Mis.Page. There is an old tale goes, that Herne the

Hunter (sometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest)

Doth all the winter time, at still midnight

Walke round about an Oake, with great rag'd-hornes,

And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,

And make milch-kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaine

In a most hideous and dreadfull manner.

You haue heard of such a Spirit, and well you know

The superstitious idle-headed-Eld

Receiu'd, and did deliuer to our age

This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth

Page. Why yet there want not many that do feare

In deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake:

But what of this?

Mist.Ford. Marry this is our deuise,

That Falstaffe at that Oake shall meete with vs

Page. Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,

And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether,

What shall be done with him? What is your plot?

Mist.Pa. That likewise haue we thoght vpon: & thus:

Nan Page (my daughter) and my little sonne,

And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresse

Like Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,

With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,

And rattles in their hands; vpon a sodaine,

As Falstaffe, she, and I, are newly met,

Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at once

With some diffused song: Vpon their sight

We two, in great amazednesse will flye:

Then let them all encircle him about,

And Fairy-like to pinch the vncleane Knight;

And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,

In their so sacred pathes, he dares to tread

In shape prophane

Ford. And till he tell the truth,

Let the supposed Fairies pinch him, sound,

And burne him with their Tapers

Mist.Page. The truth being knowne,

We'll all present our selues; dis-horne the spirit,

And mocke him home to Windsor

Ford. The children must

Be practis'd well to this, or they'll neu'r doo't

Eua. I will teach the children their behauiours: and I

will be like a Iacke-an-Apes also, to burne the Knight

with my Taber

Ford. That will be excellent,

Ile go buy them vizards

Mist.Page. My Nan shall be the Queene of all the

Fairies, finely attired in a robe of white

Page. That silke will I go buy, and in that time

Shall M[aster]. Slender steale my Nan away,

And marry her at Eaton: go, send to Falstaffe straight

Ford. Nay, Ile to him againe in name of Broome,

Hee'l tell me all his purpose: sure hee'l come

Mist.Page. Feare not you that: Go get vs properties

And tricking for our Fayries

Euans. Let vs about it,

It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaueries

Mis.Page. Go Mist[ris]. Ford,

Send quickly to Sir Iohn, to know his minde:

Ile to the Doctor, he hath my good will,

And none but he to marry with Nan Page:

That Slender (though well landed) is an Ideot:

And he, my husband best of all affects:

The Doctor is well monied, and his friends

Potent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,

Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Host, Simple, Falstaffe, Bardolfe, Euans, Caius, Quickly.

Host. What wouldst thou haue? (Boore) what? (thick

skin) speake, breathe, discusse: breefe, short, quicke,

snap

Simp. Marry Sir, I come to speake with Sir Iohn Falstaffe

from M[aster]. Slender

Host. There's his Chamber, his House, his Castle,

his standing-bed and truckle-bed: 'tis painted about

with the story of the Prodigall, fresh and new: go, knock

and call: hee'l speake like an Anthropophaginian vnto

thee: Knocke I say

Simp. There's an olde woman, a fat woman gone vp

into his chamber: Ile be so bold as stay Sir till she come

downe: I come to speake with her indeed

Host. Ha? A fat woman? The Knight may be robb'd:

Ile call. Bully-Knight, Bully Sir Iohn: speake from thy

Lungs Military: Art thou there? It is thine Host, thine

Ephesian cals

Fal. How now, mine Host?

Host. Here's a Bohemian-Tartar taries the comming

downe of thy fat-woman: Let her descend (Bully) let

her descend: my Chambers are honourable: Fie, priuacy?

Fie

Fal. There was (mine Host) an old-fat-woman euen

now with me, but she's gone

Simp. Pray you Sir, was't not the Wise-woman of

Brainford?

Fal. I marry was it (Mussel-shell) what would you

with her?

Simp. My Master (Sir) my master Slender, sent to her

seeing her go thorough the streets, to know (Sir) whether

one Nim (Sir) that beguil'd him of a chaine, had the

chaine, or no

Fal. I spake with the old woman about it

Sim. And what sayes she, I pray Sir?

Fal. Marry shee sayes, that the very same man that

beguil'd Master Slender of his Chaine, cozon'd him of it

Simp. I would I could haue spoken with the Woman

her selfe, I had other things to haue spoken with her

too, from him

Fal. What are they? let vs know

Host. I: come: quicke

Fal. I may not conceale them (Sir.)

