[Transcriber’s Note:
These texts of _The Merry Wives of Windsor_ are from Volume I of
the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare. The Preface
(e-text 23041) and the other plays from this volume are each
available as separate e-texts.
General Notes are in their original location at the end of the play.
Text-critical notes are grouped at the end of each Scene. All line
numbers are from the original text; line breaks in dialogue--including
prose passages--are unchanged. Brackets are also unchanged; to avoid
ambiguity, footnotes and linenotes are given without added brackets.
In the notes, numerals printed as subscripts are shown inline as
F1, F2, Q1....
Texts cited in the Notes are listed at the end of the e-text.]
THE WORKS
of
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Edited by
WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.
Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, and Public Orator
in the University of Cambridge;
and JOHN GLOVER, M.A.
Librarian Of Trinity College, Cambridge.
_VOLUME I._
Cambridge and London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1863.
THE
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.
Besides the copies of the _Merry Wives of Windsor_ appearing in the
folios and modern editions, a quarto, Q3, has been collated in these
Notes, of which the following is the title:
The | Merry Wives | of Windsor. | with the humours of Sir _John
Falstaffe_, | as also, The swaggering Vaine of Ancient | _Pistoll_,
and Corporall _Nym_. |WRITTEN BY _William Shake-speare_. | Newly
corrected. | LONDON: | printed by _T. H._ for _R. Meighen_ and are
to be sold | at his Shop, next to the Middle-Temple Gate, and in |
S. _Dunstan’s_ Church-yard in _Fleet Street_. | 1630.
Q1 and Q2 are editions of an early sketch of the same play. The
variations between the text of these quartos and the received text are
so great that collation cannot be attempted. The text printed at the end
of the play is taken _literatim_ from Q1, the edition of 1602, of which
a copy is preserved among Capell’s SHAKESPEARIANA, and this text is
collated _verbatim_ with Q2, the second quarto printed in 1619. Q1 was
reprinted in 1842 for the Shakespeare Society by Mr J. O. Halliwell.
This text, which differs in one or two places from Capell’s Q1, has also
been collated. Q2 is given among TWENTY OF THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE,
edited by Steevens. Their titles are as follows:
(1) A | Most pleasaunt and | excellent conceited Co-|medie, of Syr
_John Falstaffe_, and the | Merrie Wiues of _Windsor_. | Enter-mixed
with sundrie | variable and pleasing humors of Syr _Hugh_ | the
Welch Knight, Justice _Shallow_, and his | wise Cousin M. _Slender_.
| With the Swaggering vaine of Auncient | _Pistoll_, and Corporall
_Nym_. | By _William Shakespeare_. | As it hath been diuers times
Acted by the right Honorable | my Lord Chamberlaines seruants. Both
before her | Maiestie, and else-where. | London. | Printed by T. C.
for Arthur Johnson, and are to be sold at | his shop in Powles
Church-yard, at the signe of the | Flower de Leuse and the Crowne.
| 1602.
[This consists of 7 Quires of 4. In the Quire G one line, which we have
included in brackets, has been cut away by the binder. We have supplied
it from Halliwell’s edition and Q2.]
(2) A | Most pleasant and ex-|cellent Comedy, | _of Sir John
Falstaffe, and the | merry Wives of Windsor_. | With the swaggering
vaine of An|cient _Pistoll_, and Corporall _Nym_. | Written by
W. SHAKESPEARE. | Printed for _Arthur Johnson_, 1619.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[1].
SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.
FENTON, a gentleman.
SHALLOW, a country justice.
SLENDER, cousin to Shallow.
FORD, } two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor.
PAGE, }
WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to Page.
SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh parson.
DOCTOR CAIUS, a French physician.
Host of the Garter Inn.
BARDOLPH, }
PISTOL, } sharpers attending on Falstaff.
NYM, }
ROBIN, page to Falstaff.
SIMPLE, servant to Slender.
RUGBY, servant to Doctor Caius.
MISTRESS FORD.
MISTRESS PAGE.
ANNE PAGE, her daughter.
MISTRESS QUICKLY, servant to Doctor Caius.
Servants to Page, Ford, &c.
SCENE--_Windsor, and the neighbourhood._
[Footnote 1: Not in Qq Ff. Inserted by Rowe.]
THE
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.
ACT I.
SCENE I. _Windsor. Before PAGE’S house._
_Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS._
_Shal._ Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber
matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs,
he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.
_Slen._ In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace
and ‘Coram.’ 5
_Shal._ Ay, cousin Slender, and ‘Custalorum.’
_Slen._ Ay, and ‘Rato-lorum’ too; and a gentleman born,
master parson; who writes himself ‘Armigero,’ in any bill,
warrant, quittance, or obligation, ‘Armigero.’
_Shal._ Ay, that I do; and have done any time these 10
three hundred years.
_Slen._ All his successors gone before him hath done’t;
and all his ancestors that come after him may: they may
give the dozen white luces in their coat. 15
_Shal._ It is an old coat.
_Evans._ The dozen white louses do become an old coat
well; it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar beast to man,
and signifies love.
_Shal._ The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an
old coat. 20
_Slen._ I may quarter, coz.
_Shal._ You may, by marrying.
_Evans._ It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
_Shal._ Not a whit.
_Evans._ Yes, py’r lady; if he has a quarter of your 25
coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple
conjectures: but that is all one. If Sir John Falstaff have
committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and
will be glad to do my benevolence to make atonements and
compremises between you. 30
_Shal._ The council shall hear it; it is a riot.
_Evans._ It is not meet the council hear a riot; there is
no fear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, shall desire
to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your
vizaments in that. 35
_Shal._ Ha! o’ my life, if I were young again, the sword
should end it.
_Evans._ It is petter that friends is the sword, and end
it: and there is also another device in my prain, which
peradventure prings goot discretions with it:--there is Anne 40
Page, which is daughter to Master Thomas Page, which is
pretty virginity.
_Slen._ Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and
speaks small like a woman.
_Evans._ It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as 45
you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and
gold and silver, is her grandsire upon his death’s-bed (Got
deliver to a joyful resurrections!) give, when she is able to
overtake seventeen years old: it were a goot motion if we
leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between 50
Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page.
_Slen._ Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?
_Evans._ Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
_Slen._ I know the young gentlewoman; she has good
gifts. 55
_Evans._ Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot
gifts.
_Shal._ Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff
there?
_Evans._ Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar as I do 60
despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is not true.
The knight, Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled
by your well-willers. I will peat the door for Master Page.
[_Knocks_] What, hoa! Got pless your house here!
_Page._ [_Within_] Who’s there? 65
_Enter PAGE._
_Evans._ Here is Got’s plessing, and your friend, and
Justice Shallow; and here young Master Slender, that peradventures
shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to
your likings.
_Page._ I am glad to see your worships well. I thank 70
you for my venison, Master Shallow.
_Shal._ Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good
do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it
was ill killed. How doth good Mistress Page?--and I
thank you always with my heart, la! with my heart. 75
_Page._ Sir, I thank you.
_Shal._ Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.
_Page._ I am glad to see you, good Master Slender.
_Slen._ How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard
say he was outrun on Cotsall. 80
_Page._ It could not be judged, sir.
_Slen._ You’ll not confess, you’ll not confess.
_Shal._ That he will not. ’Tis your fault, ’tis your fault;
’tis a good dog.
_Page._ A cur, sir. 85
_Shal._ Sir, he’s a good dog, and a fair dog: can there be
more said? he is good and fair. Is Sir John Falstaff here?
_Page._ Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good
office between you.
_Evans._ It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. 90
_Shal._ He hath wronged me, Master Page.
_Page._ Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.
_Shal._ If it be confessed, it is not redressed: is not that
so, Master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed he hath;
at a word, he hath, believe me: Robert Shallow, esquire, 95
saith, he is wronged.
_Page._ Here comes Sir John.
_Enter SIR JOHN FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYM, and PISTOL._
_Fal._ Now, Master Shallow, you’ll complain of me to
the king?
_Shal._ Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my 100
deer, and broke open my lodge.
_Fal._ But not kissed your keeper’s daughter?
_Shal._ Tut, a pin! this shall be answered.
_Fal._ I will answer it straight; I have done all this.
That is now answered. 105
_Shal._ The council shall know this.
_Fal._ ’Twere better for you if it were known in counsel:
you’ll be laughed at.
_Evans._ Pauca verba, Sir John; goot worts.
_Fal._ Good worts! good cabbage. Slender, I broke 110
your head: what matter have you against me?
_Slen._ Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against
you; and against your cony-catching rascals, Bardolph,
Nym, and Pistol.
_Bard._ You Banbury cheese! 115
_Slen._ Ay, it is no matter.
_Pist._ How now, Mephostophilus!
_Slen._ Ay, it is no matter.
_Nym._ Slice, I say! pauca, pauca: slice! that’s my
humour. 120
_Slen._ Where’s Simple, my man? Can you tell,
cousin?
_Evans._ Peace, I pray you. Now let us understand.
There is three umpires in this matter, as I understand;
that is, Master Page, fidelicet Master Page; and there is 125
myself, fidelicet myself; and the three party is, lastly
and finally, mine host of the Garter.
_Page._ We three, to hear it and end it between them.
_Evans._ Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my
note-book; and we will afterwards ork upon the cause 130
with as great discreetly as we can.
_Fal._ Pistol!
_Pist._ He hears with ears.
_Evans._ The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, ’He
hears with ear’? why, it is affectations. 135
_Fal._ Pistol, did you pick Master Slender’s purse?
_Slen._ Ay, by these gloves, did he, or I would I might
never come in mine own great chamber again else, of
seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards,
that cost me two shilling and two pence a-piece of 140
Yead Miller, by these gloves.
_Fal._ Is this true, Pistol?
_Evans._ No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
_Pist._ Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! Sir John and master mine, 145
I combat challenge of this latten bilbo.
Word of denial in thy labras here!
Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest!
_Slen._ By these gloves, then, ’twas he.
_Nym._ Be avised, sir, and pass good humours: I will 150
say ‘marry trap’ with you, if you run the nuthook’s humour
on me; that is the very note of it.
_Slen._ By this hat, then, he in the red face had it; for
though I cannot remember what I did when you made me
drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. 155
_Fal._ What say you, Scarlet and John?
_Bard._ Why, sir, for my part, I say the gentleman had
drunk himself out of his five sentences.
_Evans._ It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!
_Bard._ And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered; 160
and so conclusions passed the careires.
_Slen._ Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but ’tis no
matter: I’ll ne’er be drunk whilst I live again, but in
honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if I be drunk,
I’ll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not 165
with drunken knaves.
_Evans._ So Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind.
_Fal._ You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen;
you hear it.
_Enter ANNE PAGE, with wine; MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE,
following._
_Page._ Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we’ll drink 170
within. [_Exit Anne Page._
_Slen._ O heaven! this is Mistress Anne Page.
_Page._ How now, Mistress Ford!
_Fal._ Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well
met: by your leave, good mistress. [_Kisses her._ 175
_Page._ Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome. Come, we
have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I
hope we shall drink down all unkindness.
[_Exeunt all except Shal., Slen., and Evans._
_Slen._ I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book
of Songs and Sonnets here. 180
_Enter SIMPLE._
How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on
myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddles about
you, have you?
_Sim._ Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to
Alice Shortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight afore 185
Michaelmas?
_Shal._ Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word
with you, coz; marry, this, coz: there is, as ’twere, a tender,
a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hugh here. Do
you understand me? 190
_Slen._ Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so,
I shall do that that is reason.
_Shal._ Nay, but understand me.
_Slen._ So I do, sir.
_Evans._ Give ear to his motions, Master Slender: I will 195
description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it.
_Slen._ Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I
pray you, pardon me; he’s a justice of peace in his country,
simple though I stand here.
_Evans._ But that is not the question: the question is 200
concerning your marriage.
_Shal._ Ay, there’s the point, sir.
_Evans._ Marry, is it; the very point of it; to Mistress
Anne Page.
_Slen._ Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any reasonable 205
demands.
_Evans._ But can you affection the ’oman? Let us command
to know that of your mouth or of your lips; for divers
philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.
Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the 210
maid?
_Shal._ Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?
_Slen._ I hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one that
would do reason.
_Evans._ Nay, Got’s lords and his ladies! you must 215
speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards
her.
_Shal._ That you must. Will you, upon good dowry,
marry her?
_Slen._ I will do a greater thing than that, upon your 220
request, cousin, in any reason.
_Shal._ Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz: what
I do is to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid?
_Slen._ I will marry her, sir, at your request: but if there
be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease 225
it upon better acquaintance, when we are married and have
more occasion to know one another; I hope, upon familiarity
will grow more contempt: but if you say, ‘Marry her,’
I will marry her; that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
_Evans._ It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is in 230
the ort ‘dissolutely:’ the ort is, according to our meaning,
‘resolutely:’ his meaning is good.
_Shal._ Ay, I think my cousin meant well.
_Slen._ Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la!
_Shal._ Here comes fair Mistress Anne. 235
_Re-enter ANNE PAGE._
Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!
_Anne._ The dinner is on the table; my father desires
your worships’ company.
_Shal._ I will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.
_Evans._ Od’s plessed will! I will not be absence at the 240
grace. [_Exeunt Shallow and Evans._
_Anne._ Will’t please your worship to come in, sir?
_Slen._ No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very
well.
_Anne._ The dinner attends you, sir. 245
_Slen._ I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,
sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon my cousin
Shallow. [_Exit Simple._] A justice of peace sometimes
may be beholding to his friend for a man. I keep but
three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: but 250
what though? yet I live like a poor gentleman born.
