Page. Why, yet there want not many, that do fear||thick-skin ? speak, breathe, discuss; brief, short, In deep of night to walk by this Herne's oak :

quick, snap But what of this?

Sim. Marry, sir, I come to speak with sir John Mrs. Ford. Marry, this is our device ; Falstaff from master Slender. That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us, Host. There's his chamber, his house, his castle, Disguis'd like Herne, with huge horns oh his head. || his standing-bed, and truckle-bed; 'tis painted

Page. Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come, || about with the story of the prodigal, fresh and new: And in this shape: When you have brought him Go, knock and call; he'll speak like an Anthrothither,

pophaginians unto thee: Knock, I say. What shall be done with him ? what is your plot? Sim. There's an old woman, a fat woman, gone Mrs. Page. That likewise have we thought up into his chamber ; I'll be so bold as to stay, sir, upon, and thus :

till she come down: I come to speak with her, inNan Page my daughter, and my little son, deed. And three or four more of their growth, we'll dress Host. Ha! a fat woman! the knight may be robLike urchins, ouphes, and fairies, green and white, || bed : I'll call.—Bully knight! Bully sir John! With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads, speak from thy lungs military : Art thou there? it And rattles in their hands; upon a sudden, is thine host, thine Ephesian, calls. As Falstaff, she, and I, are newly met,

Fal. (Above.] How now, mine host? Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at once

Host. Here's a Bohemian Tartar tarries the With some diffused? song ; upon their sight, coming down of thy fat woman: Let her descend, We two in great amazedness will fly:

bully, let her descend : my chambers are honour. Then let them all encircle him about,

able: Fie! privacy? fie!
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight;
And ask him, why, that hour of fairy revel,

Enter Falstaff.
In their so sacred paths be dares to tread,
In shape profane.

Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman Mrs. Ford. And till he tell the truth,

even now with me; but she's gone. Let the supposed fairies pinch him sound,

Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman And burn him with their tapers.

of Brentford ? Mrs. Page.

The truth being known, Fal. Ay, marry, was it, muscle-shell; What We'll all present ourselves; dis-horn the spirit, would you with her? And mock him home to Windsor.

Sim. My master, sir, my master Slender, sent to Ford.

The children must her, seeing her go through the streets, to know, sir, Be practised well to this, or they'll ne'er do't. whether one Nym, sir, that beguiled him of a chain,

Eva. I will teach the children their behaviours ; || had the chain, or no. and I will be like a jack-an-apes also, to burn the

Fal. I spake with the old woman about it. knight with my taber.

Sim. And what says she, I pray,

sir? Ford. That will be excellent. I'll go buy them Fal. Marry, she says, that the very same man, vizards.

that beguiled master Slender of his chain, cozened Mrs. Page. My Nan shall be the queen of all || him of it. the fairies,

Sim. I would, I could have spoken with the Finely attired in a robe of white.

woman herself; I had other things to have spoken Page. That silk will I go buy ;-and in that time with her too, from him. Shall master Slender steal my Nan away, (Aside. Fal. What are they? let us know. And marry her at Eton.- -Go, send to Falstaff Host. Ay, come; quick. straight.

Sim. I may not conceal them, sir. Ford. Nay, I'll to him again in name of Brook : Fal. Conceal them, or thou diest. He'll tell me all his purpose : sure he'll come. Sim. Why, sir, they were nothing but about Mrs. Page. Fear not you that: Go, get us pro- mistress Anne Page; to know, if it were my mas. perties,

ter's fortune to bave her, or no. And tricking for our fairies.

Fal. 'Tis, 'tis his fortune. Eva. Let us about it: It is admirable pleasures, Sim. What, sir? and fery honest knaveries.

Fal. To have her,--or no: Go; say, the woman (Exeunt Page, Ford, and Evans. I told me so. Mrs. Page. Go, mistress Ford,

Sim. May I be so bold to say so, sir? Send quickly to sir John, to know his mind. Fal. Ay, sir Tike; who more bold?

[Erit Mrs. Ford. Sim. I thank your worship: I shall make my I'll to the doctor; he hath my good will, master glad with these tidings. (Exit Simple. And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.