Host. Conceale them, or thou di'st

Sim. Why sir, they were nothing but about Mistris

Anne Page, to know if it were my Masters fortune to

haue her, or no

Fal. 'Tis, 'tis his fortune

Sim. What Sir?

Fal. To haue her, or no: goe; say the woman told

me so

Sim. May I be bold to say so Sir?

Fal. I Sir: like who more bold

Sim. I thanke your worship: I shall make my Master

glad with these tydings

Host. Thou art clearkly: thou art clearkly (Sir Iohn)

was there a wise woman with thee?

Fal. I that there was (mine Host) one that hath taught

me more wit, then euer I learn'd before in my life: and

I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for my learning

Bar. Out alas (Sir) cozonage: meere cozonage

Host. Where be my horses? speake well of them varletto

Bar. Run away with the cozoners: for so soone as

I came beyond Eaton, they threw me off, from behinde

one of them, in a slough of myre; and set spurres, and

away; like three Germane-diuels; three Doctor Faustasses

Host. They are gone but to meete the Duke (villaine)

doe not say they be fled: Germanes are honest men

Euan. Where is mine Host?

Host. What is the matter Sir?

Euan. Haue a care of your entertainments: there is a

friend of mine come to Towne, tels mee there is three

Cozen-Iermans, that has cozend all the Hosts of Reading,

of Maidenhead; of Cole-brooke, of horses and money: I

tell you for good will (looke you) you are wise, and full

of gibes, and vlouting-stocks: and 'tis not conuenient

you should be cozoned. Fare you well

Cai. Ver' is mine Host de Iarteere?

Host. Here (Master Doctor) in perplexitie, and doubtfull

delemma

Cai. I cannot tell vat is dat: but it is tell-a-me, dat

you make grand preparation for a Duke de Iamanie: by

my trot: der is no Duke that the Court is know, to

come: I tell you for good will: adieu

Host. Huy and cry, (villaine) goe: assist me Knight, I

am vndone: fly, run: huy, and cry (villaine) I am vndone

Fal. I would all the world might be cozond, for I

haue beene cozond and beaten too: if it should come

to the eare of the Court, how I haue beene transformed;

and how my transformation hath beene washd, and

cudgeld, they would melt mee out of my fat drop by

drop, and liquor Fishermens-boots with me: I warrant

they would whip me with their fine wits, till I were as

crest-falne as a dride-peare: I neuer prosper'd, since I

forswore my selfe at Primero: well, if my winde were

but long enough; I would repent: Now? Whence come

you?

Qui. From the two parties forsooth

Fal. The Diuell take one partie, and his Dam the

other: and so they shall be both bestowed; I haue suffer'd

more for their sakes; more then the villanous inconstancy

of mans disposition is able to beare

Qui. And haue not they suffer'd? Yes, I warrant; speciously

one of them; Mistris Ford (good heart) is beaten

blacke and blew, that you cannot see a white spot about

her

Fal. What tell'st thou mee of blacke, and blew? I

was beaten my selfe into all the colours of the Rainebow:

and I was like to be apprehended for the Witch

of Braineford, but that my admirable dexteritie of wit,

my counterfeiting the action of an old woman deliuer'd

me, the knaue Constable had set me ith' Stocks, ith' common

Stocks, for a Witch

Qu, Sir: let me speake with you in your Chamber,

you shall heare how things goe, and (I warrant) to your

content: here is a Letter will say somewhat: (good-hearts)

what adoe here is to bring you together? Sure,

one of you do's not serue heauen well, that you are so

cross'd

Fal. Come vp into my Chamber.

Exeunt.

Scena Sexta.

Enter Fenton, Host.

