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thew you to the contrary: O, mistress Page, give a fine baited delay, till he hath pawn'd his horfes to me fome counfel!

Mrs. Page. What's the matter, woman? Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for one trifiing refpect, I could come to fuch honour!

Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman; take the honour: What is it? difpenfe with trifles; -what is it?

Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment, or fo, I could be knighted.

Mrs. Page. What?-thou lieft!-Sir Alice Ford! -Thefe knights will hack; and so thou shouldít not alter the article of thy gentry 4.

Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light 2: -here, read, read; -perceive how I might be knighted.-1 shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking: And yet he would not fwear; prais'd women's modefty; and gave fuch orderly and well-behav'd reproof to all uncomelinefs, that I would have fworn his difpofition wou'd have gone to the truth of his words: but they do no more adhere, and keep place together, than the hundredth pfalm to the tune of Green Sleeves 3. What tempest, I trow, threw this whale, with fo many tuns of oil in his belly, afhore at Windfor? How shall I be reveng'd on him? I think, the best way were to entertain him with hope, till the wicked fire of luft have melted him in his own greafe. Did you ever hear the like?

Mrs. Page. Letter for letter; but that the name of Page and Ford differs!-To thy great comfort in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, I proteft, mine never fhall. I warrant, he hath a thoufand of these letters, writ with blank space for different names, (fure more) and there are of the second edition: He will print them out of doubt; for he cares not what he puts into the 4 press, when he would put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will find you twenty lafcivious turtles, ere one chafte man.

mine Hort of the Garter.

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will confent to act any villainy againft him that may not fully the chariness 5 of our honesty. Oh, that my husband faw this letter! it would give eternal food to his jealoufy.

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

Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman.
Mrs. Page. Let's confult together against this
greafy knight: Come hither.
[They retire.

Enter Ford with Pistol, Page with Nym.
Ford. Well, I hope it be not fo.
Pift. Hore is a curtail-dog in fome affairs:
Sir John aflects thy wife.

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Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Nym. [Speaking to Page.] And this is true; Ibke not the humour of lying. He hath wrong'd me in fome humours: I should have bome the humour'd letter to her; but I have a fword, and it thall bite upon my neceffity. He lover your wife; there's the fhort and the long. My name is corporal Nym; i tpeak, and I avouch. 'Tis true;-my name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife.--Adieu! Ilove not the humour of bread and cheese; and there's the [Exit Nym.

Mrs. Ford. Why, this is the very fame; the very hand, the very words: What doth he think of us? Mrs. Page. Nay, I know not: It makes me al-humour of it. Adieu.

mott ready to wrangle with mine own honcity. I'll entertain myfolf like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, fure, unless he knew fome frain in me, that I know not myself, Ife would never have boarded me in this fury.

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

Mrs. Page. So will I; if he come under my hatcher, I'll never to fea again. Let's be reveng'di on him: let's appoint him a mecting; give him a thow of comfort in his fuit; and lead him on with

Page. The bumour of it, quoth a'! here's a fellow frights humour out of is wits.

Ford. I will feek out Falltaff.

Page. I never heard fuch a drawling, affecting

rogue.

Ford. If I do find it, well.

Page. I will not believe fuch a Cat..ian, though the prieft o' the town commended him for a true man.

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

1 To back, is an expreffion ufed in another scene of this play, to fignify to do mischief. The fenfe of this paffage may therefore be, Thefe knights are a riotous, diffolute fort of people, aud on that account thou shouldit not wish to be of the number. 2 That is, we have more proof than we want. 3 A popular ballad of those times. Press is ufed here ambiguously, for a press to print, and a pref. to squeeze 5 That is, the caution which ought to attend on it. A curtail-dog was a dog whof tail, by the laws of the foreft, was cut off, from his belonging to an unqualified perfon. 7 A medley. 8 By a Catalan, tome kind of tharper was probably meant.

Mrr

Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George? Hark you. fir Hugh the Welch prieft, and Caius the French Mrs. Ford. How now, fweet Frank? why art doctor.

thou melancholy?

Ford. I melancholy! I am not melancholy. Get you home, go.

Mrs. Ford. Faith, thou haft fome crotchets in thy head now. Will you go, mistress Page?

Mrs. Pagr. Have with you. You'll come to dinner, Goorge?-Look, who comes yonder: the fhall be our meisenger to this paltry knight.

[hide to Mrs. Ford.

Enter Mitress Quickly.

Mrs. Ford. Trust me, I thought on her: fhe'll fit it. Mirs. Page. You are come to fee my daughter Anne?

Quic. Ay, forfooth: And, I pray, how does good

matreis Anne?

Mr. Page. Go in with us, and fee; we have an hour's talk with you.

[Ex. Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quickly. Page. How now, mafter 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?