Host. Thou art clerkly, thou art clerkly, sir That Slender, though well landed, is an idiot ; John : Was there a wise woman with thee? And he my husband best of all affects :

Fal. Ay, that there was, mine host ; one that The doctor is well money'd, and his friends hath taught me more wit than ever I learned bePotent at court; he, none but he, shall have her, fore in my life : and I paid uothing for it neither, Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave but was paid for my learning. her.

[Erit.

Enter Bardolph. SCENE V.-Aroom in the Garter Inn. Enter Bard. Out, alas, sir! cozenage! meer cozenage. Host and Simple.

Host. Where be my horses ? speak well of them,

varletto. Host. What would'st thou have, boor? what, Bard. Run away with the cozeners; for so soon

i (1) Elfs, hobgoblins. (2) Wild, discordant. (6) Cunning woman, a fortune-teller. (3) Soundly. (4) Necessaries. (5) Cannibal. (7) Scholar-like.

:

men.

a

:

as I came beyond Eton, they threw me off, from|| SCENE VI.- Another Room in the Garter Inn. behind one of them, in a slough of mire; and set

Enter Fenton and Host. spurs, and away, like three German devils, three Doctor Faustuses.

Host. Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind Host. They are gone but to meet the duke, vil is heavy, I will give over all. lain : do not say, they be fled; Germans are honest

Fent. Yet hear me speak : Assist me in my

purpose,

And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee
Enter Sir Hugh Evans.

A hundred pounds in gold, more than your loss.

Host. I will hear you, master Fenton; and I Eca. Where is mine host ?

will, at the least, keep your counsel. Host. What is the matter, sir?

Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you Eva. Have a care of your entertainments : there with the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page; is a friend of mine come to town, tells me, there who, mutually, hath answer'd my affection is three cousin Germans, that has cozened all the (So far forth as herself might be her chooser,) hosts of Readings, of Maidenhead, of Colebrook,|| Even to my wish: I have a letter from her of horses and money. I tell you for a good-will, Of such contents as you will wonder at; look you: you are wise, and full of gibes and The mirth whereof so larded with my matter, vlouting-stogs ; and 'tis not convenient you should That neither, singly, can be manifested, be cozened: Fare you well.

(Exit. Without the show of both ;-wherein fat Falstaff

Hath a great scene; the image of the jest
Enter Doctor Caius.

(Showing the letter. Cairs. Vere is mine Host de Jarterre ?

I'll show you here at large. Hark, good mine host : Host

, Here, master doctor, in perplexity, and To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and doubtful dilemma.

one, Caius. I cannot tell vat is dat : but it is tell-a| The purpose why, is here ;2 in which disguise,

Must my sweet Nan present the fairy queen; me, dat you make grand preparation for a duke de While other jests are something rank on foot,

Jarmany : by my trot, dere is no duke, dat the Her father hath commanded her to slip
court is know to come; I tell you for good vill :
adieu.

Away with Slender, and with him at Eton
[Exit

. || Immediately to marry: she hath consented : Host

. Hue and cry, villain, go :-assist me. Now, sir, knight; I am undone : -Ay, run, hue and cry, vil. Her mother, even strong against that match, lain! I'am undone! (Ereunt Host and Bardolph. And firm for doctor Caius, hath appointed

Fal. I would, all the world might be cozened:| That he shall likewise shuffle her away, for I have been cozen'd and beaten

too. If it should While other sports are tasking of their minds, come to the ear of the court, how I have been And at the deanery, where a priest attends, transformed, and how my transformation hath been washed and cudgelled, they would melt me out of Straight marry her to this her mother's plot my fat, drop by drop, and liquor fishermen's boots|| Made promise to the doctor ;–Now, thus it reste :

She, seemingly obedient, likewise hath with me; I warrant, they would whip me with their fine wits, till I were as crest-fallen as a dried Her father means she shall be all in white; pear. I never prospered since I forswore myselt) To take her by the hand, and bid her go,

And in that habit, when Slender sees his time at Primero.Well, if my wind were but long|| She shall go with him

:-her mother hath intended, enough to say my prayers, I would repent.

The better to denote her to the doctor,
Enter Mrs. Quickly.

(For they must all be mask'd and vizarded,)

That, quaint in green, she shall be loose enrob'd, Now! whence come you?