_Anne._ I may not go in without your worship: they
will not sit till you come.
_Slen._ I’ faith, I’ll eat nothing; I thank you as much as
though I did. 255
_Anne._ I pray you, sir, walk in.
_Slen._ I had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruised
my shin th’ other day with playing at sword and dagger
with a master of fence; three veneys for a dish of stewed
prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot 260
meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears
i’ the town?
_Anne._ I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.
_Slen._ I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel
at it as any man in England. You are afraid, if you 265
see the bear loose, are you not?
_Anne._ Ay, indeed, sir.
_Slen._ That’s meat and drink to me, now. I have seen
Sackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him by the
chain; but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and 270
shrieked at it, that it passed: but women, indeed, cannot
abide ’em; they are very ill-favoured rough things.
_Re-enter PAGE._
_Page._ Come, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for
you.
_Slen._ I’ll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. 275
_Page._ By cock and pie, you shall not choose, sir! come,
come.
_Slen._ Nay, pray you, lead the way.
_Page._ Come on, sir.
_Slen._ Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. 280
_Anne._ Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.
_Slen._ Truly, I will not go first; truly, la! I will not do
you that wrong.
_Anne._ I pray you, sir.
_Slen._ I’ll rather be unmannerly than troublesome. 285
You do yourself wrong, indeed, la! [_Exeunt._
NOTES: I, 1
6: _Custalorum_] _Custos_ Farmer conj.
7: _Rato-lorum_] Ff. _Rotulorum_ Q3.
10: _I_] _We_ Steevens (Farmer conj.).
12: _hath_] F1 Q3 F2. _have_ F3 F4.
19: _The luce is_] _The luce_ [To _Slen._ showing him his seal-ring]
_is_ Capell.
23: _marring_] F1 Q3. _marrying_ F2 F3 F4.
25: _py’r lady_] _per-lady_ Ff Q3.
26: _skirts_] _shirts_ Q3.
28: _unto_] _upon_ Pope.
30: _compremises_] _compromises_ Pope.
32: _hear_] F1 Q3. _hear of_ F2 F3 F4.
34: _take your_] F1 Q3. _take you_ F2 F3 F4.
38: _and_] _that_ Pope.
40: _goot_] F1 Q3. _good_ F2 F3 F4.
41: _Thomas_] Ff Q3. _George_ Theobald. See note (I).
44: _small_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4.
45: _orld_] Ff. _world_ Q3.
49: See note (II).
52, 54, 55: Given to Shallow by Capell.
53: _her father_] _his father_ Capell (corrected in MS.).
56: _possibilities_] F1 Q3. possibility F2 F3 F4.
63: _well-willers_] _well-wishers_ Rowe.
65: Enter PAGE.] Edd. Enter Page. Rowe (after line 64).
Halliwell (after line 69).
65: SCENE II. Pope.
67: _here_] F1 Q3. _here’s_ F2 F3 F4.
70: _worships_] _worship’s_ Rowe.
75: _thank_] _love_ (Q1 Q2) Steevens (Farmer conj.).
77: _thank_] _love_ Farmer conj. MS.
80: _Cotsall_ F1 Q3.] _Cotsale_ F2 F3 F4.
82-84: _Slen ... dog_] _Shall. You’ll ... confess._
Slen. _That ... not._ Shall. _’Tis ... dog._ Farmer conj. MS.
98: SCENE III. Pope.
99: _king_] _council_ (Q1 Q2) Warburton.
102: _daughter?_] F1 Q3 F2 F3. _daughter._ (Q1 Q2) F4.
106, 107: _council ... counsel_] _councell ... counsell_ (Q1 Q2).
_councell ... councill_ F1 Q3 F2. _council ... counsell_ F3.
_council ... councel_ F4.
107, 108: _you if ... you’ll_] _you: if it were known in council,
you’ll_ Harness (Johnson conj.).
107: _known_] _not known_ Pope.
114: _Pistol._] _Pistol; they carried me to the tavern and made me
drunk, and afterward picked my pocket._ Malone (from Q1 Q2).
See note (III).
119-120: _pauca, pauca ... humour_] Evans. _Pauca, pauca._
Nym. _Slice ... humour._ Farmer conj.
126: _three_] _third_ Pope.
127: _Garter_] Q3. _Gater_ Ff.
131: _discreetly_] _discretions_ Pope.
146: _latten_] _laten_ (Q1 Q3). latine Ff Q3.
_latten bilbo._] _latten. Bilbo!_ Becket conj.
147: _thy labras here_] _my labras hear_ Johnson conj.
150: _avised_] _advis’d_ F4.
151: _the nuthook’s humour_] _the base humour_ Pope.
_bace humors_ (Q1 Q2).
160: _fap_] _sap_ A. A. conj. _vap_ Boys conj.
161: _careires_] _car-eires_ Ff Q3. _careeres_ Capell.
171: [Exit A. P.] Theobald.
175: [Kisses her.] Pope.
179: SCENE IV. Pope.
186: _Michaelmas_] _Martlemas_ Theobald.
188: _this, coz_] _this_ Q3.
192: _that that_] _that_ F3 F4.
209: _mouth_] _mind_ Pope.
210: _carry_] F1 Q3. _marry_ F2 F3 F4.
216: _carry her_] _carry-her_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _carre-her_ F4.
228: _contempt_] Theobald. _content_ Ff Q3.
230: _fall_] Ff Q3. _faul’_ Hanmer. _fault_ Collier. _fall’_ Singer.
_faul_ Dyce.
234: _hanged_] _hang’_ F2 F3 F4.
236: SCENE V. Pope.
249: _beholding_] _beholden_ Pope.
251: _like_] om. F2 F3 F4.
275: _I’ll eat_] _I chuse to eat_ Hanmer.
SCENE II. _The same._
_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE._
_Evans._ Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius’ house
which is the way: and there dwells one Mistress Quickly,
which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry nurse, or his
cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wringer.
_Sim._ Well, sir. 5
_Evans._ Nay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for
it is a ’oman that altogether’s acquaintance with Mistress
Anne Page: and the letter is, to desire and require her to
solicit your master’s desires to Mistress Anne Page. I
pray you, be gone: I will make an end of my dinner; 10
there’s pippins and cheese to come. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: I, 2
SCENE II.] SCENE VI. Pope.
The same.] Capell. An outer room in Page’s house. Dyce.
3: _dry_] _try_ (Q1 Q2) Dyce.
4: _wringer_] Theobald. _Ringer_ Ff Q3.
11: _cheese_] _seese_ Dyce.
SCENE III. _A room in the Garter Inn._
_Enter FALSTAFF, Host, BARDOLPH, NYM, PISTOL, and ROBIN._
_Fal._ Mine host of the Garter!
_Host._ What says my bully-rook? speak scholarly and
wisely.
_Fal._ Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my
followers. 5
_Host._ Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag;
trot, trot.
_Fal._ I sit at ten pounds a week.
_Host._ Thou’rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keisar, and Pheezar.
I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said 10
I well, bully Hector?
_Fal._ Do so, good mine host.
_Host._ I have spoke; let him follow. [_To Bard._] Let
me see thee froth and lime: I am at a word; follow. [_Exit._
_Fal._ Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade: 15
an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man
a fresh tapster. Go; adieu.
_Bard._ It is a life that I have desired: I will thrive.
_Pist._ O base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?
[_Exit Bardolph._ 20
_Nym._ He was gotten in drink: is not the humour
conceited?
_Fal._ I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his
thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful
singer; he kept not time. 25
_Nym._ The good humour is to steal at a minute’s rest.
_Pist._ ‘Convey,’ the wise it call. ‘Steal!’ foh! a fico
for the phrase!
_Fal._ Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
_Pist._ Why, then, let kibes ensue. 30
_Fal._ There is no remedy; I must cony-catch; I must
shift.
_Pist._ Young ravens must have food.
_Fal._ Which of you know Ford of this town?
_Pist._ I ken the wight: he is of substance good. 35
_Fal._ My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
_Pist._ Two yards, and more.
_Fal._ No quips now, Pistol! Indeed, I am in the waist
two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am
about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford’s 40
wife: I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves,
she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe the action
of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour,
to be Englished rightly, is, ‘I am Sir John Falstaff’s.’
_Pist._ He hath studied her will, and translated her will, 45
out of honesty into English.
_Nym._ The anchor is deep: will that humour pass?
_Fal._ Now, the report goes she has all the rule of her
husband’s purse: he hath a legion of angels.
_Pist._ As many devils entertain; and ‘To her, boy,’ say I. 50
_Nym._ The humour rises; it is good: humour me the
angels.
_Fal._ I have writ me here a letter to her: and here
another to Page’s wife, who even now gave me good eyes
too, examined my parts with most judicious œillades; 55
sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes
my portly belly.
_Pist._ Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
_Nym._ I thank thee for that humour.
_Fal._ O, she did so course o’er my exteriors with such 60
a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem to
scorch me up like a burning-glass! Here’s another letter
to her: she bears the purse too; she is a region in Guiana,
all gold and bounty. I will be cheaters to them both, and
they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East 65
and West Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go bear
thou this letter to Mistress Page; and thou this to Mistress
Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive.
_Pist._ Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become,
And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all! 70
_Nym._ I will run no base humour: here, take the
humour-letter: I will keep the haviour of reputation.
_Fal._ [_To Robin_] Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly;
Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go; 75
Trudge, plod away o’ the hoof; seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of the age,
French thrift, you rogues; myself and skirted page.
[_Exeunt Falstaff and Robin._
_Pist._ Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam holds,
And high and low beguiles the rich and poor: 80
Tester I’ll have in pouch when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk!
_Nym._ I have operations which be humours of revenge.
_Pist._ Wilt thou revenge?
_Nym._ By welkin and her star! 85
_Pist._ With wit or steel?
_Nym._ With both the humours, I:
I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.
_Pist._ And I to Ford shall eke unfold
How Falstaff, varlet vile, 90
His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile.
_Nym._ My humour shall not cool: I will incense Page
to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness, for
the revolt of mine is dangerous: that is my true humour. 95
_Pist._ Thou art the Mars of malecontents: I second
thee; troop on. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: I, 3
SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope.
2: _bully-rook_] _Bully Rock_ Rowe, passim.
10: _shall ... shall_] F1 Q3. _will ... will_ F2 F3 F4.
14: _see thee froth_] _see thee, froth_ Staunton.
_lime_] Steevens. _lyme_ (Q1 Q2). _live_ Ff Q3.
19: _Hungarian_] Ff Q3. _Gongarian_ (Q1 Q2) Capell.
22: _conceited?_] Theobald here inserts (from Q1 Q2),
_His mind is not heroic and there’s the humour of it._
23: _acquit_] _quit_ Pope.
26: _minute’s_] Ff. _minuntes_ Q3. _minim’s_ Singer
(Bennet-Langton conj.).
41: _carves_] Ff (Q1 Q2). _craves_ Q3.
45: _studied her will_] Ff Q3. _studied her well_ (Q1 Q2) Pope.
_translated her will_] Ff Q3 (om. Q1 Q2). _translated her well_
Pope. translated her Hanmer. _studied her well and translated her
will_ Grant White. _studied her well and translated her ill_
Edd. conj.
47: _anchor_] _author_ Johnson conj.
49: _he_] _she_ (Q1 Q2) Pope.
_a legion_] Pope. _a legend_ Ff. Q3. _legians_ (Q1). _legions_
(Q2) Capell.
50: _entertain_] Ff Q3. _attend her_ (Q1 Q2). _enter swine_
Coleridge conj. _in her train_ Anon. conj.
55: _œillades_] _illiads_ Ff Q3. _eyelids_ Halliwell (Pope conj.).
56: _gilded_] _guilded_ F1 Q3. _guided_ F2 F3 F4.
64: _cheaters_] (Q1 Q2) F1 Q3 F3 F4. _cheators_ F2. _cheater_
Theobald. _escheator_ Hanmer. _’cheator_ Capell.
73: _tightly_] F1. _titely_ (Q1 Q2). _rightly_ Q3 F2 F3 F4.
74: [Exit Robin. Dyce.
76: _o’ the_] _oth’_ F2 F3 F4. _ith’_ F1 Q3.
77: _learn_] _earn_ Anon. conj.
_humour_] (Q1 Q2) Theobald. _honour_ Ff Q3.
_the_] Ff Q3. _this_ (Q1 Q2) Capell.
78: [Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.] Rowe. [Exit. Dyce.
79: SCENE VIII. Pope.
_fullam holds_] _fullams hold_ Hanmer.
80: _beguiles_] _beguile_ Hanmer.
83: _operations_] Ff Q3. _operations in my head_ (Q1 Q2) Pope.
85: _star_] _fairies_ (Q1 Q2). _stars_ Collier MS.
88: _discuss_] _disclose_ Pope.
88, 89: _Page_ ... _Ford_] (Q1 Q2) Steevens. _Ford_ ... _Page_
Ff Q3. See note (I).
93: _Page_] Steevens. _Ford_ Ff Q3.
94: _yellowness_] _jealousies_ Pope.
95: _the_] _this_ Pope.
95: _mine_] _mien_ Theobald. _mind_ Jackson conj. _meisne_ or _men_
Anon. conj. See note (IV).
SCENE IV. _A room in DOCTOR CAIUS’S house._
_Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBY._
_Quick._ What, John Rugby! I pray thee, go to the
casement, and see if you can see my master, Master
Doctor Caius, coming. If he do, i’ faith, and find any
body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God’s
patience and the king’s English. 5
_Rug._ I’ll go watch.