Pige. Hang'em, fiaves! I do not think the knight
would offer it: but thefe, that accuse him in his in-
tent towards our wives, are a yoke of his difcarded
men; very rogues, now they be out of fervice.
Ford. Were they his men ?
Page. Marry, were they.

Ford. I like it never the better for that. Does he lie at the Garter?

Page. Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend his voyage towards my wife, I would turn her loofe to him; and what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head.

Ford. Good mine hoft o' the Garter, a word with you. Hoft. What fay'st thou, bully-rook?

[They go a little afide. Shal. [To Page.] Will you go with us to behold it? My merry hoft hath had the meafuring of their weapons; and, I think, he hath appointed them contrary places: for, believe me, I hear the parfon is no jester. Hark, I will tell you what our fport fhall be.

Hoft. Hait thou no fuit against my knight, my gueft-cavalier?

Ford. None, I preteft: but I'll give you a pottle of burnt fack to give me recourse to him, and tell him, my name is Brook, only for a jeft.

Hoft. My hand, bully thou shalt have egrefs
and regrefs; faid I well? and thy name thall be
Brook: It is a merry knight.
Will you go an-

heirs 2?

Sbal. Have with you, mine hoft. Page. I have heard, the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier.

Shal. Tut, fir, I could have told you more: In thefe times you ftand on diftance, your paffes, ftoccado's, and I know not what: 'tis the heart, mafter Page; 'tis here, 'tis here. I have seen the time, with my long fword 3, I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats.

Hoft. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? Page. Have with you:-I had rather hear them fcold than fight. [Excunt Hoft, Shallow & Page.

Ford. Though Page be a fecure fool, and stand fo firmly on his wife's frailty 4, yet I cannot put off my opinion fo cafily: She was in his company ap Page's houfe; and, what they made there, I know Ford. I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would not. Well, I will look further into 't: and I be loth to turn them together: A man may be too have a dirguife to found Falstaff: If I find her hoconfident: I would have nothing lie on my head: neft, I lofe not my labour; if the be otherwife, I cannot be thus fatisfied.

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'tis labour well beftow'd.

SCENE

[Exit,

11.

The Garter inn.
Enter Faljloff and Pistol.

Fal. I will nor lend thee a penny.

Pifl. Why, then the world's mine oyster 5, which I with fword will open. I will retort the fum in equipage6.

Fel. Not a penny. I have been content, fir, you should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow, Nym; or elfe you had look'd through the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am damn'd in hell, for swearing to gentlemen,

3 Before the

That is, cheats. 2 This passage is evidently obscure. Mr. Steevens proposes to read, Will you go on, hearts? in confirmation of which conjecture, he obferves, that the Hoft calls Dr. Caius Heart of Elder; and adds, in a fubfequent scene of this play, Farewell, my hearts. introduction of rapiers, the swords in ufe were of an enorinous length. Shallow here cenfures the innovation of lighter weapons. 4 To stand on any thing, fignifies to insist on it. To Ford, who is jealous, all chality in women appears as frailty. 5 Dr. Gray fuppofes Shakspeare to allude to an old proverb, "The mayor of Northampton opens asters with his dagger:" that is, to keep them at a fufficient distance from his nose, that town being fourscore miles from the sca. 6 Dr. Warburton conjectures the meaning of this to be, I will pay you again in stolen goods; and his opinion is confumed by that of Mr. Farmer,

my friends, you were good foldiers, and tall fellows: and when mistress Bridget loft the handle of her fan 2, I took 't upon mine honour, thou hadst it

not.

Pift. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence?

Fal. Reason, you rogue, reafon: Think'ft thou, I'll endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you:-go. A fhort knife and a thong, -to your manor of Pickt-hatch 3, 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 precife. I, I, I myself sometimes leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceffity, am fain to shuffle, to hedge, and to Jurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice 5 phrafes, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you? Pift. I do relent: what wouldft thou more of

man?

Enter Robin.

Fal. Well: mistress Ford; what of her

Quic. Why, fir, 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, Quic. Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windfor, could never have brought her to fuch a canary. Yet there has heen knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, (all mufk) and fo rufling, I warrant you, in filk and gold; and in fuch alligant terms; and in fuch wine and fugar of the best, and the faireft, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myself twenty angels given me this morning but I defy all angels, (in any fuch fort as they fay) but in the way of honesty :-and, I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup with the proudest of them all and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, penfioners 7; but, I warrant

Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with you. you, all is one with her.

Fal. Let her approach.

Enter Mistress Quickly.

Quic. Give your worship good-morrow.

Fal. Good-morrow, good wife.

Quic. Not fo, an't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

Quic. I'll be fworn; as my mother was, the first hour I was born.

Fal. I do believe the swearer: What with me?
Quiç. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or

two?

Fal. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll vouchsafe thee the hearing.