With ribbands pendant, flaring 'bout her head; Quick. From the two parties, forsooth. And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,

Fal. The devil take one party, and his dam the To pinch her by the band, and, on that token, other, and so they shall be both bestowed! I have The maid hath given consent to go with him. suffered more for their sakes, more, than the vil- Host. Which means she to deceive? father or lanous inconstancy of man's disposition is able to

mother? bear.

Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me: Quick. And have not they suffered? Yes, 1 And here it rests,--that you'll procure the vicar warrant ; speciously one of them; mistress Ford, To stay for me at church, 'twixt twelve and one, good heart, is beaten black and blue, that you can. And, in the lawful name of marrying, not see a white spot about her.

To give our hearts united ceremony. Fal. What tell'st thou me of black and blue? I

Host. Well, husband your device; I'll to the was beaten myself into all the colours of the rain

vicar; bow, and I was like to be apprehended for the Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest. witch of Brentford; but that my admirable dex- Feni. So shall I evermore be bound to thee; terity of wit, my counterfeiting the action of an old|| Besides, I'll make a present recompense. (Exeunt. woman, deliver'd me, the knave constable had set me i' the stocks, i’ the common stocks, for a witch.

Quick. Sir, let me speak with you in your chamber : you shall hear how things warrant, to your content. Here is a letter will

ACT V. say somewhat Good hearts, what ado here is to SCENE I.-A Room in the Garter Inn. Enter bring you together! Sure, one of you does not serve heaven well , that you are so crossed.

Falstaff and Mrs. Quickly. Fal. Come up into my chamber. (Exeunt. Fal. Pry'thee, no more prattling ;--go.-_I'll (1) A game at cards.

(2) In the letter. (3) Fantastically.

h; and, I

hold:1 This is the third time; I hope, good luck || the very instant of Falstaff's and our meeting, they lies in odd numbers. Away, go; they say, there will at once display to the night. is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, Mrs. Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him. chance, or death.--Away.

Mrs. Page. If he be not amazed, he will be Quick. I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do mocked; if he be amazed, he will every way be what I can to get you a pair of horns.

mocked. Fal. Away, I say ; time wears: hold up your Mrs. Ford. We'll betray him finely. head, and mince. [Exit Mrs. Quickly. Mrs. Page. Against such lewdsters, and their

lechery, Enter Ford.

Those that betray them do no treachery.

Mrs. Ford. The hour draws on: To the oak, How now, master Brook? Master Brook, the mat.

to the oak. ter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in

[Exeunt. the Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, and you|SCENE IV.-Windsor Park. Enter Sir Hugh shall see wonders.

Evans, and Fairies. Ford. Went you not to her yesterday, sir, as you told me you had appointed

Eva. Trib, trib, fairies; come; and remember Fal. I went to her, master Brook, as you see, your parts: be pold, I pray you; follow me into like a poor old man: but I came from her, master the pit ; and when I give the watch-'ords, do as I Brook, like a poor old woman. That same knave, ||pid you: Come, come; trib, trib. (Exeunt. Ford her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, master Brook, that ever governed SCENE V.--Another part of the Park. Enter phrensy. I will tell you.--He beat me grievous- Falstaff disguised, with a buck's head on. ly, in the shape of a woman; for in the shape of man, master Brook, I fear not Goliath with a wea

Fal. The Windsor bell bath struck twelve; the ver's beam; because I know also, life is a shuttle. | minute draws on : Now, the hot-blooded gods assist I am in haste; go along with me; I'll tell you all

, Ilme !-Remember, Jore, thou wast a bull for thy master Brook. Since I plucked geese, played Europa ; love set on thy homs.- powerful love! truant, and whipped top, i knew not what it was that, in some respects, makes a beast a man ; in to be beaten, till lately. Follow me: I'll tell you some other, a man a beast.--You were also, Jupiter, strange things of this' knave Ford: on whom to-la swan, for the love of Leda ;-0, omnipotent night I will be revenged, and I will deliver his love ! how near the god drew to the complexion of wife into your hand.--Follow: Strange things in a goose!-A fault done first in the form of a beast; hand, master Brook! follow.