_Quick._ Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night,
in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. [_Exit Rugby._]
An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come
in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale nor no 10
breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is
something peevish that way: but nobody but has his fault;
but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?
_Sim._ Ay, for fault of a better.
_Quick._ And Master Slender’s your master? 15
_Sim._ Ay, forsooth.
_Quick._ Does he not wear a great round beard, like a
glover’s paring-knife?
_Sim._ No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with
a little yellow beard,--a Cain-coloured beard. 20
_Quick._ A softly-sprighted man, is he not?
_Sim._ Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his
hands as any is between this and his head; he hath fought
with a warrener.
_Quick._ How say you?--O, I should remember him: 25
does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?
_Sim._ Yes, indeed, does he.
_Quick._ Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune!
Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can
for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish-- 30
_Re-enter RUGBY._
_Rug._ Out, alas! here comes my master.
_Quick._ We shall all be shent. Run in here, good
young man; go into this closet: he will not stay long.
[_Shuts Simple in the closet._] What, John Rugby! John!
what, John, I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; 35
I doubt he be not well, that he comes not home.
[_Singing_] And down, down, adown-a, &c.
_Enter DOCTOR CAIUS._
_Caius._ Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray
you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert,--a box,
a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box. 40
_Quick._ Ay, forsooth; I’ll fetch it you. [_Aside_] I am
glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young
man, he would have been horn-mad.
_Caius._ Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je
m’en vais à la cour,--la grande affaire. 45
_Quick._ Is it this, sir?
_Caius._ Oui; mette le au mon pocket: dépêche, quickly.
Vere is dat knave Rugby?
_Quick._ What, John Rugby! John!
_Rug._ Here, sir! 50
_Caius._ You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby.
Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the
court.
_Rug._ ’Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
_Caius._ By my trot, I tarry too long. --Od’s me! 55
Qu’ai-j’oublié! dere is some simples in my closet, dat I
vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.
_Quick._ Ay me, he’ll find the young man there, and be
mad!
_Caius._ O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! 60
larron! [_Pulling Simple out._] Rugby, my rapier!
_Quick._ Good master, be content.
_Caius._ Wherefore shall I be content-a?
_Quick._ The young man is an honest man.
_Caius._ What shall de honest man do in my closet? 65
dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
_Quick._ I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the
truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
_Caius._ Vell.
_Sim._ Ay, forsooth; to desire her to-- 70
_Quick._ Peace, I pray you.
_Caius._ Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.
_Sim._ To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid,
to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my
master in the way of marriage. 75
_Quick._ This is all, indeed, la! but I’ll ne’er put my
finger in the fire, and need not.
_Caius._ Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baille me some
paper. Tarry you a little-a while. [_Writes._
_Quick._ [_Aside to Simple_] I am glad he is so quiet: 80
if he had been throughly moved, you should have heard
him so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding,
man, I’ll do you your master what good I can: and the
very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master,--I
may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; 85
and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink,
make the beds, and do all myself,--
_Sim._ [_Aside to Quickly_] ’Tis a great charge to come
under one body’s hand.
_Quick._ [_Aside to Simple_] Are you avised o’ that? you 90
shall find it a great charge: and to be up early and down
late;--but notwithstanding,--to tell you in your ear; I
would have no words of it,--my master himself is in love
with Mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that, I know
Anne’s mind,--that’s neither here nor there. 95
_Caius._ You jack’nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh;
by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in de park;
and I will teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or
make. You may be gone; it is not good you tarry here. --By
gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not 100
have a stone to throw at his dog. [_Exit Simple._
_Quick._ Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
_Caius._ It is no matter-a ver dat:--do not you tell-a
me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself?--By gar, I vill
kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de 105
Jarteer to measure our weapon:--By gar, I will myself
have Anne Page.
_Quick._ Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well.
We must give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!
_Caius._ Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if 110
I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my
door. Follow my heels, Rugby. [_Exeunt Caius and Rugby._
_Quick._ You shall have An fool’s-head of your own.
No, I know Anne’s mind for that: never a woman in
Windsor knows more of Anne’s mind than I do; nor can 115
do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.
_Fent._ [_Within_] Who’s within there? ho!
_Quick._ Who’s there, I trow? Come near the house, I
pray you.
_Enter FENTON._
_Fent._ How now, good woman! how dost thou? 120
_Quick._ The better that it pleases your good worship
to ask.
_Fen._ What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?
_Quick._ In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and
gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by 125
the way; I praise heaven for it.
_Fent._ Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? shall I not
lose my suit?
_Quick._ Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding,
Master Fenton, I’ll be sworn on a book, she 130
loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?
_Fent._ Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
_Quick._ Well, thereby hangs a tale:--good faith, it is
such another Nan; but, I detest, an honest maid as ever
broke bread:--we had an hour’s talk of that wart. --I shall 135
never laugh but in that maid’s company!--But, indeed, she
is given too much to allicholy and musing: but for you--well,
go to.
_Fent._ Well, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there’s
money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: 140
if thou seest her before me, commend me.
_Quick._ Will I? i’ faith, that we will; and I will tell
your worship more of the wart the next time we have
confidence; and of other wooers.
_Fent._ Well, farewell; I am in great haste now. 145
_Quick._ Farewell to your worship. [_Exit Fenton._] Truly,
an honest gentleman: but Anne loves him not; for I know
Anne’s mind as well as another does. --Out upon’t! what
have I forgot? [_Exit._
NOTES: I, 4
SCENE IV.] SCENE IX. Pope.
4: _an_] om. Pope.
19: _wee_] _whey_ Capell.
20: _Cain_] F3 F4. _Kane_ (Q1 Q2). _Caine_ F1 Q3 F2. _cane_ Pope.
31: [Exit. Grant White.
34: [Shuts S. in the closet] Rowe.
38: SCENE X. Pope.
_des toys_] F3 F4. _des-toyes_ F1 Q3 F2. _dese toys_ Theobald.
39: _un boitier_] Rowe. _unboyteene_ F1 F2 Q3. _unboyteen_ F3 F4.
44, 45: _ma foi ... affaire_] Rowe. _mai_ (_moi_ F2 F3 F4)
_foy, il fait for chando, Ie man voi a le Court la grand
affaires._ Ff Q3.
47: _dépêche_] _de-peech_ Ff Q3.
51: _Jack Rugby_] _Jack Rogoby_ Halliwell.
52: _take-a_] _take_ Q3.
56: _vill_] _will_ F2 F3 F4.
60: _villain_] Q3. _villainie_ Ff.
61: _larron_] _La-roone_ Ff Q3.
[Pulling S. out] Theobald.
63, 66: _shall_] F1 Q3. _should_ F2 F3 F4.
78: _baille_] _ballow_ Ff Q3. _baillez_ Theobald.
83: _you_] _yoe_ F1 Q3. _for_ F2 F3 F4. om. Capell.
84: _the French_] Ff. _that French_ Q3.
86: _wring_] _ring_ Ff Q3.
96: _give-a_] F1 Q3. _givie-a_ F2 F3 F4.
97, 98, 100: _will_] _vill_ Pope.
101: _throw_] F1 Q3. _trow_ F2 F3 F4.
103: _ver_] Ff Q3. _for_ Capell.
106: _Jarteer_] F1 Q3 F2 F3. _Garter_ F4.
109: _good-jer_] _goujeres_ Hanmer. _goujere_ Johnson.
_good year_ Capell.
120: SCENE XI. Pope.
131: _above_] _about_ Steevens.
132: _what of that_?] _and what of that_? Pope.
142: _we will_] _I will_ Halliwell MS.
ACT II.
SCENE I. _Before PAGE’S house._
_Enter MISTRESS PAGE, with a letter._
[Transcriber’s Note:
In order to preserve the marked line breaks without losing
readability, each line of the quoted letter has been split into
two equal halves.]
_Mrs Page._ What, have I scaped love-letters in the
holiday-time of my beauty, and am I now a subject for
them? Let me see. [_Reads:_
‘Ask me no reason why I love you;
for though Love use Reason
for his physician, he admits him
not for his counsellor. You are 5
not young, no more am I; go to,
then, there’s sympathy: you are
merry, so am I; ha, ha! then there’s
more sympathy: you love sack,
and so do I; would you desire better
sympathy? Let it suffice thee,
Mistress Page,--at the least, if the
love of soldier can suffice,--that
I love thee. I will not say, pity
me,--’tis not a soldier-like phrase; 10
but I say, love me. By me,
Thine own true knight,
By day or night,
Or any kind of light,
With all his might 15
For thee to fight, JOHN FALSTAFF.’
What a Herod of Jewry is this! O wicked, wicked world!
One that is well-nigh worn to pieces with age to show himself
a young gallant! What an unweighed behaviour hath
this Flemish drunkard picked--with the devil’s name!--out 20
of my conversation, that he dares in this manner assay me?
Why, he hath not been thrice in my company! What
should I say to him? I was then frugal of my mirth:
Heaven forgive me! Why, I’ll exhibit a bill in the
parliament for the putting down of men. How shall I be revenged 25
on him? for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts
are made of puddings.
_Enter MISTRESS FORD._
_Mrs Ford._ Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to
your house.
_Mrs Page._ And, trust me, I was coming to you. You 30
look very ill.
_Mrs Ford._ Nay, I’ll ne’er believe that; I have to show
to the contrary.
_Mrs Page._ Faith, but you do, in my mind.
_Mrs Ford._ Well, I do, then; yet, I say, I could show 35
you to the contrary. O Mistress Page, give me some
counsel!
_Mrs Page._ What’s the matter, woman?
_Mrs Ford._ O woman, if it were not for one trifling respect,
I could come to such honour! 40
_Mrs Page._ Hang the trifle, woman! take the honour.
What is it?--dispense with trifles;--what is it?
_Mrs Ford._ If I would but go to hell for an eternal
moment or so, I could be knighted.
_Mrs Page._ What? thou liest! Sir Alice Ford! These 45
knights will hack; and so thou shouldst not alter the article
of thy gentry.
_Mrs Ford._ We burn daylight:--here, read, read; perceive
how I might be knighted. I shall think the worse of
fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of 50
men’s liking: and yet he would not swear; praised women’s
modesty; and gave such orderly and well-behaved reproof
to all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his disposition
would have gone to the truth of his words; but they do no
more adhere and keep place together than the Hundredth 55
Psalm to the tune of ‘Green Sleeves.’ What tempest, I
trow, threw this whale, with so many tuns of oil in his
belly, ashore at Windsor? How shall I be revenged on
him? I think the best way were to entertain him with
hope, till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own 60
grease. 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 protest, mine never shall. 65
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 70
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 75
ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I’ll entertain
myself like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure,
unless he know some strain 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 80
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 85
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 of our honesty.
O, that my husband saw this letter! it would give
eternal food to his jealousy. 90
_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. 95
_Mrs Page._ Let’s consult together against this greasy
knight. Come hither. [_They retire._
_Enter FORD, with PISTOL, and PAGE, with NYM._
_Ford._ Well, I hope it be not so.
_Pist._ Hope is a curtal dog in some affairs:
Sir John affects thy wife. 100
_Ford._ Why, sir, my wife is not young.
_Pist._ He wooes both high and low, both rich and poor,
Both young and old, one with another, Ford;
He loves the gallimaufry: Ford, perpend.
_Ford._ Love my wife! 105
_Pist._ With liver burning hot. Prevent, or go thou,
Like Sir Actæon he, with Ringwood at thy heels:
O, odious is the name!
_Ford._ What name, sir?
_Pist._ The horn, I say. Farewell. 110
Take heed; have open eye; for thieves do foot by night:
Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do sing.
Away, Sir Corporal Nym!--
Believe it, Page; he speaks sense. [_Exit._
_Ford._ [_Aside_] I will be patient; I will find out this. 115
_Nym._ [_To Page_] And this is true; I like not the humour
of lying. He hath wronged me in some humours:
I should have borne the humoured letter to her; but I
have a sword, and it shall bite upon my necessity. He
loves your wife; there’s the short and the long. My name 120
is Corporal Nym; I speak, and I avouch; ’tis true: my
name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife. Adieu. I
love not the humour of bread and cheese [and there’s the
humour of it]. Adieu. [_Exit._
_Page._ ‘The humour of it,’ quoth ’a! here’s a fellow 125
frights English out of his wits.
_Ford._ I will seek out Falstaff.
_Page._ I never heard such a drawling, affecting rogue.
_Ford._ If I do find it:--well.
_Page._ I will not believe such a Cataian, though the 130
priest o’ the town commended him for a true man.
_Ford._ ’Twas a good sensible fellow:--well.
_Page._ How now, Meg!
[_Mrs Page and Mrs Ford come forward._
_Mrs Page._ Whither go you, George? Hark you.
_Mrs Ford._ How now, sweet Frank! why art thou melancholy? 135
_Ford._ I melancholy! I am not melancholy. Get you
home, go.
_Mrs Ford._ Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy
head. Now, will you go, Mistress Page? 140
_Mrs Page._ Have with you. You’ll come to dinner,
George? [_Aside to Mrs Ford_] Look who comes yonder:
she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight.
_Mrs Ford._ [_Aside to Mrs Page_] Trust me, I thought on
her: she’ll fit it. 145
_Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY._
_Mrs Page._ You are come to see my daughter Anne?
_Quick._ Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good Mistress
Anne?
