Shal. Tut, Sir, I could have told you more; in thete times you ftand on distance, your paffes, Roccado's, and I know not what: 'tis the heart, mafter Page; 'tis here, 'tis here. I have feen the time, with my long fword, I would have made you four tall fellows fkip` like rats. Hot. Here, boys, here, here: fhall we wag? than fight. Page. Have with you; I had rather hear them fcol [Exeunt Hoft, Shallow and Page. Ford. Tho' Page be a fecure fool, (15) and stand fo firmly on his wife's fealty, yet I cannot put off my opinion fo eafily. She was in his company at Page's houfe; and what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look further into't; and I have a difguise to found Falfaff: if I find her honeft, I lofe not my labour; if he be otherwife, 'tis labour well beftow'd. Fal. SCENE changes to the Garter-Inn. Enter Falftaff and Piftol. Will not [Exit I Wiio lend then a pen "World's mine oyfter, which I with fword will open.I will retort the fum in equipage. Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, Sir, you fhould lay my countenance to pawn; I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you, and your couch-fellow, Nim; or elfe you had look'd through the grate, like a gerainy of baboons. I am damn'd in hell for fwearing to gentlemen, my friends, you were good foldiers, and tall fellows. And when miftiefs Bridget lost the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadit it not. Pit. Didft thou not fhare? hadft thou not fifteen pence? (15) And fland so firmly on his wife's frailty,] No, furely; Pazo food tightly to the opinion of her honefty, and would not entertain a thought of her being fail. I have therefore ventur'd to fubftitate a word correspondent to the fenfe requir'd; and one, which our Paet frequently ufes, to fignify conjugal fuith. M 3 Fal Fal. Reafon, you rogue; reafon : think'ft thou, T'H endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you: (16) go, a thert knive, and a throng, to your manor of Pickt hatch; go, you'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue! you ftand upon your honour! why, thou unconfinable bafenefs, it is as much as I can do to keep the term of my honour precife. I, I, I myfel: fometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceffity, am fain to fhuffle, to hedge and to lurch; and yet you rogue will enfonce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-letrice phrafes, and your bold beating oaths, under the fiel ter of your honour! you will not do it, you! Pit. I do relent; what wouldst thou more of man? Reb. Sir, here's a woman would speak with you. Enter Miftrefs Quickly, Quic. Give your worship good morrow. Quic. Not fo, an't pleafe your worship. Fal. Good maid, then. Quic. I'll be fworn, as my mother was, the firft hour I was born. Fal. I do believe the fwearer : what with me? Quic. Shall I vouchfafe your worship a word or two? Fal Two thoufand, fair woman, and I'll vouchfale thee the hearing. Quic. There is one miftrefs Ford, Sir: I pray, come a little nearer this ways: I myfelf dwell with Mr. Do&tor Caius: Fal. Well, on: miftrefs Ford, you fay, (16) Go, a fhort knife, and a thong,] All the old copies have it, throng as I believe, the Author defign'd; i. e. a fort knive and a croue, the two requifites for a pick-pocket. Fickt-hatch, as we may find by many places in Ben Jobn on, was a noted harbour for thieves and frumpets. Quit Quic. Your worship fays very true: I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways. Fal. I warrant thee, no body hears: mine own people, mine own people. Quic. Are they fo? heav'n blefs them, and make them his fervants. Fal. Well: miftrefs Ford, what of her? Quic. Why, Sir, fhe's a good creature. Lord, Lord, your worship's a wanton; well, heav'n forgive you, and all of us, I pray Fal. Mistress Ford, come, miftrefs Ford : Quic. Marry, this is the fhort 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 Windsor, could never have brought her to fuch a canary. Yet there has been Knights, and Lords, and Gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift, fmelling fo fweetly; all mufk; and fo rufsling, 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, warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myfelf twenty angels given me this morning: but I defy all angels, in any fuch fort as they fay, but in the way of honefty; 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; but, I warrant you,, all is one with her. : Fal. But what fays fhe to me? be brief, my good She-Mercury Quic. Marry, he hath receiv'd your letter, for the which the thanks you a thousand times; and the gives you to notify, that her husband will be abfence from his houfe between ten and eleven. Fal. Ten and eleven. Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, fhe fays, 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 jealousyman; 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 melfenger to your worship; miftrets Page has her hearty commendat ons to you too; and let me tell you in your ear, fhe's as fartuous a civil modeft wire, and one (I tell you, that will not mifs you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windfer, whoe'er be the other; and the bade me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home, but, fhe hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman fo doat upon a man; furely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth. Fal. Not, I affure thee; fetting the attraction of my good parts afide, I have no other charms. Quc. Blefing on your heart for't. Fal. But I pray thee, tell me this; has Ford's wife, and Page's wife, acquainted cach other how they love me? Quic. That were a jeft, indeed; they have not fo little grace, I hope; that were a trek, indeed! but mitreis Page would defire you to fend her your little. page, of all loves her husband has a marvelous, infection to the little page; and, truly, mafter Page is an honeft man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life, than he does; do what he will, fay what fie will, take all, pay all go to bed when the lift, rife when the lift, all is as fhe will; and, truly, fhe deserves. it; for if there be a kind woman in Windsor, truly, the is one. You must fend her your page; no remedy. Fal. Why, I will. Quic. Nay, but do fo then; and, look уси, he may come and go between you both, and in any cafe have a ney-word, that you may know one another's mind: and the boy never need to underftand any thing; for wicked'tis not good, that children fhould know any nefs old folks, you know, have difcretion, as they fay, and know the world. Fal. Fal. Fare thee well; commend me to them both: there's my purfe, I am yet thy debtor. Boy, go along with this woman. This news diftracts me. [Exe. Quick. and Robin. Pift. This punk is one of Cupid's carriers: Clap on more fails; purfue; up with your fights; Give fire! fhe is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! [Exit Piftol Fal. Say't thou fo, old Jack? go thy ways; I'll make more of thy old body, than I have done; wilk they yet look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expence of fo much money, be now a gainer? good body, E than thee; let them fay, 'tis grofsly done; fo be is. fairly done, no matter. Enter Bardo'ph. Bard. Sir John, there's one mafter Erook below would fain fpeak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath fent your worship a morning's draught of fack. Fal. Brook, is his name? Bard. Ay, Sir. Fal. Call him in; [Exit Bardolph.] fuch Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erow with fuch liquor. Ah! ah! mistress Ford and mitrefs Page, have I encompafs'd you go to, via! Re-enter Bardolph, with Ford difguis'd. Ford. Blefs you, Sir. Fal. And you, Sir; would you fpeak with me? upon you. Fal. You're welcome; what's your will give us. leave, drawer. [Exit Bardolph. Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much my name is Brook. Fal. Good mafter Brock, I defire more acquaintance: of you. Ford. Good Sir John, I fue for yours; not to charge. you; for I mut let you understand, I think myself in, better plight for a lender than you are, the which hath fomething M. 5. |