter; for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquain-
to desire and require her to solicit your master's
I will make an end of my dinner: there's pippins
desires to mistress Ann Page: I pray you, be gone;
and cheese to come.
[Exeunt.

(1) An intended blunder.den, in Southwark.
(3) The name of a bear exhibited at Paris-Gar
Three set-to's, bouts or hits, (7- (4) Surpassed all expression,
G

SCENE III.—A room in the Garter Inn. Enter gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.
Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and
Robin.

Fal. Mine host of the Garter,

Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scholarly, and wisely.

Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers.

Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag; trot, trot.

I

Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. Nym. I thank thee for that humour. Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with did seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass! such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye Here's another letter to her: she bears the purse too: she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. will be cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear thou this letter to mistress Page; and thou this to mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive. Pist. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer, take all! Nym. I will run no base humour; here, take the humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation. [Exit Host. Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man, a fresh tapster: go; adieu. Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will

Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.
Host. Thou'rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keisar, and
Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall
draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector?

Fal. Do so, good mine host.

Host. I have spoke; let him follow: let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow.

thrive.
[Exit Bard.
Pist. O base Gongarian' wight! wilt thou the
spigot wield?

Nym. He was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the humour of it.

Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinderbox; his thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful singer, he kept not time.

Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's

Pist. Young ravens must have food.

Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town? Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good. Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.

Pist. Two yards, and more.

Fal. Hold, sirrah, [to Rob.] bear you these let
ters tightly;

Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.-
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter,
pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of this age,
French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted
page. [Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.
Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and
fullam holds,

And high and low beguile the rich and poor:
Tester I'll have in pouch," when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk!

Nym. I have operations in my head, which be humours of revenge.

Pist. Wilt thou revenge?

Nym.

By welkin, and her star

Pist. With wit, or steel?
Nym.

With both the humours, I:"

I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.
Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold,
How Falstaff, varlet vile,

His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile.

Nym. My humour shall not cool: I will incense Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness, for the revolt of mien is dangerous : that is my true humour.

[Exeunt.

Fal. No quips now, Pistol; indeed, I am in the waist two yards about: but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents: I semake love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in cond thee; troop on. her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am Sir John Falstaff's.

Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her well; out of honesty into English. Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour pass?

Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse; she hath legions of angels.'

Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy, say I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the angels.

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and here another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examin'd my parts with most judicious eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view

(1) For Hungarian. (2) Fig. (3) Gold coin.
(4) Escheatour, an officer in the Exchequer.
(5) Cleverly, (6) False dice,

SCENE IV.—A room in Dr. Caius' house. Enter
Mrs. Quickly, Simple, and Rugby.

Quick. What: John Rugby!-I pray thee, go
to the casement, and see if you can see my master,
master Doctor Caius, coming: if he do, i'faith, and
find any body in the house, here will be an old
abusing of God's patience, and the king's English.
Rug. I'll go watch.
[Exit Rugby.

Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for❜t soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor no breed-bate: 10 his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish' that way; but nobody but has his fault-but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is ? Sim. Ay, for fault of a better.

Quick. And master Slender's your master?

(7) Sixpence I'll have in pocket.
(8) Instigate. (9) Jealousy,
(11) Foolish,

(10) Strife,

Sim. Ay, forsooth.

Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard,| like a glover's paring-knife?

for my master, in the way of marriage.
Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put
my finger in the fire, and need not.
Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you?-Rugby, baillez
me some paper:-Tarry you a little-a while.

Sim. No forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard; a Cain-coloured beard. Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not? [writes. Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall' a man of Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been his hands, as any is between this and his head: he thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so hath fought with a warrener.2 loud, and so melancholy; but notwithstanding, Quick. How say you ?-O, I should remember man, I'll do your master what good I can: and, him; does he not hold up his head, as it were ? and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my strut in his gait? master,-I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself;

Sim. Yes, indeed, does he.

Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and wish

Re-enter Rugby.

I

Sim. "Tis a great charge, to come under one body's hand.

Quick. Are you advis'd o' that? you shall find it a great charge: and to be up early, and down late ;but notwithstanding (to tell you in your ear; I would have no words of it;) my master himself is in love with mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that,—I know Anne's mind,—that's nei · ther here nor there.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master. Quick. We shall all be shent :3 run in here, good young man; go into this closet. [Shuts Simple in the closet.] He will not stay long.-What, John Rugby! John, what, John, I say!-Go, John, go Caius. You jack'nape; give-a dis letter to sir inquire for my master; I doubt, he be not well, Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his troat that he comes not home and down, down, in de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape adown-a, &c. [Sings. priest to meddle or make:-you may be gone; it is not good you tarry here:-by gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit Simple. Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. Caius. It is no matter-a for dat:-do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? -by gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have apQuick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad pointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our he went not in himself; if he had found the young weapon:-by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page. man, he would have been horn-mad.