_Mrs Page._ Go in with us and see: we have an hour’s
talk with you. 150
[_Exeunt Mrs Page, Mrs Ford, and Mrs Quickly._
_Page._ How now, Master 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?
_Page._ Hang ’em, slaves! I do not think the knight 155
would offer it: but these that accuse him in his intent
towards our wives are a yoke of his discarded men; very
rogues, now they be out of service.
_Ford._ Were they his men?
_Page._ Marry, were they. 160
_Ford._ I like it never the better for that. Does he lie
at the Garter?
_Page._ Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this
voyage toward my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and
what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my 165
head.
_Ford._ I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be loath
to turn them together. A man may be too confident: I
would have nothing lie on my head: I cannot be thus
satisfied. 170
_Page._ Look where my ranting host of the Garter
comes: there is either liquor in his pate, or money in his
purse, when he looks so merrily.
_Enter HOST._
How now, mine host!
_Host._ How now, bully-rook! thou’rt a gentleman. 175
Cavaleiro-justice, I say!
_Enter SHALLOW._
_Shal._ I follow, mine host, I follow. Good even and
twenty, good Master Page! Master Page, will you go with
us? we have sport in hand.
_Host._ Tell him, cavaleiro-justice; tell him, bully-rook. 180
_Shal._ Sir, there is a fray to be fought between Sir
Hugh the Welsh priest and Caius the French doctor.
_Ford._ Good mine host o’ the Garter, a word with you.
[_Drawing him aside._
_Host._ What sayest thou, my bully-rook?
_Shal._ [_To Page_] Will you go with us to behold it? My 185
merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons; and,
I think, hath appointed them contrary places; for, believe
me, I hear the parson is no jester. Hark, I will tell you
what our sport shall be. [_They converse apart._
_Host._ Hast thou no suit against my knight, my
guest-cavaleire? 190
_Ford._ None, I protest: but I’ll give you a pottle of
burnt sack to give me recourse to him, and tell him my
name is Brook; only for a jest.
_Host._ My hand, bully; thou shalt have egress and 195
regress;--said I well?--and thy name shall be Brook. It is
a merry knight. Will you go, An-heires?
_Shal._ Have with you, mine host.
_Page._ I have heard the Frenchman hath good skill in
his rapier. 200
_Shal._ Tut, sir, I could have told you more. In these
times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and
I know not what: ’tis the heart, Master Page; ’tis here, ’tis
here. I have seen the time, with my long sword I would
have made you four tall fellows skip like rats. 205
_Host._ Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag?
_Page._ Have with you. I had rather hear them scold
than fight. [_Exeunt Host, Shal., and Page._
_Ford._ Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so
firmly on his wife’s frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion 210
so easily: she was in his company at Page’s house; and
what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look
further into’t: and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff. If
I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise,
’tis labour well bestowed. [_Exit._ 215
NOTES: II, 1
1: _I_] om. F1.
5: _physician_] Dyce (Johnson conj.). _precisian_ Ff Q3.
See note (V).
8: _you_] F1 F3 F4. _yout_ Q3. _your_ F2.
9: _at the least_] _at the last_ F4.
_soldier_] F1 Q3 F2. _a soldier_ F3 F4.
19: _an_] om. F3 F4.
20: _with the_] _i’ th’_] F3 F4.
25: _putting_] _pulling_ Jackson conj.
_men_] _fat men_ Theobald. _mum_ Hanmer.
28: SCENE II. Pope.
30: _coming_] _going_ Q3.
45: _What? thou liest!_] _What thou liest?_ F1 Q3 F2 F3.
_What, thou liest!_ F4.
46: _will hack_] _will lack_ Warburton. _we’ll hack_ Johnson conj.
51: _praised_] Theobald. _praise_ Ff Q3.
55: _place_] _pace_ Capell conj.
55, 56: _Hundredth Psalm_] Rowe. _hundred Psalms_ Ff Q3.
57: _tuns_] Ff Q3. _tun_ Rowe. _tons_ Dyce.
67: _sure_] F1 Q3. _sue_ F2 F3 F4. _nay_ Rowe.
78: _know_] _knew_ F4.
_strain_] _stain_ Pope.
97: [They retire] Theobald.
98: SCENE III. Pope.
102-104: Printed as prose in Ff Q3.
103: _one_] _and one_ F4.
104: _the_] F1 Q3. _thy_ F2 F3 F4. _a_ Anon. (N. & Q.) conj.
107: _he_] om. F3 F4.
113, 114: _Away_ ... _sense_] _Away Sir Corporal!_ Nym.
_Believe_ ... _sense._ Johnson conj.
117: _hath_] _have_ Q3.
119: _bite_ ... _He_] _bite_--_upon my necessity, he_
Warburton conj.
121: _avouch; ’tis_] F1 Q3 F2. _avouch, tis_ F3 F4.
123: [_and there’s the humour of it_] These words, not found
in Ff Q3 are added from Q1 Q2 by Capell.
126: _English_] humour Pope (from Q1 Q2).
_his_] _its_ Pope.
128: _drawling, affecting_] F2 F3 F4. _drawling-affecting_ F1 Q3.
133: [Mrs ... forward.] Theobald.
SCENE IV. Page and Ford meeting their wives. Pope.
140: _head. Now,_] _head, Now:_ F1. _head, Now,_ Q3.
_head. Now:_ F2 F3 F4. _head now_. Johnson.
149: _have_] _would have_ S. Walker conj.
151: SCENE V. Pope.
163: _this_] _his_ Pope.
175: SCENE VI. Pope.
176, 180: _Cavaleiro_] F1 Q3 F2. _Cavalerio_ F3 F4.
184: _my_] om. Rowe
186: _hath_] om. Q3. _he hath_ Warburton.
192-194: This speech is given to Shallow in Ff, to Ford in Q3.
194, 196: _Brook_] (Q1 Q2) Pope. Broome Ff Q3. See note (VI).
197: _An-heires_] F1 Q3 F2. _An-heirs_ F3. _an-heirs_ F4.
_mynheers_ Theobald conj. _on, here_ Id. conj. _on, heris_
Warburton. _on, hearts_ Heath conj. _on, heroes_ Steevens conj.
_and hear us_ Malone conj. _cavaleires_ Singer (Boaden conj.).
_eh, sir_ Becket conj.
207: _hear_] _have_ Hanmer.
209: _stands_] _stand_ F4.
210: _frailty_] _fealty_ Theobald. _fidelity_ Collier MS.
SCENE II. _A room in the Garter Inn._
_Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL._
_Fal._ I will not lend thee a penny.
_Pist._ Why, then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.
_Fal._ Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you
should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon 5
my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow
Nym; or else you had looked through the grate,
like a geminy of baboons. I am damned in hell for swearing
to gentlemen my friends, you were good soldiers and
tall fellows; and when Mistress Bridget lost the handle of 10
her fan, I took’t upon mine honour thou hadst it not.
_Pist._ Didst not thou share? hadst thou not fifteen
pence?
_Fal._ Reason, you rogue, reason: thinkest thou I’ll endanger
my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about 15
me, I am no gibbet for you. Go. A short knife and a
throng!--To your manor of Pickt-hatch! 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 precise: I, I, I 20
myself sometimes, leaving the fear of God on the left hand,
and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle,
to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce
your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice
phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of 25
your honour! You will not do it, you!
_Pist._ I do relent: what would thou more of man?
_Enter ROBIN._
_Rob._ Sir, here’s a woman would speak with you.
_Fal._ Let her approach.
_Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY._
_Quick._ Give your worship good morrow. 30
_Fal._ Good morrow, good wife.
_Quick._ Not so, an’t please your worship.
_Fal._ Good maid, then.
_Quick._ I’ll be sworn;
As my mother was, the first hour I was born. 35
_Fal._ I do believe the swearer. What with me?
_Quick._ Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two?
_Fal._ Two thousand, fair woman: and I’ll vouchsafe
thee the hearing.
_Quick._ There is one Mistress Ford, sir:--I pray, come 40
a little nearer this ways:--I myself dwell with Master
Doctor Caius,--
_Fal._ Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,--
_Quick._ Your worship says very true:--I pray your
worship, come a little nearer this ways. 45
_Fal._ I warrant thee, nobody hears;--mine own people,
mine own people.
_Quick._ Are they so? God bless them, and make them
his servants!
_Fal._ Well, Mistress Ford;--what of her? 50
_Quick._ Why, sir, 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,--
_Quick._ Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you 55
have brought her into such a canaries as ’tis wonderful.
The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windsor,
could never have brought her to such a canary. Yet
there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their
coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, 60
gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, all musk, and so
rushling, I warrant you, in silk and gold; and in such alligant
terms; and in such wine and sugar of the best and the
fairest, that would have won any woman’s heart; and, I
warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her: I 65
had myself twenty angels given me this morning; but
I defy all angels--in any such sort, as they say--but in the
way of honesty: and, I warrant you, they could never get
her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all:
and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pensioners; 70
but, I warrant you, all is one with her.
_Fal._ But what says she to me? be brief, my good she-Mercury.
_Quick._ Marry, she hath received your letter; for the
which she thanks you a thousand times; and she gives you 75
to notify, that her husband will be absence from his house
between ten and eleven.
_Fal._ Ten and eleven.
_Quick._ Ay, forsooth; and then you may come and see
the picture, she says, that you wot of: Master Ford, her 80
husband, will be from home. Alas, the sweet woman leads
an ill life with him! he’s a very jealousy man: she leads a
very frampold life with him, good heart.
_Fal._ Ten and eleven. Woman, commend me to her;
I will not fail her. 85
_Quick._ Why, you say well. But I have another messenger
to your worship. Mistress Page hath her hearty
commendations to you, too: and let me tell you in your
ear, she’s as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one, I tell
you, that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer, as 90
any is in Windsor, whoe’er be the other: and she bade me
tell your worship that her husband is seldom from home;
but, she hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a
woman so dote upon a man: surely, I think you have
charms, la; yes, in truth. 95
_Fal._ Not I, I assure thee: setting the attraction of my
good parts aside, I have no other charms.
_Quick._ Blessing 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? 100
_Quick._ That were a jest indeed! they have not so
little grace, I hope: that were a trick indeed! But Mistress
Page would desire you to send her your little page,
of all loves: her husband has a marvellous infection to the
little page; and, truly, Master Page is an honest man. 105
Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life than she does:
do what she will, say what she will, take all, pay all, go to
bed when she list, rise when she list, all is as she will: and,
truly, she deserves it; for if there be a kind woman in
Windsor, she is one. You must send her your page; no 110
remedy.
_Fal._ Why, I will.
_Quick._ Nay, but do so, then: and, look you, he may
come and go between you both; and, in any case, have a
nay-word, that you may know one another’s mind, and 115
the boy never need to understand any thing; for ’tis not
good that children should know any wickedness: old folks,
you know, have discretion, as they say, and know the world.
_Fal._ Fare thee well: commend me to them both:
there’s my purse; I am yet thy debtor. Boy, go along 120
with this woman. [_Exeunt Mistress Quickly and Robin._]
This news distracts me!
_Pist._ This punk is one of Cupid’s carriers:
Clap on more sails; pursue; up with your fights:
Give fire: she is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! [_Exit._ 125
_Fal._ Sayest thou so, old Jack? go thy ways; I’ll make
more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet
look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expense of so much
money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank thee. Let
them say ’tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter. 130
_Enter BARDOLPH._
_Bard._ Sir John, there’s one Master Brook below would
fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath
sent your worship a morning’s draught of sack.
_Fal._ Brook is his name?
_Bard._ Ay, sir. 135
_Fal._ Call him in. [_Exit Bardolph._] Such Brooks are
welcome to me, that o’erflow such liquor. Ah, ha! Mistress
Ford and Mistress Page have I encompassed you? go to; via!
_Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised._
_Ford._ Bless you, sir!
_Fal._ And you, sir! Would you speak with me? 140
_Ford._ I make bold to press with so little preparation
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; 145
my name is Brook.
_Fal._ Good Master Brook, I desire more acquaintance
of you.
_Ford._ Good Sir John, I sue for yours: not to charge
you; for I must let you understand I think myself in better 150
plight for a lender than you are: the which hath something
emboldened me to this unseasoned intrusion; for they say,
if money go before, all ways do lie open.
_Fal._ Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on.
_Ford._ Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles 155
me: if you will help to bear it, Sir 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, sir, if you will give me the hearing. 160
_Fal._ Speak, good Master Brook: I shall be glad to be
your servant.
_Ford._ Sir, I hear you are a scholar,--I will be brief with
you,--and you have been a man long known to me, though
I had never so good means, as desire, to make myself acquainted 165
with you. I shall discover a thing to you, wherein
I must very much lay open mine own imperfection: but,
good Sir John, as you have one eye upon my follies, as you
hear them unfolded, turn another into the register of your
own; that I may pass with a reproof the easier, sith you 170
yourself know how easy it is to be such an offender.
_Fal._ Very well, sir; proceed.
_Ford._ There is a gentlewoman in this town; her husband’s
name is Ford.
_Fal._ Well, sir. 175
_Ford._ I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, bestowed
much on her; followed her with a doting observance;
engrossed opportunities to meet her; fee’d every slight occasion
that could but niggardly give me sight of her; not only
bought many presents to give her, but have given largely to 180
many to know what she would have given; briefly, I have
pursued her as love hath pursued me; which hath been on
the wing of all occasions. But whatsoever I have merited,
either in my mind or in my means, meed, I am sure, I have
received none; unless experience be a jewel that I have 185
purchased at an infinite rate, and that hath taught me to
say this:
‘Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues;
Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues.’