Quic. There is one mistress Ford, fir;-I pray, come a little nearer this ways:-I myself dwell with mafter doctor Caius.

Fal. Well, on: Mistress Ford, you fay, Quic. Your worship fays very true: I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways.

Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears; -mine own people, mine own people.

Quic. Are they fo? Heaven bless them, and

make them his fervants!

Fal. But what fays the to me? be brief, my good she Mercury.

Quic. Marry, the hath receiv'd your letter; for the which the thanks you a thousand times and The gives you to notify, that her husband will bę abfence from his house between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and see the picture, she says, that you wot of; -mafter Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the fweet woman leads an ill life with him; he's a very jealoufy man; the leads a very frampold life with him, good heart.

Fal. Ten and eleven: Woman, commend me to her; I will not fail her.

Quic. Why, you fay well: But I have another messenger to your worship: Mittress Page has her hearty commendations to you too and let me tell you in your ear, she's as fartuous a civil modeft wife, and one (I tell you) that will not mifs you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windfor, whoe'er be the other and the bade me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home;

2 Fans,

4 A

A tall fellow, in the time of our author, meant, a flout, bold, or courageous perfon. in Shakspeare's time, were more costly than they are at prefent, as well as of a different construction. They confifted of oftrich feathers, (or others of equal length and flexibility) which were stuck into handles. The richer fort of these were compofed of gold, filver, or ivory of curious workmanship. The fum of forty pounds was fometimes given for a fan in the time of queen Elizabeth. 3 A noted place for thieves and pickpockets. Pickt-hatch probably is derived from the pickes plaeed upon the hatches of the doors of the bawdy-houses of those times; a precaution which perhaps the unfeafonable and obstreperous irruptions of the gallants of that age might render neceffary. foonce is a petty fortification: to enfconce, therefore, is to protect as with a fort. $ Your ale-house converfation. Red lattice at the doors and windows, were formerly the external infignia of an alehouse. Hence the prefent chequers; and it is very remarkable, that shops, with the fign of the chequers, were common among the Romans. 6 This is the name of a brifk light dance, and not therefore improperly used in vulgar language for any hurry or perturbation perhaps, however, it is not improbable, that canaries is only a mistake of Mrs. Quickly's for quandaries. 7 A penfioner, in those times, meant a gentleman always attendant upon the perfon of the prince. $ To wot is to know. 9 Ray fays, that frampaid, or frampard, fignifics froiful, peevish, crefs, froward.

but

but the hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman fo dote upon a man; furely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth.

Fal. Not I, I affure thee; fetting the att action of my good parts afide, I have no other charms. Lic. Bleifing 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?

Quic. That were a jeft, indeed! they have not so little grace, I hope: that were a trick, indeed! Bat mitreis Page would defire you to fend her your little page, of all loves; her hutband has a marvellous infection to the little page; and, truly, master Page is an honeft man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life than she does; do what the will, fay what the will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she lift, rife when the lift, all is as the will; and, truly, the deserves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windfor, the is one, You muit fend her your page; no remedy.

Fal. Why, I will.

Quic. Nay, but do so then: and, look you, he may come and go between you both; and, in any cafe, have a nay-word2, that you may know one another's mind, and the boy never need to understand any thing; for 'tis not good that children

Ford. I make bold, to press with fo little prepa ration upon you.

Fal. You're welcome: What's your will? Give us leave, drawer. [E::it Bardolph.

Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook.

Fal. Good matter Brook, I defire more ac quaintance of you.

Ford. Good fir John, I fue for yours: not to charge you; for I must let you understand, I think myself in better plight for a lender than you are: the which hath fomething embolden'd me to this unfeafon'd intrufion; for they say, if money go before, all ways do lie open.

Fal. Money is a good foldier, fir, and will on,

Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles me: if you will help me to bear it, fir 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, fir, if you will give me the hearing.

Fal. Speak, good master Brook; I shall be glad to be your fervant.

Ford. Sir, I hear you are a fcholar, I will be brief with you; and you have been a man long known to me, though I had never fo good means,

fhould know any wickedness: old folks, you know, as defire, to make myself acquainted with you. I have difcretion, as they fay, and know the world. fhall difcover a thing to you, wherein I must very Fal. Fare thee well: commend me to them much lay open mine own imperfection: but, good both: there's my purfe; I am yet thy debtor.- fir John, as you have one eye upon my follies, as Boy, go along with this woman. This news dattracts me! [Exeunt Quickly and Kobin.

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you hear them unfolded, turn another into the re gifter of your own; that I may pass with a reproof the eafier, fith 7 you yourself know, how easy it is to be fuch an offender.

Fal. Very well, fir; proceed.