[Exeunt. :-0 Jove, a beastly fault! and then another fault

in the semblance of a fowl; think on't, Jove ; a SCENE II.-Windsor Park. Enter Page, Shal

foul fault.-When gods have hot backs, what shall low, and Slender.

poor men do? For me, I am here a Windsor stag;

and the fattest, I think, i' the forest : send me a Page. Come, come; we'll couch i' the castle- || cool rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss ditch, till we see the light of our fairies.--Remem-limy tallow? Who comes here ? my doe? ber, son Slender, my daughter.

Enter Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page. Slen. Ay, forsooth; I have spoke with her, and we have a nay-word,2 how to know one another. Mrs. Ford. Sir John? art thou there, my deer? I come to ber in white, and cry, mum; she cries, my male deer? budget; and by that we know one another. Fal. My doe with the black scut ?--Let the sky

Shal. That's good too: But what needs cither rain potatoes, let it thunder to the tune of Green your mum, or her budget? the white will decipher Sleeves, hail kissing-comfits, and snow eringoes ; her well enough.--It hath struck ten o'clock. let there come a tempest of provocation, I will Page. The night is dark; light and spirits will || shelter me here.

(Embracing her. become it well. Heaven prosper our sport! No

Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page is come with me, man means evil but the devil, and we shall know sweetheart. him by his horns. Let's away; follow me.

Fal. Divide me like a bribe-buck, each a haunch: (Ereunt.

I will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the

rellows of this wall, and my horns I bequeath your SCENE III. - The Street in Il'indsor. Enter husbands. Am I a woodman? ha! Speak I like Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Dr. Caius.

Herne the hunter?---Why, now is Cupid a child of

conscience; he makes restitution. As I am a true Mrs. Page. Master doctor, my daughter is in spirit, welcome!

[Noise within. green: when you see your time, take her by the Mrs. Page. Alas! what noise ? hand, away with her to the deanery, and despatch Mrs. Ford. Heaven forgive our sins ! it quickly: Go before into the park; we two inust Fal. What should this be? go together.

Mrs. Ford. Caius. I know vat I have to do; Adicu.

Mrs. Page.

Away, away. [They run off Mrs. Page. Fare you well, sir. (Eril Caius.] Fol. I think, the devil will not have me damned, My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse | lest the oil that is in me should set hell on fire; he of Falstaff, as he will chafe at the doctor's marry - I would never else cross me thus. ing my daughter: but 'tis no matter; better a little chiding, than a great deal of heart-break.

Enter Sir Hugh Evans, like a satyr ; Mrs. Quickly Mrs. Ford. Where is Nan now, and ber troop

and Pistol ; Anne Page, as the Fairy Queen, at. of fairies? and the Welsh devil, Hugh?

tended by her brother and others, dressed like Mrs. Page. They are all couched in a pit hard

fairies, with waren tapers on their heads. by Herne's oak, with obscured lights; which, at Quick. Fairies, black, grey, green, and white, (1) Keep to the time. (2) Watch-porn.

(3) Kerper of the forest,

You moon-shine revellers, and shades of night, Lust is but a bloody fire,
You orphan-heirs of fixed destiny,

Kindled with unchaste desire,
Attend your office, and your quality.!.

Fed in heart; whose flames aspire, Crier Hobgoblin, make the fairy, o-yes,

As thoughts do blow them, higher and higher. Pist. Elves, list your names; silence, you airy Pinch him, fuiries, mutually; toys.

Pinch him for his villany; Cricket, to Windsor chimneys shalt thou leap: Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about, Where fires thou find'st unrak'd, and hearths un. Till candles, and star-light, and moonshine, be out.

swept, Tbere pinch the maids as blue as bilberry :3 During this song, the fairies pinch Falstaff. DocOur radiant queen hates sluts, and sluttery. tor Caius comes one way, and steals away a fairy Fal. They are fairies; he, that speaks to them, in green; Slender another way, and takes off a shall die.

fairy in white; and Fenton comes, and steals I'll wink and couch: No man their works must eye. away Mrs. Anne Page. A noise of hunting is

(Lies down upon his face. made within. All the fairies run away. FalEva. Where's Pede ?--Go you, and where you staff pulls off his brick's head, and rises.

find a maid, That, ere she sleep, has thrice her prayers said,

Enter Page, Ford, Mrs. Page, and Mrs. Ford. Raise up the organs of her fantasy,

They lay hold on him. Sleep she as sound as careless infancy; But those as sleep, and think not on their sins, Page. Nay, do not fly: I think, we have watch'd Pinch them, arms, legs, backs, shoulders, sides,

you now; and shins.