Host. Master Fenton, talke not to mee, my minde is

heauy: I will giue ouer all

Fen. Yet heare me speake: assist me in my purpose,

And (as I am a gentleman) ile giue thee

A hundred pound in gold, more then your losse

Host. I will heare you (Master Fenton) and I will (at

the least) keepe your counsell

Fen. From time to time, I haue acquainted you

With the deare loue I beare to faire Anne Page,

Who, mutually, hath answer'd my affection,

(So farre forth, as her selfe might be her chooser)

Euen to my wish; I haue a letter from her

Of such contents, as you will wonder at;

The mirth whereof, so larded with my matter,

That neither (singly) can be manifested

Without the shew of both: fat Falstaffe

Hath a great Scene; the image of the iest

Ile show you here at large (harke good mine Host:)

To night at Hernes-Oke, iust 'twixt twelue and one,

Must my sweet Nan present the Faerie-Queene:

The purpose why, is here: in which disguise

While other Iests are something ranke on foote,

Her father hath commanded her to slip

Away with Slender, and with him, at Eaton

Immediately to Marry: She hath consented: Now Sir,

Her Mother, (euen strong against that match

And firme for Doctor Caius) hath appointed

That he shall likewise shuffle her away,

While other sports are tasking of their mindes,

And at the Deanry, where a Priest attends

Strait marry her: to this her Mothers plot

She seemingly obedient) likewise hath

Made promise to the Doctor: Now, thus it rests,

Her Father meanes she shall be all in white;

And in that habit, when Slender sees his time

To take her by the hand, and bid her goe,

She shall goe with him: her Mother hath intended

(The better to deuote her to the Doctor;

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

That quaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab'd,

With Ribonds-pendant, flaring 'bout her head;

And when the Doctor spies his vantage ripe,

To pinch her by the hand, and on that token,

The maid hath giuen consent to go with him

Host. Which meanes she to deceiue? Father, or Mother

Fen. Both (my good Host) to go along with me:

And heere it rests, that you'l procure the Vicar

To stay for me at Church, 'twixt twelue, and one,

And in the lawfull name of marrying,

To giue our hearts vnited ceremony

Host. Well, husband your deuice; Ile to the Vicar,

Bring you the Maid, you shall not lacke a Priest

Fen. So shall I euermore be bound to thee;

Besides, Ile make a present recompence.

Exeunt.

Actus Quintus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Falstoffe, Quickly, and Ford.

Fal. Pre'thee no more pratling: go, Ile hold, this is

the third time: I hope good lucke lies in odde numbers:

Away, go, they say there is Diuinity in odde Numbers,

either in natiuity, chance, or death: away

Qui. Ile prouide you a chaine, and Ile do what I can

to get you a paire of hornes

Fall. Away I say, time weares, hold vp your head &

mince. How now M[aster]. Broome? Master Broome, the matter

will be knowne to night, or neuer. Bee you in the

Parke about midnight, at Hernes-Oake, and you shall

see wonders

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday (Sir) as you told

me you had appointed?

Fal. I went to her (Master Broome) as you see, like a

poore-old-man, but I came from her (Master Broome)

like a poore-old-woman; that same knaue (Ford hir husband)

hath the finest mad diuell of iealousie in him (Master

Broome) that euer gouern'd Frensie. I will tell you,

he beate me greeuously, in the shape of a woman: (for in

the shape of Man (Master Broome) I feare not Goliath

with a Weauers beame, because I know also, life is a

Shuttle) I am in hast, go along with mee, Ile tell you all

(Master Broome:) since I pluckt Geese, plaide Trewant,

and whipt Top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, till

lately. Follow mee, Ile tell you strange things of this

knaue Ford, on whom to night I will be reuenged, and I

will deliuer his wife into your hand. Follow, straunge

things in hand (M[aster]. Broome) follow.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Page, Shallow, Slender.

Page. Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Castle-ditch,

till we see the light of our Fairies. Remember son Slender,

my

Slen. I forsooth, I haue spoke with her, & we haue

a nay-word, how to know one another. I come to her

in white, and cry Mum; she cries Budget, and by that

we know one another

Shal. That's good too: But what needes either your

Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well

enough. It hath strooke ten a' clocke

Page. The night is darke, Light and Spirits will become

it wel: Heauen prosper our sport. No man means

euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes.

Lets away: follow me.

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Mist.Page, Mist.Ford, Caius.

Mist.Page. Mr Doctor, my daughter is in green, when

you see your time, take her by the hand, away with her

to the Deanerie, and dispatch it quickly: go before into

the Parke: we two must go together

Cai. I know vat I haue to do, adieu

Mist.Page. Fare you well (Sir:) my husband will not

reioyce so much at the abuse of Falstaffe, as he will chafe

at the Doctors marrying my daughter: But 'tis no matter;

better a little chiding, then a great deale of heartbreake

Mist.Ford. Where is Nan now? and her troop of Fairies?

and the Welch-deuill Herne?