Ford. There is a gentlewoman in this town, her husband's name is Ford. Fal. Well, fir,

Ford. I have long lov'd her, and, I protest to you, beftow'd mach on her; follow'd her with a doting obfervance; engrofs'd opportunities to meet her; fee'd every flight occafion, that could but niggardly give me fight of her; not only bought many presents to give her, but have given largely to many, to knoww what the would have given; briefly, I have purfued her, as love hath pursued me; which hath been, on the wing of all occafions. But whatsoever I have merited, cither in my mind, or in my means, meed 8, I am fure, I have received none; unless experience be a jewel; that I have purchas'd at an infinite rate; and that hath taught me to fay this;

Love like a shadow fiies, when fubftance love pursues, Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues. Fal. Have you received no promise of fatisfaction at her hands?

Ford. Never.

Faf. Have you importun'd her to such a purpose?

Of all loves, fignifies no more than to fend him by all means. 2 That is, a watch-word. pink is a veffel of the small craft, entployed as a carrier for merchants. 4 Fights are cloaths hung round the ship to conceal the men from the enenty, and clofe-fights are bulk-heads, or any other thelter that the fabrick of a ship affords, 5 A cant phrafe of exultation common in the old plays, • Meaning, not with a view of putting you to expence, 7 That is, fince. & That is, reward,

3 A

enjoy!

Ford. Never.

Fal. Of what quality was your love then?

Ford. Like a fair house, built upon another man's ground; fo 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. Some fay, that, though the appear honeft to me, yet, in other places, she enlargeth her mirth so far, that there is shrewd conftruction made of her. Now, fir John, here is the heart of my purpose: You are a gentleman of excellent breed ing, admirable difcourie, of great admittance 1, authentic in your place and perfon, generally allow'd2 for your many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations.

Fal. O fir!

Ford. Believe it, for you know it: - There is moncy; fpend it, spend it; spend more; spend all I have; only give me fo much of your time in exchange of it, as to lay an amiable fiege to the honesty of this Ford's wife: ufe your art of wooing, win her to confent to you; if any man may, you may as foon as any.

Fal. Hang him, poor cuckoldly knavet I know him not:-yet I wrong him to call hintsor; they fay, the jealous wittoly knave hath maffes of money; for the which, his wife seems to me well-favour'd. I will use her as the key of the cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my harveft-home.

Ford. I would you knew Ford, fir; that you might avoid him, if you faw him.

Fal. Hang him, mechanical falt-butter rogue! F will ftare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel; it fhall hang like a meteor o'er the cuckold's horns: master Brook, thou shalt know, I will predominate over the peafant, and thou shalt lye with his wife. - Come to me foon at night :Ford's a knave, and I will aggravate his stile; thou, master Brook, shalt know him for knave and cuckold:-come to me foon at night.

[Exit.

Ford. What a damn'd Epicurean rascal is this! My heart is ready to crack with impatience. Who days, this is improvident jealousy? my wife hath fent to him, the hour is fix'd, the match is made:Would any man have thought this? See the hell of having a falfe woman! my bed shall be abus'd, my coffers ranfack'd, my reputation gnawn at; and I shall not only receive this villainous wrong, but stand under the adoption of abominable terms, and

Fal. Would it apply well to the vehemence of your affection, that I should win what you would by him that does me this wrong. Terms! names! enjoy? methinks, you prescribe to yourself very - Amaimon founds well; Lucifer, well; Barbaprepofteroufly. fon, well; yet they are devils' additions, the names

Ford. O, understand my drift! she dwells so fe- of fiends: but cuckold! wittol! cuckold! the devil curely on the excellency of her honour, that the himself hath not fuch a name. Page is an afs, a folly of my foul dares not present itself; she is too fecure afs; he will truft his wife, he will not be bright to be look'd againít. Now, could I come to jealous: I will rather truft a Fleming with my her with any detection in my hand, my defires had butter, parfon Hugh the Welchman with my cheese, 3 inftance and argument to commend themselves; an Irishman with my aqua vitæ bottle, or a thief to I could drive her then from the ward + of her purity, walk my ambling gelding, than my wife with herher reputation, her marriage-vow, and a thoufand felf; then she plots, then the ruminates, then she other her defences, which now are too too ftrongly devifes: and what they think in their hearts they embattled againft me; What say you to't, fir John? may effect, they will break their hearts but they

Fal. Master Brook, I will firft 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 fir!

Fal. Mafter Brook, I fay you shall.
Ford. Want no money, fir 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 affiftant, 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 fpeed.

Ford. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know Ford, fir?

will effect. Heaven be prais'd for my jealoufy!-
Eleven o'clock the hour; -I will prevent this, de-
tect my wife, be reveng'd on Falstaff, and laugh at
Page: I will about it; better three hours too foon,
than a minute too late, Fie, fie, fie! cuckold!
cuckold! cuckold!
[Exit

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Meaning, admitted into all, or the greatest companies. 2 Allowed is approved. 3 Instance 4 Meaning, the defence of it.

is example.

Rug

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