Enter Doctor Caius.

Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys; Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd; a box, a green-a box; do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.

[Aside.

Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais à la cour,-la grand affaire.

Quick. Is it this, sir?

Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; depeche,
quickly:-Vere is dat knave Rugby!
Quick. What, John Rugby! John!
Rug. Here, sir.

Caus. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court.

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long:-Od's me! Qu'ay j'oublié dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

Quick. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and be mad.

Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?Villany! larron! [Pulling Simple out.] Rugby, my rapier.

Quick. Good master, be content. Caius. Verefore shall I be content-a? Quick. The young man is an honest man. Caius. Vat shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatic; hear the truth of it: he came of an errand to me from parson Hugh.

Caius. Vell.

Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to—
Quick. Peace, I pray you.

Caius. Peace-a your tongue:-Speak-a your tale. Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to mistress Anne Page,

(1) Brave. (2) The keeper of a warren. (3) Scolded, reprimanded.

Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well: we must give folks leave to prate: What, the good-jer!

Caius. Rugby, come to the court vit me;-by gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door :-Follow my heels, Rugby. [Exeunt Caius and Rugby.

Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your own. No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's mind than I do; nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.

Fent. [Within.] Who's within there, ho? Quick. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.

Enter Fenton.

Fent. How now, good woman; how dost thou ? Quick. The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.

Fent. What news? how does pretty mistress Anne?

Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way; I praise heaven for it. Fent. Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? Shall I not lose my suit?

Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding, master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a book, she loves you:-Have not your worship & wart above your eye?

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale ;-good faith,

(4) The goujere, what the pox!

Mrs. Page. What's the matter, woman?
Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for onc

it is such another Nan:-but, I detest, an honest show you to the contrary: O, mistress Page, give maid as ever broke bread:-We had an hour's me some counsel! talk of that wart;-I shall never laugh but in that maid's company.-But, indeed, she is given ton much to allicholly and using: but for you-trifling respect, I could come to such honour! Well, go to.

Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman; take the

Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day: hold, there's honour: what is it?-dispense with trifles;-what money for thee; let me have thy voice in my be- is it? Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an half: if thou seest her before me, commend meQuick. Will I? Piaith, that we will: and I will eternal moment, or so, I could be knighted. tell your worship more of the wart, the next time we have confidence; and of other wooers. Fent. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.

Mrs. Page. What ?-thou liest -Sir Alice Ford!--These knights will hack; and so thou shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry. [Exit. Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light :--here, read, Quick. Farewell to your worship.-Truly, an read;-perceive how I might be knighted.-I shall honest gentleman; but Anne loves him not; for think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking: and yet he would I know Anne's mind as well as another does: not swear; praised women's modesty: and gave Qut upon't! what have I forgot? such orderly and well-behaved reproof to all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his disposition would have gone to the truth of his words: but they do no more adhere and keep place together, than the hundredth psalm to the tune of Green Sleeves. What tempest, I trow, threw this whale, with so

ACT II.

[Exit.

SCENE I.—Before Page's house. Enter Mis- many tuns of oil in his belly, ashore at Windsor?

tress Page, with a letter.

Mrs. Page. What! have I 'scaped love-letters in the holy-day time of my beauty, and am I now a subject for them? Let me see:

3

How shall I be revenged on him? I think the best way were to entertain him with hope, till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own grease. Did

you ever hear the like? [reads. Mrs. Page. Letter for letter; but that the name

Ask me no reason why I love you; for though of Page and Ford differs!-To thy great comfort love use reason for his precisian, he admits him in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin not for his counsellor: You are not young, no brother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, more am I; go to then, there's sympathy: you I protest, mine never shall. I warrant, he hath a are merry, so am I; ha! ha! then there's more thousand of these letters, writ with blank space for sympathy: you love sack, and so do I would different names (sure more,) and these are of the you desire better sympathy? Let it suffice thee, second edition: he will print them out of doubt: mistress Page (at the least, if the love of a soldier for he cares not what he puts into the press, when had rather be a giantess, can suffice,) that I love thee. I will not say, pity he would put us two. me, 'tis not a soldier-like phrase; but I say, love and lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will find you me. By me, twenty lascivious turtles, ere one chaste man.

Thine own true knight,

By day or night,

Or any kind of light,
With all his might,
For thee to fight,

John Falstaff.

Mrs. Ford. Why, this is the very same; the very hand, the very words: what doth he think of us? Mrs. Page. Nay, I know not: it makes me almost ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'll entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure, unless he know some strain in me, that I know not myself, he would never have boarded me in this fury.