Mist.Page. They are all couch'd in a pit hard by Hernes

Oake, with obscur'd Lights; which at the very instant

of Falstaffes and our meeting, they will at once display to

the night

Mist.Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him

Mist.Page. If he be not amaz'd he will be mock'd: If

he be amaz'd, he will euery way be mock'd

Mist.Ford. Wee'll betray him finely

Mist.Page. Against such Lewdsters, and their lechery,

Those that betray them, do no treachery

Mist.Ford. The houre drawes-on: to the Oake, to the

Oake.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Euans and Fairies.

Euans. Trib, trib Fairies: Come, and remember your

parts: be pold (I pray you) follow me into the pit, and

when I giue the watch-'ords, do as I pid you: Come,

come, trib, trib.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Falstaffe, Mistris Page, Mistris Ford, Euans, Anne Page,

Fairies,

Page, Ford, Quickly, Slender, Fenton, Caius, Pistoll.

Fal. The Windsor-bell hath stroke twelue: the Minute

drawes-on: Now the hot-bloodied-Gods assist me:

Remember Ioue, thou was't a Bull for thy Europa, Loue

set on thy hornes. O powerfull Loue, that in some respects

makes a Beast a Man: in som other, a Man a beast.

You were also (Iupiter) a Swan, for the loue of Leda: O

omnipotent Loue, how nere the God drew to the complexion

of a Goose: a fault done first in the forme of a

beast, (O Ioue, a beastly fault:) and then another fault,

in the semblance of a Fowle, thinke on't (Ioue) a fowle-fault.

When Gods haue hot backes, what shall poore

men do? For me, I am heere a Windsor Stagge, and the

fattest (I thinke) i'th Forrest. Send me a coole rut-time

(Ioue) or who can blame me to pisse my Tallow? Who

comes heere? my Doe?

M.Ford. Sir Iohn? Art thou there (my Deere?)

My male-Deere?

Fal. My Doe, with the blacke Scut? Let the skie

raine Potatoes: let it thunder, to the tune of Greenesleeues,

haile-kissing Comfits, and snow Eringoes: Let

there come a tempest of prouocation, I will shelter mee

heere

M.Ford. Mistris Page is come with me (sweet hart.)

Fal. Diuide me like a brib'd-Bucke, each a Haunch:

I will keepe my sides to my selfe, my shoulders for the

fellow of this walke; and my hornes I bequeath your

husbands. Am I a Woodman, ha? Speake I like Herne

the Hunter? Why, now is Cupid a child of conscience,

he makes restitution. As I am a true spirit, welcome

M.Page. Alas, what noise?

M.Ford. Heauen forgiue our sinnes

Fal. What should this be?

M.Ford. M.Page. Away, away

Fal. I thinke the diuell wil not haue me damn'd,

Least the oyle that's in me should set hell on fire;

He would neuer else crosse me thus.

Enter Fairies.

Qui. Fairies blacke, gray, greene, and white,

You Moone-shine reuellers, and shades of night.

You Orphan heires of fixed destiny,

Attend your office, and your quality.

Crier Hob-goblyn, make the Fairy Oyes

Pist. Elues, list your names: Silence you aiery toyes.

Cricket, to Windsor-chimnies shalt thou leape;

Where fires thou find'st vnrak'd, and hearths vnswept,

There pinch the Maids as blew as Bill-berry,

Our radiant Queene, hates Sluts, and Sluttery

Fal. They are Fairies, he that speaks to them shall die,

Ile winke, and couch: No man their workes must eie

Eu. Wher's Bede? Go you, and where you find a maid

That ere she sleepe has thrice her prayers said,

Raise vp the Organs of her fantasie,

Sleepe she as sound as carelesse infancie,

But those as sleepe, and thinke not on their sins,

Pinch them armes, legs, backes, shoulders, sides, & shins

Qu. About, about:

Search Windsor Castle (Elues) within, and out.

Strew good lucke (Ouphes) on euery sacred roome,

That it may stand till the perpetuall doome,

In state as wholsome, as in state 'tis fit,

Worthy the Owner, and the Owner it.