Will none but Herne the hunter serve your turn? Quick. About, about;

Mrs. Page. I pray you, come; hold up the jest Search Windsor castle, elves, within and out:

no higher;Strew good luck, ouphes, on every sacred room ; Now, good sir John, how like you Windsor wives? That it may stand ull the perpetual doom, See you these, husband? do not these fair yokest In state as wholesome, as in state 'tis fit;

Become the forest better than the town? Worthy the owner, and the owner it.

Ford. Now, sir, who's a cuckold now ?-Master The several chairs of order look you scour Brook, Falstall's a knave, a cuckoldly knave; bere With juice of balm, and every precious flower: are his horns, master Brook : And, master Brook, Each fair instalment, coat, and several crest, he hath enjoyed nothing of Ford's but his bucka With loyal blazon, evermore be blest !

basket, his cudgel, and twenty pounds of money ; And nightly, meadow-fairies, look, you sing, which must be paid to master Brook; his horses Like to the Garter's compass, in a ring :

are arrested for it, master Brook. The expressure that it bears, green let it be, Mrs. Ford. Sir John, we have had ill luck; we More fertile-fresh than all the field to see ; could never meet. I will never take you for my And, Hony soit qui mal y pense, write,

love again, but I will always count you my deer. In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white; Fal. I do begin to perceive that I am made an Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroidery, Buckled below fair knighthood's bending knee : Ford. Ay, and an ox too; both the proofs are Fairies use flowers for their charactery.

extant. Away; disperse : But, till 'tis one o'clock,

Fal. And these are not fairies? I was three or Our dance of custom, round about the oak four times in the thought, they were not fairies : Of Herne the hunter, let us not forget.

and yet the guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surEva. Pray you, lock hand in hand; yourselves || prise of my powers, drove the grossness of the fopin order set:

pery into a received belief, in despite of the teeth And twenty glow-worms shall our lanterns be, of all rhyme and reason, that they were fairies. To guide our measure round about the tree. See now, how wit may be made a Jack-a-lent, But, stay; I smell a man of middle earth. when 'tis upon ill employment!

Fal. Heavens defend me from that Welch fairy, Eva. Sir John Falstaff, serve Got, and leave lest he transform me to a piece of cheese! your desires, and fairies will not pinse you. Pist. Vile worm, thou wast o'er-look'd even in Ford. Well said, fairy Hugh. thy birth.

Eva. And leave you your jealousies too, I pray Quick. With trial-fire touch me his finger end : you. If he be chaste, the flame will back descend, Ford. I will never mistrust my wife again, till And turn him to no pain; but if he start, thou art able to woo her in good English. It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.

Fal. Have I laid my brain in the sun, and dried Pist. A trial, come.

it, that it wants matter to prevent so gross o'erEva. Come, will this wood take fire? | reaching as this ? Am I ridden with a Welch goat

(They burn him with their tapers. || too? Shall I have a coxcomb of frize ?5 'tis time Fal. Oh, oh, oh!

I were choaked with a piece of toasted cheese. Quick Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire ! Eva. Seese is not good to give putter; your About him, fairies; sing a scornful rhyme : pelly is all putter. And, as you trip, still pinch him to your time. Fal. Seese and putter! Have I lived to stand at

Eva. It is right; indeed be is full of lecheries and the taunt of one that makes fritters of English? iniquity.

This is enough to be the decay of lust and lateSONG.

walking, through the realm. Fie on sinful fantasy!

Mrs. Page. Why, sir John, do you think, though Fie on lust and luxury!

we would have thrust virtue out of our hearts by (1) Fellowship (2) Whortleherry.

(4) Horns which Falstaff had. (3) The letters.

(5) A fool's cap of Welch materials.

ass.

?

How now,

the head and shoulders, and have given ourselves || cozened ; I ha' married un garçon, a boy; un paiwithout scruple to hell, that ever the devil could || san, by gar, a boy ; it is not Anne Page: by gar, I have made you our delight?

am cozened. Ford. What, a bodge-pudding ? a bag of flax? Mrs. Page. Why, did you take her in green? Mrs. Page. A puffed man?

Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy : be gar, I'll Page. Old, cold, withered, and of intolerable || raise all Windsor.