_Fal._ Have you received no promise of satisfaction at 190
her hands?
_Ford._ Never.
_Fal._ Have you importuned her to such a purpose?
_Ford._ Never.
_Fal._ Of what quality was your love, then? 195
_Ford._ Like a fair house built on another man’s ground;
so 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. 200
Some say, that though she appear honest to me, yet in
other places she enlargeth her mirth so far that there is
shrewd construction made of her. Now, Sir John, here is
the heart of my purpose: you are a gentleman of excellent
breeding, admirable discourse, of great admittance, authentic 205
in your place and person, generally allowed for your
many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations.
_Fal._ O, sir!
_Ford._ Believe it, for you know it. There is money;
spend it, spend it; spend more; spend all I have; only 210
give me so much of your time in exchange of it, as to lay
an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford’s wife: use
your art of wooing; win her to consent to you: if any man
may, you may as soon as any.
_Fal._ Would it apply well to the vehemency of your 215
affection, that I should win what you would enjoy? Methinks
you prescribe to yourself very preposterously.
_Ford._ O, understand my drift. She dwells so securely
on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of my soul
dares not present itself: she is too bright to be looked 220
against. Now, could I come to her with any detection in
my hand, my desires had instance and argument to commend
themselves: I could drive her then from the ward of
her purity, her reputation, her marriage-vow, and a thousand
other her defences, which now are too, too strongly 225
embattled against me. What say you to’t, Sir John?
_Fal._ Master Brook, I will first 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 sir! 230
_Fal._ I say you shall.
_Ford._ Want no money, Sir 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 assistant, 235
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 speed.
_Ford._. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know 240
Ford, sir?
_Fal._ Hang him, poor cuckoldly knave! I know him not:
--yet I wrong him to call him poor; they say the jealous
wittolly knave hath masses of money; for the which his wife
seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the 245
cuckoldly rogue’s coffer; and there’s my harvest-home.
_Ford._ I would you knew Ford, sir, that you might
avoid him, if you saw him.
_Fal._ Hang him, mechanical salt-butter rogue! I will
stare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel: 250
it shall hang like a meteor o’er the cuckold’s horns. Master
Brook, thou shalt know I will predominate over the
peasant, and thou shalt lie with his wife. --Come to me
soon at night. Ford’s a knave, and I will aggravate his
style; thou, Master Brook, shalt know him for knave and 255
cuckold. Come to me soon at night. [_Exit._
_Ford._ What a damned Epicurean rascal is this! My
heart is ready to crack with impatience. Who says this is
improvident jealousy? my wife hath sent to him; the hour
is fixed; the match is made. Would any man have thought 260
this? See the hell of having a false woman! My bed
shall be abused, my coffers ransacked, my reputation gnawn
at; and I shall not only receive this villanous wrong, but
stand under the adoption of abominable terms, and by him
that does me this wrong. Terms! names!--Amaimon 265
sounds well; Lucifer, well; Barbason, well; yet they are
devils’ additions, the names of fiends: but Cuckold!
Wittol!--Cuckold! the devil himself hath not such a name. Page
is an ass, a secure ass: he will trust his wife; he will not
be jealous. I will rather trust a Fleming with my butter, 270
Parson Hugh the Welshman with my cheese, an Irishman
with my aqua-vitæ bottle, or a thief to walk my ambling
gelding, than my wife with herself: then she plots, then
she ruminates, then she devises; and what they think in
their hearts they may effect, they will break their hearts 275
but they will effect. God be praised for my jealousy!--Eleven
o’clock the hour. I will prevent this, detect my
wife, be revenged on Falstaff, and laugh at Page. I will
about it; better three hours too soon than a minute too
late. Fie, fie, fie! cuckold! cuckold! cuckold! [_Exit._ 280
NOTES: II, 2
SCENE II.] SCENE VII. Pope.
3: _open_] _open. --I will retort the sum in equipage._
Theobald (from Q1 Q2). _open. -- ... equipoize_ Jackson conj.
6: _coach-fellow_] _couch-fellow_ Theobald.
12: _Didst not thou_] F1 Q3 F2. _Didst thou not_ F3 F4.
17: _throng_] (Q1 Q2) Ff Q3. _thong_ Pope.
20: _terms_] _termes_ F1 Q3. _terme_ F2. _term_ F3 F4.
_honour_] _hononor_ F1.
_I, I, I_] _I_ Pope. _I, ay, I_ Grant White.
21: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _heaven_ Ff Q3.
23: _yet you, rogue,_] Pope. _yet, you rogue,_ Ff Q3. _yet you,
you rogue,_ Collier MS.
24: _rags_] _rages_ Becket conj. _brags_ Singer (Anon.,
N. & Q., conj.).
25: _bold-beating_] _bull-baiting_ Hanmer. _bold-bearing_ Warburton.
_bold cheating_ Heath conj. _blunderbust_ Halliwell MS.
27: _relent_] Ff Q3. _recant_ (Q1 Q3).
_would thou_] _would’st thou_ Pope. _would you_ Anon. conj.
30: SCENE VIII. Pope.
43: _on: Mistress_] _one Mistress_ Grant White (Douce conj.).
48: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _Heaven_ Ff Q3.
63: _in_] om. Hanmer.
66: _this_] _of a_ Collier MS.
104: _loves_] _love_ Rowe.
110: _she is one_] _truly she is one_ Rowe.
116: _need_] _heede_ Q3.
123: _punk_] _pink_ Warburton.
124: _your fights_] _yond’ frigat_ Hanmer (Warburton conj.).
125: _them all_] _all_ Q3.
[Exit] Rowe.
131: SCENE IX. Pope.
131, 136: _Brook, Brooks_] Pope (from Q1 Q2). _Broome, Broomes_
Ff Q3, and passim. See note (VI).
137: _that o’erflow_] Capell. _that oreflows_ Ff. _that that ore’
flowes_ Q3. _that o’erflow with_ Pope.
139: _Bless_] F4. ’_Bless_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _God save_ (Q1 Q2).
156: _all, or half_] _half, or all_ Collier MS.
167: _imperfection_] _imperfections_ Pope.
178: _fee’d_] _free’d_ Q3.
180: _bought_] _brought_ Q3.
185: _jewel that_] F4. _jewel, that_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _jewel; that_
Theobald.
_that_] om. Rowe.
215: _vehemency_] _vehemence_ F4.
219: _soul_] _suit_ Collier MS.
225: _other her_] _other_ Pope.
_too, too_] _too-too_ Ff Q3. _too_ Rowe.
231: _I say you shall_] _Master Brooke, I say you shall_
(Q1 Q2) Theobald.
242: _cuckoldly_] _cuckoldy_ Rowe.
246: _cuckoldly rogue’s_] F1 Q3. _cuckold-rogue’s_ F2 F3 F4.
257: SCENE X. Pope.
261: _false_] _fair_ Q3.
263: _this wrong_] _the wrong_ Pope.
267: _Wittol!--Cuckold_] _Wittoll, Cuckold_ Ff Q3. _wittol-cuckold_
Malone.
276: _God_] (Q1 Q2). _Heaven_ Ff Q3.
SCENE III. _A field near Windsor._
_Enter CAIUS and RUGBY._
_Caius._ Jack Rugby!
_Rug._ Sir?
_Caius._ Vat is de clock, Jack?
_Rug._ Tis past the hour, sir, that Sir Hugh promised
to meet. 5
_Caius._ By gar, he has save his soul, dat he is no come;
he has pray his Pible well, dat he is no come: by gar,
Jack Rugby, he is dead already, if he be come.
_Rug._ He is wise, sir; he knew your worship would
kill him, if he came. 10
_Caius._ By gar, de herring is no dead so as I vill kill
him. Take your rapier, Jack; I vill tell you how I vill
kill him.
_Rug._ Alas, sir, I cannot fence.
_Caius._ Villainy, take your rapier. 15
_Rug._ Forbear; here’s company.
_Enter HOST, SHALLOW, SLENDER, and PAGE._
_Host._ Bless thee, bully doctor!
_Shal._ Save you, Master Doctor Caius!
_Page._ Now, good master doctor!
_Slen._ Give you good morrow, sir. 20
_Caius._ Vat be all you, one, two, tree, four, come for?
_Host._ To see thee fight, to see thee foin, to see thee
traverse; to see thee here, to see thee there; to see thee
pass thy punto, thy stock, thy reverse, thy distance, thy
montant. Is he dead, my Ethiopian? is he dead, my Francisco? 25
ha, bully! What says my Æsculapius? my Galen?
my heart of elder? ha! is he dead, bully-stale? is he dead?
_Caius._ By gar, he is de coward Jack priest of de
vorld; he is not show his face.
_Host._ Thou art a Castalion-King-Urinal. Hector of 30
Greece, my boy!
_Caius._ I pray you, bear vitness that me have stay six
or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is no come.
_Shal._ He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a
curer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should 35
fight, you go against the hair of your professions. Is it
not true, Master Page?
_Page._ Master Shallow, you have yourself been a great
fighter, though now a man of peace.
_Shal._ Bodykins, Master Page, though I now be old, 40
and of the peace, if I see a sword out, my finger itches
to make one. Though we are justices, and doctors, and
churchmen, Master Page, we have some salt of our youth
in us; we are the sons of women, Master Page.
_Page._ ’Tis true, Master Shallow. 45
_Shal._ It will be found so, Master Page. Master Doctor
Caius, I am come to fetch you home. I am sworn of
the peace: you have shewed yourself a wise physician,
and Sir Hugh hath shewn himself a wise and patient
churchman. You must go with me, master doctor. 50
_Host._ Pardon, guest-justice. --A word, Mounseur Mock-water.
_Caius._ Mock-vater! vat is dat?
_Host._ Mock-water, in our English tongue, is valour,
bully. 55
_Caius._ By gar, den, I have as mush mock-vater as de
Englishman. --Scurvy jack-dog priest! by gar, me vill cut
his ears.
_Host._ He will clapper-claw thee tightly, bully.
_Caius._ Clapper-de-claw! vat is dat? 60
_Host._ That is, he will make thee amends.
_Caius._ By gar, me do look he shall clapper-de-claw
me; for, by gar, me vill have it.
_Host._ And I will provoke him to’t, or let him wag.
_Caius._ Me tank you for dat. 65
_Host._ And, moreover, bully,--But first, master guest,
and Master Page, and eke Cavaleiro Slender, go you through
the town to Frogmore. [_Aside to them._
_Page._ Sir Hugh is there, is he?
_Host._ He is there: see what humour he is in; and 70
I will bring the doctor about by the fields. Will it do
well?
_Shal._ We will do it.
_Page, Shal., and Slen._ Adieu, good master doctor.
[_Exeunt Page, Shal., and Slen._
_Caius._ By gar, me vill kill de priest; for he speak for a 75
jack-an-ape to Anne Page.
_Host._ Let him die: sheathe thy impatience, throw cold
water on thy choler: go about the fields with me through
Frogmore: I will bring thee where Mistress Anne Page is,
at a farm-house a-feasting; and thou shalt woo her. Cried 80
I aim? said I well?
_Caius._ By gar, me dank you for dat: by gar, I love
you; and I shall procure-a you de good guest, de earl, de
knight, de lords, de gentlemen, my patients.
_Host._ For the which I will be thy adversary toward 85
Anne Page. Said I well?
_Caius._ By gar, ’tis good; vell said.
_Host._ Let us wag, then.
_Caius._ Come at my heels, Jack Rugby. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: II, 3
SCENE III.] SCENE XI. Pope.
3: _de_] F3 F4. _the_ F1 Q3 F2.
11: _is no dead so as I vill kill him_] Ff Q3. _is not so dead
as me vill make him_ Pope. _be not so dead as I shall make him_
(Q1 Q2).
21: _tree_] _trees_ F4.
25: _Francisco_] _Françeyes_ (Q1 Q2) Warburton.
26: _Galen_] _Gallon_ (Q1 Q2). _Galien_ F1 F2. _Gallen_ Q3 F3 F4.
29: _vorld_] _varld_ Hanmer.
30: _Castalion_] _Castallian_ (Q1 Q2). _Cardalion_ Hanmer.
_Castillian_ Capell.
41: _the_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4.
51: _A word_] Theobald (from Q1 Q2). A Ff Q3. _Ah_ Hanmer.
51, 54: _Mock-water_] _Muck-water_ Malone (Farmer conj.).
71: _by_] om. F3 F4.
80: _Cried I aim?_] Dyce (Douce conj.). _Cried game_ (Q1 Q2).
_Cride-game_ Ff Q3. _Try’d game_ Theobald. _Cock o’ th’ game_
Hanmer. _Cry aim_ Warburton. _and cry ‘amie’_ Becket conj.
_Dry’d game_ Jackson conj. _Curds and cream_ Collier MS.
89: This line given to _Host_ in F3 F4.
ACT III.
SCENE I. _A field near Frogmore._
_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE._
_Evans._ I pray you now, good Master Slender’s serving-man,
and friend Simple by your name, which way
have you looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor
of physic?
_Sim._ Marry, sir, the pittie-ward, the park-ward, every 5
way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town way.
_Evans._ I most fehemently desire you you will also
look that way.