The seuerall Chaires of Order, looke you scowre

With iuyce of Balme; and euery precious flowre,

Each faire Instalment, Coate, and seu'rall Crest,

With loyall Blazon, euermore be blest.

And Nightly-meadow-Fairies, looke you sing

Like to the Garters-Compasse, in a ring

Th' expressure that it beares: Greene let it be,

More fertile-fresh then all the Field to see:

And, Hony Soit Qui Maly-Pence, write

In Emrold-tuffes, Flowres purple, blew, and white,

Like Saphire-pearle, and rich embroiderie,

Buckled below faire Knight-hoods bending knee;

Fairies vse Flowres for their characterie.

Away, disperse: But till 'tis one a clocke,

Our Dance of Custome, round about the Oke

Of Herne the Hunter, let vs not forget

Euan. Pray you lock hand in hand: your selues in order set:

And twenty glow-wormes shall our Lanthornes bee

To guide our Measure round about the Tree.

But stay, I smell a man of middle earth

Fal. Heauens defend me from that Welsh Fairy,

Least he transforme me to a peece of Cheese

Pist. Vilde worme, thou wast ore-look'd euen in thy

birth

Qu. With Triall-fire touch me his finger end:

If he be chaste, the flame will backe descend

And turne him to no paine: but if he start,

It is the flesh of a corrupted hart

Pist. A triall, come

Eua. Come: will this wood take fire?

Fal. Oh, oh, oh

Qui. Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire.

About him (Fairies) sing a scornfull rime,

And as you trip, still pinch him to your time.

The Song.

Fie on sinnefull phantasie: Fie on Lust, and Luxurie:

Lust is but a bloudy fire, kindled with vnchaste desire,

Fed in heart whose flames aspire,

As thoughts do blow them higher and higher.

Pinch him (Fairies) mutually: Pinch him for his villanie.

Pinch him, and burne him, and turne him about,

Till Candles, & Star-light, & Moone-shine be out

Page. Nay do not flye, I thinke we haue watcht you

now: Will none but Herne the Hunter serue your

turne?

M.Page. I pray you come, hold vp the iest no higher.

Now (good Sir Iohn) how like you Windsor wiues?

See you these husband? Do not these faire yoakes

Become the Forrest better then the Towne?

Ford. Now Sir, whose a Cuckold now?

Mr Broome, Falstaffes a Knaue, a Cuckoldly knaue,

Heere are his hornes Master Broome:

And Master Broome, he hath enioyed nothing of Fords,

but his Buck-basket, his cudgell, and twenty pounds of

money, which must be paid to Mr Broome, his horses are

arrested for it, Mr Broome

M.Ford. Sir Iohn, we haue had ill lucke: wee could

neuer meete: I will neuer take you for my Loue againe,

but I will alwayes count you my Deere

Fal. I do begin to perceiue that I am made an Asse

Ford. I, and an Oxe too: both the proofes are extant

Fal. And these are not Fairies:

I was three or foure times in the thought they were not

Fairies, and yet the guiltinesse of my minde, the sodaine

surprize of my powers, droue the grossenesse of the foppery

into a receiu'd beleefe, in despight of the teeth of

all rime and reason, that they were Fairies. See now

how wit may be made a Iacke-a-Lent, when 'tis vpon ill

imployment

Euans. Sir Iohn Falstaffe, serue Got, and leaue your

desires, and Fairies will not pinse you

Ford. Well said Fairy Hugh

Euans. And leaue you your iealouzies too, I pray

you

Ford. I will neuer mistrust my wife againe, till thou

art able to woo her in good English

Fal. Haue I laid my braine in the Sun, and dri'de it,

that it wants matter to preuent so grosse ore-reaching as

this? Am I ridden with a Welch Goate too? Shal I haue

a Coxcombe of Frize? Tis time I were choak'd with a

peece of toasted Cheese

Eu. Seese is not good to giue putter; your belly is al

putter

Fal. Seese, and Putter? Haue I liu'd to stand at the

taunt of one that makes Fritters of English? This is enough

to be the decay of lust and late-walking through

the Realme

Mist.Page. Why Sir Iohn, do you thinke though wee

would haue thrust vertue out of our hearts by the head

and shoulders, and haue giuen our selues without scruple

to hell, that euer the deuill could haue made you our

delight?