What a Herod of Jewry is this !-O wicked, wicked world!-one that is well nigh worn to Mrs. Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure pieces with age, to show himself a young gallant! What an unweighed behaviour hath this Flemish to keep him above deck." Mrs. Page. So will I; if he come under my drunkard picked (with the devil's name) out of my hatches, I'll never to sea again. Let's be revenged conversation, that he dares in this manner assay

to mine host of the Garter.

me? Why, he hath not been thrice in my compa- on him: let's appoint him a meeting: give him a ny! What should I say to him?-I was then show of comfort in his suit; and lead him on with frugal of my mirth :-heaven forgive me!-Why, a fine-baited delay, till he hath pawn'd his horses I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men. How shall I be revenged on him? for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.

Enter Mistress Ford.

Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to your house.

Mrs. Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. You look very ill.

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; I have to show to the contrary.

Mrs. Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind.
Mrs, Ford, Well, I do then; yet, I say, I could

(1) She means, I protest. (2) Melancholy,

Most probably Shakspeare wrote Physician,

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any vilany against him, that may not sully the chariness of our honesty. O, that my husband saw this letter! it would give eternal food to his jealousy.

Mrs. Page. Why, look, where he comes and my good man too: he's as far from jealousy, as I an from giving him cause; and that, I hope, is an unmeasurable distance.

Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman.
Mrs. Page. Let's consult together against this
[They retire.
greasy knight: come hither.

Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Nym,
Ford, Well, I hope, it be not so.
(4) Caution,

Pist. Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs:
Sir John affects thy wife.

Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young.
Pist. He woos both high and low, both rich and
poor,

Both young and old, one with another, Ford;
He loves thy gally-mawfry;2 Ford, perpend.1
Ford. Love my wife?

Pist. With liver burning hot : prevent, or go thou,
Like sir Acteon he, with Ring-wood at thy heels:
O, odious is the name!

Ford. What name, sir?

Jin his intent towards our wives, are a yoke of his discarded men; very rogues, now they be out of

service.

Ford. Were they his men?

Page. Marry, were they.

Ford. I like it never the better for that.-Does The lic 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 Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do confident: I would have nothing lie on my head: I

Pist. The horn, I say: farewell.

sing.

Away, sir corporal Nym.-—

Believe it, Page; he speaks sense. [Exit Pistol. Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Nym. And this is true. [To Page.] I like not the humour of lying. He hath wrong'd me in some humours; I should have borne the humoured letter to her: but I have a sword, and it shall bite upon my necessity. He loves your wife; there's

cannot be thus satisfied.

Page. Look, where my ranting host of the Gar ter 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 gentle

the short and the long. My name is corporal Nym; man: cavalero-justice, I say.

I speak, and I avouch. Tis true:-my name is Shal. I follow, mine host, I follow.-Good even Nyin, and Falstaff loves your wife.-Adieu! I love and twenty, good master Page! Master Page, will not the humour of bread and cheese; and there's you go with us? we have sport in hand. [Exit Nym. Host. Tell him, cavalcro-justice; tell him, bully

the humour of it. Adieu.

Page. The humour of it, quoth 'a! here's a fel-rook. low frights humour out of his wits.

Ford. I will seek out Falstaff.

Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought, between sir Hugh the Welsh priest, and Caius the French

Page. I never heard such a drawling, affecting doctor.

rogue.

Ford. If I do find it, well.

Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, though the priest o' the town commended him for a true

man.

Ford. 'Twas a good sensible fellow: Well.
Page. How now, Meg?

Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George?-Hark you.

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 Host. Hast thou no suit against my knight, my

Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank? why art sport shall be. thou melancholy?

Ford. I melancholy! I am not melancholy.-guest-cavalier? Get you home, go.

Ford. None, I protest: but I'll give you a pottle Mrs. Ford. Faith, thou hast some crotchets in of burnt sack to give me recourse to him, and tell thy head now.-Will you go, mistress Page?

Mrs. Page. Have with you.-You'll come to dinner, George?-Look, who comes youder: she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight.

[Aside to Mrs. Ford.

Enter Mistress Quickly.

Mrs. Ford. Trust me, I thought on her: she'll fit it.

Mrs. Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne?

Quick. Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good mistress Anne?

Mrs. Page. Go in with us, and sce; we have an Cour's talk with you.

[Exe. Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quick. 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?

Paze. Hang 'em, slaves! I do not think the
night would offer it: but these that accuse him

(1) A dog that misses his game. (2) A medley.
(3) Consider.
(4) A lying sharper.

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?

Shai. 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 talls fellows skip like rats.

Host. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? Page. Have with you :-I had rather hear them scold than fight.

[Exeunt Host, Shallow, and Page. Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion so easily: She was in his company at Page's house; and, what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look further into't: and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff: If I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise, 'tis labour well bestowed. [Exit.