_Sim._ I will, sir. [_Exit._
_Evans._ Pless my soul, how full of chollors I am, and 10
trempling of mind!--I shall be glad if he have deceived
me. --How melancholies I am!--I will knog his urinals
about his knave’s costard when I have goot opportunities
for the ork. --Pless my soul!-- [_Sings._
To shallow rivers, to whose falls 15
Melodious birds sings madrigals;
There will we make our peds of roses,
And a thousand fragrant posies.
To shallow--
Mercy on me! I have a great dispositions to cry. [_Sings._ 20
Melodious birds sing madrigals--
Whenas I sat in Pabylon--
And a thousand vagram posies.
To shallow &c.
_Re-enter SIMPLE._
_Sim._ Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh. 25
_Evans._ He’s welcome. -- [_Sings._
To shallow rivers, to whose falls--
Heaven prosper the right!--What weapons is he?
_Sim._ No weapons, sir. There comes my master,
Master Shallow, and another gentleman, from Frogmore, 30
over the stile, this way.
_Evans._ Pray you, give me my gown; or else keep it
in your arms.
_Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER._
_Shal._ How now, master parson! Good morrow, good
Sir Hugh. Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good 35
student from his book, and it is wonderful.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] Ah, sweet Anne Page!
_Page._ Save you, good Sir Hugh!
_Evans._ Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you!
_Shal._ What, the sword and the word! do you study 40
them both, master parson?
_Page._ And youthful still! in your doublet and hose
this raw rheumatic day!
_Evans._ There is reasons and causes for it.
_Page._ We are come to you to do a good office, master 45
parson.
_Evans._ Fery well: what is it?
_Page._ Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who, belike
having received wrong by some person, is at most odds
with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw. 50
_Shal._ I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never
heard a man of his place, gravity, and learning, so wide of
his own respect.
_Evans._ What is he?
_Page._ I think you know him; Master Doctor Caius, 55
the renowned French physician.
_Evans._ Got’s will, and his passion of my heart! I had
as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge.
_Page._ Why?
_Evans._ He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates and 60
Galen,--and he is a knave besides; a cowardly knave as
you would desires to be acquainted withal.
_Page._ I warrant you, he’s the man should fight with
him.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] O sweet Anne Page! 65
_Shal._ It appears so, by his weapons. Keep them asunder:
here comes Doctor Caius.
_Enter HOST, CAIUS, and RUGBY._
_Page._ Nay, good master parson, keep in your weapon.
_Shal._ So do you, good master doctor.
_Host._ Disarm them, and let them question: let them 70
keep their limbs whole, and hack our English.
_Caius._ I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your
ear. Verefore vill you not meet-a me?
_Evans._ [_Aside to Caius_] Pray you, use your patience:
in good time. 75
_Caius._ By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John
ape.
_Evans._ [_Aside to Caius_] Pray you, let us not be laughing-stocks
to other men’s humours; I desire you in friendship,
and I will one way or other make you amends. 80
[_Aloud_] I will knog your urinals about your knave’s cogscomb
[for missing your meetings and appointments].
_Caius._ Diable!--Jack Rugby,--mine host de Jarteer,--have
I not stay for him to kill him? have I not, at de
place I did appoint? 85
_Evans._ As I am a Christians soul, now, look you, this
is the place appointed: I’ll be judgement by mine host of
the Garter.
_Host._ Peace, I say, Gallia and Gaul, French and
Welsh, soul-curer and body-curer! 90
_Caius._ Ay, dat is very good; excellent.
_Host._ Peace, I say! hear mine host of the Garter. Am
I politic? am I subtle? am I a Machiavel? Shall I lose my
doctor? no; he gives me the potions and the motions.
Shall I lose my parson, my priest, my Sir Hugh? no; he 95
gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs. [Give me thy
hand, terrestrial; so.] Give me thy hand, celestial; so.
Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have directed
you to wrong places: your hearts are mighty, your skins
are whole, and let burnt sack be the issue. Come, lay their 100
swords to pawn. Follow me, lads of peace; follow, follow,
follow.
_Shal._ Trust me, a mad host. Follow, gentlemen,
follow.
_Slen._ [_Aside_] O sweet Anne Page!
[_Exeunt Shal., Slen., Page, and Host._ 105
_Caius._ Ha, do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot
of us, ha, ha?
_Evans._ This is well; he has made us his vlouting-stog. --I
desire you that we may be friends; and let us knog our
prains together to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, 110
cogging companion, the host of the Garter.
_Caius._ By gar, with all my heart. He promise to bring
me where is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive me too.
_Evans._ Well, I will smite his noddles. Pray you,
follow. [_Exeunt._ 115
NOTES: III, 1
5: _pittie-ward_] F1 Q3. _pitty-wary_ F2 F3 F4. _city-ward_ Capell.
_pit way_ Collier MS.
_the park-ward_] _the park way_ Collier MS.
7: _also_] om. Q3.
10: _chollors_] F1 Q3 F2. _chollars_ F3 F4.
14: _sings_] Ff. _sing_ Q3.
15, 19, 24, 27: _To shallow_] (Q1 Q2) Ff Q3. _By shallow_ Theobald.
18: _fragrant_] (Q1 Q2) Ff. _vagram_ Q3. _vragrant_ Hanmer.
_vagrant_ Johnson.
20: _dispositions_] F1 Q3. _disposition_ F2 F3 F4.
21: _madrigals_] _madrigall_ F2 F3 F4.
23: _vagram_] Ff Q3. _vagrant_ Pope. _vragant_ Hanmer. _vagrant_
Johnson.
27: _to whose_] _in whose_ Q3.
34: SCENE II. Pope.
36: _student_] F3 F4. _studient_ F1 Q3 F2.
37, 65, 105: [Aside] Edd.
62: _desires_] F1 Q3. _desire_ F2 F3 F4.
66: SCENE III. Pope.
68: _in_] om. Q3.
74: [Aside...] Edd. See note (VII).
78: [Aside...] Staunton.
_Pray you_] _I pray you_ Q3.
_laughing-stocks_] _laughing stogs_ J. rec. Edd.
81: [Aloud] Staunton.
_your_] _your your_ F4. _you your_ Rowe.
_urinals_] (Q1 Q2) Capell. _urinal_] Ff Q3.
82: [_for ... appointments_] Pope (from Q1 Q2). om. Ff Q3.
89: _Gallia and Gaul_] F3 F4. _Gallia and Gaule_ F1 Q3 F2.
_Gawle and Gawlia_ (Q1 Q2). _Gallia and Wallia_ Halliwell
MS. Hanmer. _Guallia and Gaul_ Malone (Farmer conj.). _Gallia
and Guallia_ Collier (Farmer MS. conj.).
95: _lose my parson, my priest_] _lose my Priest_ Pope.
96: [_Give me thy hand, terrestrial; so_] Theobald (from Q1 Q2).
om. Ff Q3. _Give me thy hands, celestial and terrestrial; so._
Collier MS.
101: _lads_] (Q1 Q2) Warburton. _lad_ Ff Q3.
108: _vlouting-stog_] _vlouting-stock_ Pope.
110: _scall_] _scald_ Pope. _Scal’_ Capell.
112: _with_] _vith_ Hanmer. _vit_ rec. Capell.
113: _where_] _vhere_ Pope. _ver_ Hanmer. _vere_ rec. Capell.
SCENE II. _The street, in Windsor._
_Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN._
_Mrs Page._ Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were
wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether
had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master’s heels?
_Rob._ I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man
than follow him like a dwarf. 5
_Mrs Page._ O, you are a flattering boy: now I see
you’ll be a courtier.
_Enter FORD._
_Ford._ Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?
_Mrs Page._ Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
_Ford._ Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for 10
want of company. I think, if your husbands were dead,
you two would marry.
_Mrs Page._ Be sure of that,--two other husbands.
_Ford._ Where had you this pretty weathercock?
_Mrs Page._ I cannot tell what the dickens his name is 15
husband had him of. --What do you call your knight’s
name, sirrah?
_Rob._ Sir John Falstaff.
_Ford._ Sir John Falstaff!
_Mrs Page._ He, he; I can never hit on’s name. There 20
is such a league between my good man and he!--Is your
wife at home indeed?
_Ford._ Indeed she is.
_Mrs Page._ By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.
[_Exeunt Mrs Page and Robin._
_Ford._ Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath 25
he any thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them.
Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, as easy as a
cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out
his wife’s inclination; he gives her folly motion and advantage:
and now she’s going to my wife, and Falstaff’s boy 30
with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind.
And Falstaff’s boy with her! Good plots, they are laid;
and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I
will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed
veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge 35
Page himself for a secure and wilful Actæon; and to these
violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. [_Clock
heard._] The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance
bids me search: there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be rather
praised for this than mocked; for it is as positive as the 40
earth is firm that Falstaff is there: I will go.
_Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS, CAIUS,
and RUGBY._
_Shal., Page, &c._ Well met, Master Ford.
_Ford._ Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at
home; and I pray you all go with me.
_Shal._ I must excuse myself, Master Ford. 45
_Slen._ And so must I, sir: we have appointed to dine
with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for
more money than I’ll speak of.
_Shal._ We have lingered about a match between Anne
Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have 50
our answer.
_Slen._ I hope I have your good will, father Page.
_Page._ You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for
you:--but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.
_Caius._ Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my 55
nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush.
_Host._ What say you to young Master Fenton? he
capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses,
he speaks holiday, he smells April and May: he will
carry’t, he will carry’t; ’tis in his buttons; he will carry’t. 60
_Page._ Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman
is of no having: he kept company with the wild
prince and Poins; he is of too high a region; he knows
too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with
the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him take her 65
simply; the wealth I have waits on my consent, and my
consent goes not that way.
_Ford._ I beseech you heartily, some of you go home
with me to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport;
I will show you a monster. Master doctor, you shall go; 70
so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh.
_Shal._ Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer
wooing at Master Page’s. [_Exeunt Shal. and Slen._
_Caius._ Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
[_Exit Rugby._
_Host._ Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight 75
Falstaff, and drink canary with him. [_Exit._
_Ford._ [_Aside_] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first
with him; I’ll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?
_All._ Have with you to see this monster. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: III, 2
SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.
11: _company_] _your company_ Collier MS.
19: Ford. _Sir John Falstaff!_] omitted in F3 F4 and Rowe.
20: _on’s_] _on his_ Rowe.
25: SCENE V. Pope.
37: [Clock heard] Capell.
39: _search: there_] _search where_ Collier MS.
42: SCENE VI. Pope.
46-48: Printed as verse in Ff Q3 and Rowe.
47: _her_] _here_ F2.
59: _April_] _all April_ (Q1 Q2).
60: _buttons_] _betmes_ (Q1 Q2). _destiny_ Anon. conj.
63: _Poins_] _Poyntz_ F1 Q3 F2. _Poinz_ F3 F4.
SCENE III. _A room in FORD’S house._
_Enter MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE._
_Mrs Ford._ What, John! What, Robert!
_Mrs Page._ Quickly, quickly!--is the buck-basket--
_Mrs Ford._ I warrant. What, Robin, I say!
_Enter _Servants_ with a basket._
_Mrs Page._ Come, come, come.
_Mrs Ford._ Here, set it down. 5
_Mrs Page._ Give your men the charge; we must be brief.
_Mrs Ford._ Marry, as I told you before, John and
Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew-house; and
when I suddenly call you, come forth, and, without any
pause or staggering, take this basket on your shoulders: 10
that done, trudge with it in all haste, and carry it among
the whitsters in Datchet-mead, and there empty it in
the muddy ditch close by the Thames side.
_Mrs Page._ You will do it?
_Mrs Ford._ I ha’ told them over and over; they lack 15
no direction. Be gone, and come when you are called.
[_Exeunt Servants._
_Mrs Page._ Here comes little Robin.
_Enter ROBIN._
_Mrs Ford._ How now, my eyas-musket! what news
with you?
_Rob._ My master, Sir John, is come in at your back-door, 20
Mistress Ford, and requests your company.
_Mrs Page._ You little Jack-a-Lent, have you been true
to us?
_Rob._ Ay, I’ll be sworn. My master knows not of your
being here, and hath threatened to put me into everlasting 25
liberty, if I tell you of it; for he swears he’ll turn me away.
_Mrs Page._ Thou’rt a good boy: this secrecy of thine
shall be a tailor to thee, and shall make thee a new doublet
and hose. I ’ll go hide me.
_Mrs Ford._ Do so. Go tell thy master I am alone. 30
[_Exit Robin._] Mistress Page, remember you your cue.
_Mrs Page._ I warrant thee; if I do not act it, hiss me.
[_Exit._
_Mrs Ford._ Go to, then: we’ll use this unwholesome
humidity, this gross watery pumpion; we’ll teach him to
know turtles from jays. 35
_Enter FALSTAFF._
_Fal._ ‘Have I caught’ thee, ‘my heavenly jewel?’ Why,
now let me die, for I have lived long enough: this is the
period of my ambition: O this blessed hour!
_Mrs Ford._ O sweet Sir John!
_Fal._ Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, 40
Mistress Ford. Now shall I sin in my wish: I would thy
husband were dead: I’ll speak it before the best lord;
I would make thee my lady.
_Mrs Ford._ I your lady, Sir John! alas, I should be a
pitiful lady! 45
_Fal._ Let the court of France show me such another. I
see how thine eye would emulate the diamond: thou hast
the right arched beauty of the brow that becomes the ship-tire,
the tire-valiant, or any tire of Venetian admittance.
_Mrs Ford._ A plain kerchief, Sir John: my brows become 50
nothing else; nor that well neither.
