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this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, I protest, mine never shall. I warrant, he hath a thousand of these letters, writ with blank space for different names, (sure more) and these are of the second edition. He will print them out of doubt; for he cares not what he puts into the press, when he would put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will find you twenty lascivious turtles, ere one chaste man.

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 knew some strain 1 in me, that I know not myself, he would never have boarded me in this fury.

Mrs. Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure to keep him above deck.

Mrs. Page. So will I; if he come under my hatches, I'll never to sea again. Let's be revenged on him: let's appoint him a meeting; give him a show of comfort in his suit; and lead him on with a fine-baited delay, till he hath pawned his horses to mine host of the Garter.

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any villany against him, that may not sully the chariness

1 Fault.

of our honesty.1 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 am 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 greasy knight. Come hither. [they retire.

Enter FORD, PISTOL, PAGE, and NYM.

Ford. Well, I hope, it be not so.

Pis. Hope is a curtail dog 2 in some affairs:

Sir John affects thy wife.

Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young.

Pis. He wooes both high and low, both rich and

Both

poor,

young and old, one with another, Ford; He loves the gally-mawfry; 3 Ford, perpend,

Ford. Love my wife?

Pis. With liver burning hot. Prevent, or go thou, Like Sir Acteon he, with Ringwood at thy heels :--O, odious is the name!

Ford. What name, sir?

Pis. The horn, I say. Farewell.

Take heed; have open eye; for thieves do foot by night:

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