Ford. What, a hodge-pudding? A bag of flax?

Mist.Page. A puft man?

Page. Old, cold, wither'd, and of intollerable entrailes?

Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Sathan?

Page. And as poore as Iob?

Ford. And as wicked as his wife?

Euan. And giuen to Fornications, and to Tauernes,

and Sacke, and Wine, and Metheglins, and to drinkings

and swearings, and starings? Pribles and prables?

Fal. Well, I am your Theame: you haue the start of

me, I am deiected: I am not able to answer the Welch

Flannell, Ignorance it selfe is a plummet ore me, vse me

as you will

Ford. Marry Sir, wee'l bring you to Windsor to one

Mr Broome, that you haue cozon'd of money, to whom

you should haue bin a Pander: ouer and aboue that you

haue suffer'd, I thinke, to repay that money will be a biting

affliction

Page. Yet be cheerefull Knight: thou shalt eat a posset

to night at my house, wher I will desire thee to laugh

at my wife, that now laughes at thee: Tell her Mr Slender

hath married her daughter

Mist.Page. Doctors doubt that;

If Anne Page be my daughter, she is (by this) Doctour

Caius wife

Slen. Whoa hoe, hoe, Father Page

Page. Sonne? How now? How now Sonne,

Haue you dispatch'd?

Slen. Dispatch'd? Ile make the best in Glostershire

know on't: would I were hang'd la, else

Page. Of what sonne?

Slen. I came yonder at Eaton to marry Mistris Anne

Page, and she's a great lubberly boy. If it had not bene

i'th Church, I would haue swing'd him, or hee should

haue swing'd me. If I did not thinke it had beene Anne

Page, would I might neuer stirre, and 'tis a Post-masters

Boy

Page. Vpon my life then, you tooke the wrong

Slen. What neede you tell me that? I think so, when

I tooke a Boy for a Girle: If I had bene married to him,

(for all he was in womans apparrell) I would not haue

had him

Page. Why this is your owne folly,

Did not I tell you how you should know my daughter,

By her garments?

Slen. I went to her in greene, and cried Mum, and

she cride budget, as Anne and I had appointed, and yet

it was not Anne, but a Post-masters boy

Mist.Page. Good George be not angry, I knew of

your purpose: turn'd my daughter into white, and indeede

she is now with the Doctor at the Deanrie, and

there married

Cai. Ver is Mistris Page: by gar I am cozoned, I ha

married oon Garsoon, a boy; oon pesant, by gar. A boy,

it is not An Page, by gar, I am cozened

M.Page. Why? did you take her in white?

Cai. I bee gar, and 'tis a boy: be gar, Ile raise all

Windsor

Ford. This is strange: Who hath got the right Anne?

Page. My heart misgiues me, here comes Mr Fenton.

How now Mr Fenton?

Anne. Pardon good father, good my mother pardon

Page. Now Mistris:

How chance you went not with Mr Slender?

M.Page. Why went you not with Mr Doctor, maid?

Fen. You do amaze her: heare the truth of it,

You would haue married her most shamefully,

Where there was no proportion held in loue:

The truth is, she and I (long since contracted)

Are now so sure that nothing can dissolue vs:

Th' offence is holy, that she hath committed,

And this deceit looses the name of craft,

Of disobedience, or vnduteous title,

Since therein she doth euitate and shun

A thousand irreligious cursed houres

Which forced marriage would haue brought vpon her

Ford. Stand not amaz'd, here is no remedie:

In Loue, the heauens themselues do guide the state,

Money buyes Lands, and wiues are sold by fate

Fal. I am glad, though you haue tane a special stand

to strike at me, that your Arrow hath glanc'd

Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heauen giue thee

ioy, what cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd

Fal. When night-dogges run, all sorts of Deere are

chac'd

Mist.Page. Well, I will muse no further: Mr Fenton,

Heauen giue you many, many merry dayes:

Good husband, let vs euery one go home,

And laugh this sport ore by a Countrie fire,

Sir Iohn and all

Ford. Let it be so (Sir Iohn:)

To Master Broome, you yet shall hold your word,

For he, to night, shall lye with Mistris Ford:

Exeunt.

FINIS.

The Merry Wives of Windsor(#1116) · 第 4 / 4 段