_Fal._ By the Lord, thou art a traitor to say so: thou
wouldst make an absolute courtier; and the firm fixture of thy
foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait in a semi-circled
farthingale. I see what thou wert, if Fortune thy foe 55
were not, Nature thy friend. Come, thou canst not hide it.
_Mrs Ford._ Believe me, there’s no such thing in me.
_Fal._ What made me love thee? let that persuade thee
there’s something extraordinary in thee. Come, I cannot
cog, and say thou art this and that, like a many of these 60
lisping hawthorn-buds, that come like women in men’s apparel,
and smell like Bucklersbury in simple time; I cannot:
but I love thee; none but thee; and thou deservest it.
_Mrs Ford._ Do not betray me, sir. I fear you love
Mistress Page. 65
_Fal._ Thou mightst as well say I love to walk by the
Counter-gate, which is as hateful to me as the reek of a
lime-kiln.
_Mrs Ford._ Well, heaven knows how I love you; and
you shall one day find it. 70
_Fal._ Keep in that mind; I’ll deserve it.
_Mrs Ford._ Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I
could not be in that mind.
_Rob._ [_Within_] Mistress Ford, Mistress Ford! here’s
Mistress Page at the door, sweating, and blowing, and 75
looking wildly, and would needs speak with you presently.
_Fal._ She shall not see me: I will ensconce me behind
the arras.
_Mrs Ford._ Pray you, do so: she’s a very tattling
woman. [_Falstaff hides himself._ 80
_Re-enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN._
What’s the matter? how now!
_Mrs Page._ O Mistress Ford, what have you done?
You’re shamed, you’re overthrown, you’re undone for ever!
_Mrs Ford._ What’s the matter, good Mistress Page?
_Mrs Page._ O well-a-day, Mistress Ford! having an 85
honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of
suspicion!
_Mrs Ford._ What cause of suspicion?
_Mrs Page._ What cause of suspicion! Out upon you!
how am I mistook in you! 90
_Mrs Ford._ Why, alas, what’s the matter?
_Mrs Page._ Your husband’s coming hither, woman,
with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman
that he says is here now in the house, by your consent, to
take an ill advantage of his absence: you are undone. 95
_Mrs Ford._ ’Tis not so, I hope.
_Mrs Page._ Pray heaven it be not so, that you have
such a man here! but ’tis most certain your husband’s coming,
with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one.
I come before to tell you. If you know yourself clear, 100
why, I am glad of it; but if you have a friend here, convey,
convey him out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to
you; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good
life for ever.
_Mrs Ford._ What shall I do? There is a gentleman 105
my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame so much
as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound he were
out of the house.
_Mrs Page._ For shame! never stand ‘you had rather’
and ‘you had rather:’ your husband’s here at hand; bethink 110
you of some conveyance: in the house you cannot
hide him. O, how have you deceived me! Look, here is a
basket: if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep
in here; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going
to bucking: or,--it is whiting-time,--send him by your two 115
men to Datchet-mead.
_Mrs Ford._ He’s too big to go in there. What shall
I do?
_Fal._ [_Coming forward_] Let me see’t, let me see’t,
O, let me see’t!--I’ll in, I’ll in. --Follow your friend’s 120
counsel. --I’ll in.
_Mrs Page._ What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your
letters, knight?
_Fal._ I love thee. --Help me away. --Let me creep in
here. --I’ll never-- 125
[_Gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen._
_Mrs Page._ Help to cover your master, boy. --Call your
men, Mistress Ford. --You dissembling knight!
_Mrs Ford._ What, John! Robert! John! [_Exit Robin._
_Re-enter _Servants_._
Go take up these clothes here quickly. --Where’s the cowl-staff?
look, how you drumble!--Carry them to the laundress 130
in Datchet-mead; quickly, come.
_Enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS._
_Ford._ Pray you, come near: if I suspect without cause,
why then make sport at me; then let me be your jest;
I deserve it. --How now! whither bear you this?
_Serv._ To the laundress, forsooth. 135
_Mrs Ford._ Why, what have you to do whither they
bear it? You were best meddle with buck-washing.
_Ford._ Buck!--I would I could wash myself of the buck!--Buck,
buck, buck! Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck; and
of the season too, it shall appear.
[_Exeunt Servants with the basket._] 140
Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night; I’ll tell you
my dream. Here, here, here be my keys: ascend my chambers;
search, seek, find out: I’ll warrant we’ll unkennel the
fox. Let me stop this way first. [_Locking the door._] So,
now uncape. 145
_Page._ Good Master Ford, be contented: you wrong
yourself too much.
_Ford._ True, Master Page. Up, gentlemen; you shall
see sport anon: follow me, gentlemen. [_Exit._
_Evans._ This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies. 150
_Caius._ By gar, ’tis no the fashion of France; it is not
jealous in France.
_Page._ Nay, follow him, gentlemen; see the issue of
his search. [_Exeunt Page, Caius, and Evans._
_Mrs Page._ Is there not a double excellency in this? 155
_Mrs Ford._ I know not which pleases me better, that
my husband is deceived, or Sir John.
_Mrs Page._ What a taking was he in when your husband
asked who was in the basket!
_Mrs Ford._ I am half afraid he will have need of washing; 160
so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit.
_Mrs Page._ Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would all of
the same strain were in the same distress.
_Mrs Ford._ I think my husband hath some special suspicion
of Falstaff’s being here; for I never saw him so gross 165
in his jealousy till now.
_Mrs Page._ I will lay a plot to try that; and we will
yet have more tricks with Falstaff: his dissolute disease
will scarce obey this medicine.
_Mrs Ford._ Shall we send that foolish carrion, Mistress 170
Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the water;
and give him another hope, to betray him to another punishment?
_Mrs Page._ We will do it: let him be sent for to-morrow,
eight o’clock, to have amends. 175
_Re-enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS._
_Ford._ I cannot find him: may be the knave bragged
of that he could not compass.
_Mrs Page._ [_Aside to Mrs Ford_] Heard you that?
_Mrs Ford._ You use me well, Master Ford, do you?
_Ford._ Ay, I do so. 180
_Mrs Ford._ Heaven make you better than your
thoughts!
_Ford._ Amen!
_Mrs Page._ You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford.
_Ford._ Ay, ay; I must bear it. 185
_Evans._ If there be any pody in the house, and in the
chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses, heaven forgive
my sins at the day of judgement!
_Caius._ By gar, nor I too: there is no bodies.
_Page._ Fie, fie, Master Ford! are you not ashamed? 190
What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination? I would
not ha’ your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Windsor
Castle.
_Ford._ ’Tis my fault, Master Page: I suffer for it.
_Evans._ You suffer for a pad conscience: your wife is 195
as honest a ’omans as I will desires among five thousand,
and five hundred too.
_Caius._ By gar, I see ’tis an honest woman.
_Ford._ Well, I promised you a dinner. --Come, come,
walk in the Park: I pray you, pardon me; I will hereafter 200
make known to you why I have done this. --Come, wife;
come, Mistress Page. --I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily
pardon me.
_Page._ Let’s go in, gentlemen; but, trust me, we’ll
mock him. I do invite you to-morrow morning to my 205
house to breakfast: after, we’ll a-birding together; I have
a fine hawk for the bush. Shall it be so?
_Ford._ Any thing.
_Evans._ If there is one, I shall make two in the company. 210
_Caius._ If dere be one or two, I shall make-a the turd.
_Ford._ Pray you, go, Master Page.
_Evans._ I pray you now, remembrance to-morrow on
the lousy knave, mine host.
_Caius._ Dat is good; by gar, with all my heart! 215
_Evans._ A lousy knave, to have his gibes and his
mockeries! [_Exeunt._
NOTES: III, 3
SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope.
7, 8: Mrs Ford. _Marry ... Robert_] omitted in Q3.
20: _your_] _the_ Q3.
36: SCENE VIII. Pope. _thee_] Ff Q3 om. (Q1 Q2) Dyce.
38: _my_] om. Q3.
41: _Mistress_] _Master_ Q3.
49: _tire-valiant_] Ff Q3. _tire-vellet_ (Q1 Q2). _tire-vailant_
Warburton. _tire-velvet_ Heath conj. _tire-volant_ Becket conj.
_tire of Venetian admittance_] Ff Q3. _Venetian attire_ (Q1 Q2)
Pope. _tire of Venetian addition_ Hanmer.
52: _By the Lord, thou art a traitor_] (Q1 Q2) Singer. _Thou art a
tyrant_ Ff Q3. _Thou art a traitor_ Warburton. _By the Lord,
thou art a tyrant_ Collier.
53: _fixture_] F1 Q3. _fixure_ F2 F3 F4.
55, 56: _foe were not, Nature_] F2 F3 F4. _foe, were not Nature_
F1 Q3. _foe were not; Nature is_ Capell.
58: _persuade thee there’s_] _persuade thee There’s_ (Q1 Q2).
_persuade Thee. There’s_ Ff Q3.
62: _simple_] F1 Q3 F2. _simpling_ F3 F4.
74: [Within] F2. Re-enter Robin. Capell.
75: _sweating_] F1 Q3. _swearing_ F2 F3 F4.
81: SCENE IX. Pope.
Re-enter...] Enter Mis. Page. F2.
96: _’Tis not so_] _Speak louder. ’Tis not so_ Theobald
(from Q1 Q2).
110: _and_] om. Q3.
119: [Coming forward] Enter F. Rowe. [Starting from his concealment.
Capell.
124: _I love thee_] Ff Q3. _I love thee and none but thee_
(Q1 Q2) Malone.
125: [Gets ... linen.] Rowe.
128: _John! Robert_] _John Rugby_ Q3.
[Exit Robin.] Malone.
132: SCENE X. Pope.
134: _How now!_] _How now? who goes here?_ Halliwell (from Q1 Q2).
_How now! what’s here?_ S. Verges conj.
140: [Exeunt ... basket.] Rowe.
144: [Locking the door.] Capell.
144, 145: _So, now uncape_] om. Pope. _So, now uncouple_ Hanmer.
155: SCENE XI. Pope.
159: _who_] _what_ Grant White (Ritson conj.).
170: _foolish_] F2 F3 F4. _foolishion_ F1 Q3. _foolish eye on--carry
on_ Jackson conj.
174: _to-morrow, eight_] F1 Q3. _to-morrow by eight_ F2 F3 F4.
178: [Aside to Mrs Ford] Capell.
179: _You use..._] _I, I; peace;--You use..._ Theobald (from Q1 Q2).
180: _Ay, I_] _I, I_ F1 Q3 F2. _I, I, I_ F3 F4.
181: _you_] _me_ Capell conj.
188: _at the day of judgement_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4.
211: Theobald inserts (from Q1 Q2) Evans. _In your teeth:
for shame!_
SCENE IV. _A room in PAGE’S house._
_Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE._
_Fent._ I see I cannot get thy father’s love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
_Anne._ Alas, how then?
_Fent._ Why, thou must be thyself.
He doth object I am too great of birth;
And that, my state being gall’d with my expense, 5
I seek to heal it only by his wealth:
Besides these, other bars he lays before me,--
My riots past, my wild societies;
And tells me ’tis a thing impossible
I should love thee but as a property. 10
_Anne._ May be he tells you true.
_Fent._ No, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth
Was the first motive that I woo’d thee, Anne:
Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value 15
Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags;
And ’tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.
_Anne._ Gentle Master Fenton,
Yet seek my father’s love; still seek it, sir:
If opportunity and humblest suit 20
Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither!
[_They converse apart._
_Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY._
_Shal._ Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman
shall speak for himself.
_Sle._ I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t: ’slid, ’tis but
venturing. 25
_Shal._ Be not dismayed.
_Slen._ No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for
that, but that I am afeard.
_Quick._ Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word
with you. 30
_Anne._ I come to him. [_Aside_] This is my father’s choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favour’d faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!
_Quick._ And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you,
a word with you. 35
_Shal._ She’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst
a father!
_Slen._ I had a father, Mistress Anne;--my uncle can
tell you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress
Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen, 40
good uncle.
_Shal._ Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
_Slen._ Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in
Gloucestershire.
_Shal._ He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. 45
_Slen._ Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under
the degree of a squire.
_Shal._ He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds
jointure.
_Anne._ Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself. 50
_Shal._ Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that
good comfort. She calls you, coz: I’ll leave you.
_Anne._ Now, Master Slender,--
_Slen._ Now, good Mistress Anne,--
_Anne._ What is your will? 55
_Slen._ My will! od’s heartlings, that’s a pretty jest indeed!
I ne’er made my will yet, I thank heaven; I am not
such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.
_Anne._ I mean, Master Slender, what would you with
me? 60
_Slen._ Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing
with you. Your father and my uncle hath made motions:
if it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his dole! They
can tell you how things go better than I can: you may
ask your father; here he comes. 65
_Enter PAGE and MISTRESS PAGE._
_Page._ Now, Master Slender: love him, daughter Anne.--
Why, how now! what does Master Fenton here?
You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house:
I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.
_Fent._ Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. 70
_Mrs Page._ Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
_Page._ She is no match for you.
_Fent._ Sir, will you hear me?
_Page._ No, good Master Fenton.
Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in.
Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton. 75
[_Exeunt Page, Shal., and Slen._
_Quick._ Speak to Mistress Page.
_Fent._ Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter
In such a righteous fashion as I do,
Perforce, against all checks, rebukes and manners,
I must advance the colours of my love, 80
And not retire: let me have your good will.
_Anne._ Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
_Mrs Page._ I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
_Quick._ That’s my master, master doctor.
_Anne._ Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ the earth, 85
And bowl’d to death with turnips!