(Exit Caius. entrails.

Ford. This is strange: Who hath got the right Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Satan? || Anne? Page. And as poor as Job ?

Page. My heart misgives me : Here comes masFord. And as wicked as his wife?

ter Fenton. Eva. And given to fornications, and to taverns, and sack, and wine, and metheglins, and to drink

Enter Fenton and Anne Page. ings, and swearings, and starings, pribbles and prabbles ?

master Fenton ? Fal. Well, I am your theme : you have the start Anne. Pardon, good father! good my mother of me; I am dejected; I am not able to answer pardon! the Welch flannel; ignorance itself is a plummet Page. Now, mistress? how chance you went o'er me : use me as you will.

not with master Slender? Fird. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, Mrs. Page. Why went you not with master doc. to one master Brook, that you have cozened of tor, maid ? money, to whom you should have been a pander : Fent. You do amazel her: Hear the truth of it. over and above that you have suffered, I think, to You would have married her most shamefully, repay that money will be a biting affliction.

Where there was no proportion held in love. Mrs. Ford. Nay, husband, let that go to make the truth is, she and I, long since contracted, amends :

Are now so sure that nothing can dissolve us. Forgive that sum, and so we'll all be friends.

The offence is holy, that she hath committed : Ford. Well, here's my hand; all's forgiven at And this deceit loses the name of craft, last.

Of disobedience, or unduteous title ; Page. Yet be cheerful, knight : thou shalt eat a Since therein she doth evitate and shun posset to-night at my house; where I will desire A thousand irreligious cursed hours, thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at thee: Which forced marriage would have brought upon Tell her, master Slender hath married her daughter.

her. Mrs. Page. Doctors doubt that: If Anne Page Ford. Stand not amaz'd : here is no remedy :be my daughter, she is, by this, doctor Caius' wife. In love, the heavens themselves do guide the state ;

[ Aside. Money buys lands

, and wives are sold by fate.

Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special Enter Slender.

stand to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanced. Slen. Whoo, ho! ho ! father Page !

Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heaven Page. Son ! how now? how now, son? have you | What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd.

give thee joy! despatched? Slen. Despatched--I'll make the best in Gloces

Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are

chas'd. tershire know on't; would I were hanged, la, else. Page. Of what, son?

Eva. I will dance and eat plumbs at your wed. Slen. I came yonder at Eton to marry mistress

ding. Anne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy: If it

Mrs. Page. Well, I will muse no further :had not been i' the church, I would have swinged Heaven give you many,

many merry days !

Master Fenton, him, or he should have swinged me. If I did not || Good husband, let us every one go home, think it had been Anne Page, would I might never | And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire ; stir, and 'tis a post-master's boy.

Sir John and all. Page. Upon my life then, you took the wrong. Slen. What need you tell me that? I think so, || To master Brook you yet shall hold your word;

Ford.

Let it be so :-Sir John, when I took a boy for a girl: If I had been mar:|| For he, to-night, shall lie with Mrs. Ford. ried to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him.

(Exeunt. Page. Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you, how you should know my daughter by her garments ?

Slen. I went to her in white, and cry'd mum, and she cry'd budget, as Anne and I had appointed;

Of this play there is a tradition preserved by Mr. and yet it was not Anne, but a post-master's boy. 'l|Rowe, that it was written at the command of Eva. Jeshu! Master Slender, cannot you see character of Falstaff, that she wished it to be disa

Queen Elizabeth, who was so delighted with the but marry poys ?

Page. O, I am vexed at heart : What shall I do? || fused through more plays; but suspecting that it

Mrs. Page. Good George, be not angry: i might pall by continued uniformity, directed the knew of your purpose ; turned my daughter into poet to diversify his manner, by showing him in green; and, indeed, she is now with the doctor at | love. No task is harder than that of writing to the the deanery, and there married.

ideas of another. Shakspeare knew what the queen,

if the story be true, seems not to have known, that Enter Caius.

by any real passion of tenderness, the selfish craft,

the careless jollity, and the lazy luxury of Falstaff Caius. Vere is mistress Page? By gar, I am must bave suffered so much abatement, that little

of his former cast would have remained. Falstaff (1) Confound her by your questions. (2) Avoid. could not love, but by ceasing to be Falstaff. He