_Mrs Page._ Come, trouble not yourself. Good Master Fenton,
I will not be your friend nor enemy:
My daughter will I question how she loves you,
And as I find her, so am I affected. 90
Till then farewell, sir: she must needs go in;
Her father will be angry.
_Fent._ Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.
[_Exeunt Mrs Page and Anne._
_Quick._ This is my doing now: ‘Nay,’ said I, ‘will you
cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look on 95
Master Fenton:’ this is my doing.
_Fent._ I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night
Give my sweet Nan this ring: there’s for thy pains.
_Quick._ Now heaven send thee good fortune! [_Exit
Fenton._] A kind heart he hath: a woman would run 100
through fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet
I would my master had Mistress Anne; or I would
Master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would Master
Fenton had her: I will do what I can for them all three;
for so I have promised, and I’ll be as good as my word; 105
but speciously for Master Fenton. Well, I must of another
errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses: what
a beast am I to slack it! [_Exit._
NOTES: III, 4
SCENE IV.] SCENE XII. Pope.
7: _Besides these, other_] Ff Q3. _Besides, these other_
S. Walker conj.
12: _my_] _the_ Capell (altered to _my_ in his own hand).
20: _opportunity_] _importunity_ Hanmer.
22: SCENE XIII. Pope.
28: _but that_] F1 Q3 F2. _but_ F3 F4.
40: _pen_] _henloft_ (Q1 Q2) Halliwell.
62: _my_] om. Q3.
_hath_] _have_ F4.
65: _ask_] om. Q3.
66: SCENE XIV. Pope.
67: _Fenton_] _Fenter_ F1.
75: _mind_] _wind_ F2.
80: _of_] _or_ Q3.
85, 86: Anne. _Alas_, ... _turnips!_] Anne. _Alas, ... earth._
Quick. _And ... turnips_ Warburton.
92: _angry_] _angry else_ S. Verges conj.
93: _gentle_] _my gentle_ Capell.
95: _and_] _or_ Hanmer.
SCENE V. _A room in the Garter Inn._
_Enter FALSTAFF and BARDOLPH._
_Fal._ Bardolph, I say,--
_Bard._ Here, sir.
_Fal._ Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in’t. [_Exit
Bard._] Have I lived to be carried in a basket, like a barrow
of butcher’s offal, and to be thrown in the Thames? Well, 5
if I be served such another trick, I’ll have my brains ta’en
out, and buttered, and give them to a dog for a new-year’s
gift. The rogues slighted me into the river with as little
remorse as they would have drowned a blind bitch’s puppies,
fifteen i’ the litter: and you may know by my size 10
that I have a kind of alacrity in sinking; if the bottom
were as deep as hell, I should down. I had been drowned,
but that the shore was shelvy and shallow,--a death that
I abhor; for the water swells a man; and what a thing
should I have been when I had been swelled! I should 15
have been a mountain of mummy.
_Re-enter BARDOLPH with sack._
_Bard._ Here’s Mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with you.
_Fal._ Come, let me pour in some sack to the Thames
water; for my belly’s as cold as if I had swallowed snow-balls
for pills to cool the reins. Call her in. 20
_Bard._ Come in, woman!
_Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY._
_Quick._ By your leave; I cry you mercy: give your
worship good morrow.
_Fal._ Take away these chalices. Go brew me a pottle
of sack finely. 25
_Bard._ With eggs, sir?
_Fal._ Simple of itself; I’ll no pullet-sperm in my brewage.
[_Exit Bardolph._] How now!
_Quick._ Marry, sir, I come to your worship from Mistress
Ford. 30
_Fal._ Mistress Ford! I have had ford enough; I was
thrown into the ford; I have my belly full of ford.
_Quick._ Alas the day! good heart, that was not her
fault: she does so take on with her men; they mistook
their erection. 35
_Fal._ So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman’s
promise.
_Quick._ Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn
your heart to see it. Her husband goes this morning
a-birding; she desires you once more to come to her 40
between eight and nine: I must carry her word quickly:
she’ll make you amends, I warrant you.
_Fal._ Well, I will visit her: tell her so; and bid her
think what a man is: let her consider his frailty, and then
judge of my merit. 45
_Quick._ I will tell her.
_Fal._ Do so. Between nine and ten, sayest thou?
_Quick._ Eight and nine, sir.
_Fal._ Well, be gone: I will not miss her.
_Quick._ Peace be with you, sir. [_Exit._ 50
_Fal._ I marvel I hear not of Master Brook; he sent me
word to stay within: I like his money well. --O, here he
comes.
_Enter FORD._
_Ford._ Bless you, sir!
_Fal._ Now, Master Brook,--you come to know what 55
hath passed between me and Ford’s wife?
_Ford._ That, indeed, Sir John, is my business.
_Fal._ Master Brook, I will not lie to you: I was at her
house the hour she appointed me.
_Ford._ And sped you, sir? 60
_Fal._ Very ill-favouredly, Master Brook.
_Ford._ How so, sir? Did she change her determination?
_Fal._ No, Master Brook; but the peaking Cornuto her
husband, Master Brook, dwelling in a continual ’larum of
jealousy, comes me in the instant of our encounter, after 65
we had embraced, kissed, protested, and, as it were, spoke
the prologue of our comedy; and at his heels a rabble of
his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his
distemper, and, forsooth, to search his house for his wife’s
love. 70
_Ford._ What, while you were there?
_Fal._ While I was there.
_Ford._ And did he search for you, and could not find
you?
_Fal._ You shall hear. As good luck would have it, 75
comes in one Mistress Page; gives intelligence of Ford’s
approach; and, in her invention and Ford’s wife’s distraction,
they conveyed me into a buck-basket.
_Ford._ A buck-basket!
_Fal._ By the Lord, a buck-basket!--rammed me in with 80
foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings, greasy napkins;
that, Master Brook, there was the rankest compound
of villanous smell that ever offended nostril.
_Ford._ And how long lay you there?
_Fal._ Nay, you shall hear, Master Brook, what I have 85
suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. Being
thus crammed in the basket, a couple of Ford’s knaves, his
hinds, were called forth by their mistress to carry me in the
name of foul clothes to Datchet-lane: they took me on their
shoulders; met the jealous knave their master in the door, 90
who asked them once or twice what they had in their
basket: I quaked for fear, lest the lunatic knave would
have searched it; but fate, ordaining he should be a cuckold,
held his hand. Well: on went he for a search, and
away went I for foul clothes. But mark the sequel, Master 95
Brook: I suffered the pangs of three several deaths; first,
an intolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous rotten
bell-wether; next, to be compassed, like a good bilbo, in
the circumference of a peck, hilt to point, heel to head;
and then, to be stopped in, like a strong distillation, with 100
stinking clothes that fretted in their own grease: think of
that,--a man of my kidney,--think of that,--that am as
subject to heat as butter; a man of continual dissolution
and thaw: it was a miracle to scape suffocation. And in
the height of this bath, when I was more than half stewed 105
in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames,
and cooled, glowing hot, in that surge, like a horse-shoe;
think of that,--hissing hot,--think of that, Master Brook.
_Ford._ In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for my sake
you have suffered all this. My suit, then, is desperate; 110
you’ll undertake her no more?
_Fal._ Master Brook, I will be thrown into Etna, as I
have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her
husband is this morning gone a-birding: I have received
from her another embassy of meeting; ’twixt eight and 115
nine is the hour, Master Brook.
_Ford._ ’Tis past eight already, sir.
_Fal._ Is it? I will then address me to my appointment.
Come to me at your convenient leisure, and you
shall know how I speed; and the conclusion shall be 120
crowned with your enjoying her. Adieu. You shall have
her, Master Brook; Master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford.
[_Exit._
_Ford._ Hum! ha! is this a vision? is this a dream? do
I sleep? Master Ford, awake! awake, Master Ford! there’s
a hole made in your best coat, Master Ford. This ’tis to 125
be married! this ’tis to have linen and buck-baskets!
Well, I will proclaim myself what I am: I will now take
the lecher; he is at my house; he cannot ’scape me; ’tis
impossible he should; he cannot creep into a halfpenny
purse, nor into a pepper-box: but, lest the devil that guides 130
him should aid him, I will search impossible places.
Though what I am I cannot avoid, yet to be what I would
not shall not make me tame: if I have horns to make
one mad, let the proverb go with me,--I’ll be horn-mad.
[_Exit._
NOTES: III, 5
SCENE V.] SCENE XV. Pope.
5: _in_] _into_ Rowe.
9: _blind bitch’s_] _bitch’s blind_ Hanmer.
16: _mummy_] _mummy. Now, is the sack brewed?_ Theobald
(from Q1 Q2).
22: SCENE XVI. Pope.
24: _pottle_] _posset_ R. G. White.
60: _sped you_] _you sped_ Rowe.
62: _How so, sir_] F1 Q3 F2. _How Sir_ F3 F4.
65: _me_] om. F4.
77: _in_] by (Q1 Q2) Theobald.
_distraction_] _direction_ Hanmer.
80: _By the Lord_] (Q1 Q2) Malone. _yes_ F1 Q3. _yea_ F2 F3 F4.
83: _smell_] _smells_ Hanmer.
96: _several_] _egregious_ (Q1 Q2) Pope.
106: _in_] _is_ F2.
107: _surge_] _forge_ Capell conj.
110: _have suffered_] _suffered_ F4.
130: _nor_] _not_ Q3.
134: _one_] _me_ Dyce.
[Exit.] Rowe. [Exeunt. Ff Q3.
ACT IV.
SCENE I. _A street._
_Enter MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS QUICKLY, and WILLIAM._
_Mrs Page._ Is he at Master Ford’s already, think’st
thou?
_Quick._ Sure he is by this, or will be presently: but,
truly, he is very courageous mad about his throwing into
the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly. 5
_Mrs Page._ I’ll be with her by and by; I’ll but bring
my young man here to school. Look, where his master
comes; ’tis a playing-day, I see.
_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS._
How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day?
_Evans._ No; Master Slender is let the boys leave to 10
play.
_Quick._ Blessing of his heart!
_Mrs Page._ Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits
nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him
some questions in his accidence. 15
_Evans._ Come hither, William; hold up your head; come.
_Mrs Page._ Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer
your master, be not afraid.
_Evans._ William, how many numbers is in nouns?
_Will._ Two. 20
_Quick._ Truly, I thought there had been one number
more, because they say, ‘Od’s nouns.’
_Evans._ Peace your tattlings! What is ‘fair,’ William?
_Will._ Pulcher.
_Quick._ Polecats! there are fairer things than polecats, 25
sure.
_Evans._ You are a very simplicity ’oman: I pray you,
peace. --What is ‘lapis,’ William?
_Will._ A stone.
_Evans._ And what is ‘a stone,’ William? 30
_Will._ A pebble.
_Evans._ No, it is ‘lapis:’ I pray you, remember in your
prain.
_Will._ Lapis.
_Evans._ That is a good William. What is he, William, 35
that does lend articles?
_Will._ Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be
thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hic, hæc, hoc.
_Evans._ Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you, mark:
genitivo, hujus. Well, what is your accusative case? 40
_Will._ Accusativo, hinc.
_Evans._ I pray you, have your remembrance, child;
accusativo, hung, hang, hog.
_Quick._ ‘Hang-hog’ is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.
_Evans._ Leave your prabbles, ’oman. --What is the focative 45
case, William?
_Will._ O,--vocativo, O.
_Evans._ Remember, William; focative is caret.
_Quick._ And that’s a good root.
_Evans._ ’Oman, forbear. 50
_Mrs Page._ Peace!
_Evans._ What is your genitive case plural, William?
_Will._ Genitive case!
_Evans._ Ay.
_Will._ Genitive,--horum, harum, horum. 55
_Quick._ Vengeance of Jenny’s case! fie on her! never
name her, child, if she be a whore.
_Evans._ For shame, ’oman.
_Quick._ You do ill to teach the child such words:--he
teaches him to hick and to hack, which they’ll do fast 60
enough of themselves, and to call ‘horum’:--fie upon
you!
_Evans._ ’Oman, art thou lunaties? hast thou no understandings
for thy cases, and the numbers of the genders?
Thou art as foolish Christian creatures as I would desires. 65
_Mrs Page._ Prithee, hold thy peace.
_Evans._ Show me now, William, some declensions of
your pronouns.
_Will._ Forsooth, I have forgot.
_Evans._ It is qui, quæ, quod: if you forget your 70
‘quies,’ your ‘quæs,’ and your ‘quods,’ you must be preeches.
Go your ways, and play; go.
_Mrs Page._ He is a better scholar than I thought he
was.
_Evans._ He is a good sprag memory. Farewell, Mistress 75
Page.
_Mrs Page._ Adieu, good Sir Hugh. [_Exit Sir Hugh._]
Get you home, boy. Come, we stay too long. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: IV, 1
[A Street] Capell. Page’s House. Pope.
10: _let_] _get_ Collier MS.
25: _polecats_] _powlcat_ Q3.
41: _Accusativo_] _accusative_ F3 F4.
_hinc_] _hunc_ Halliwell.
43: _hung_] Pope. _hing_ Ff Q3.
56: _Jenny’s_] _Ginyes_ Ff Q3.
63: _lunaties_] Ff Q3. _lunacies_ Rowe. _lunaticks_ Capell.
64: _of_] _and_ Collier MS.
65: _desires_] _desire_ Pope.
70, 71: _quæ ... quæs_] _que ... ques_ Ff Q3.