Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. | tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked

Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has my pocket. good gifts.

Bard. You Banbury cheese! Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is Slen. Ay, it is no matter. good gifts.

Pist. How now, Mephostophilus ?
Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page : Is Slen. Ay, it is no matter.
Falstaff there?

Nym Slice, I say! pauca, pauca ; slice! that's Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, my humour. as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise Slen. Where's Simple, my man? - can you tell one that is not true. The knight, sir John, is there; cousin ? and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. Eva. Peace: I pray you! Now let us underI will peat the door (knocks.] for master Page. stand : There is three umpires in this matter, as I What, hoa ! Got pless your house here !

understand : that is — master Page, fidelicet, master

Page ; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the Enter Page.

three party is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter. Page. Who's there?

Page. We three, to hearit, and end it between them. Eva. Here is Got’s plessing, and your friend, and Eva. Ferry goot: I will make a prief of it in my justice Shallow: and here young master Slender; note-book ; and we will afterwards ’ork upon the that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if cause, with as great discreetly as we can. matters grow to your likings.

Fal. Pistol, Page. I am glad to see your worships well : I

Pist. He hears with ears. thank you for my venison, master Shallow.

Eva. The tevil with his tam! what phrase is this, Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you; Much He hears with ear? Why, it is affectations. good do it your good heart! I wished your venison Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? better; it was ill killed :- - How doth good mistress Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, (or I would I Page ? — and I love you always with my heart, la ; might never come in mine own great chamber again with my heart.

else,) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Page. Sir, I thank you.

Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and Shal. Sir, I thank you ; by yea and no, I do. two pence a-piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves. Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. Fal. Is this true, Pistol ?

Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse. heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale.

Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner ! Sir John Page. It could not be judg’d, sir.

and master mine, Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. I combat challenge of this latten bilbo:

Shal. That he will not; - o'tis your fault, 'tis Word of denial in thy labras here; your fault :- 'Tis a good dog.

Word of denial : froth and scum, thou liest. Page. A cur, sir.

Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he. Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; Can Nym. Be advis’d, sir, and pass good humours : there be more said he is good, and fair. Is sir I will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nutJohn Falstaff here?

hook's humour on me : that is the very note of it. Page. Sir, he is within ; and I would I could do Slen. By this hat, then, he in the red face had it: a good office between you.

for though I cannot remember what I did when you Eva. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page.

Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John? Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.

Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleShal. If it be confess’d, it is not redress'd; is man had drunk himself out of his five sentences. not that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is! indeed, he hath ; — at a word he hath ; believe Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, came; Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wrong'd. shier'd ; and so conclusions pass’d the careires. Page. Here comes sir John.

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too ; but 'tis Enter sir John Falstaff, BARDOLPH, Nym, and but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick:

no matter : I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, PISTOL.

if I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the Fal. Now, master Shallow ; you'll complain of fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. me to the king ?

Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind. Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentle. my deer, and broke open my lodge.

men ; you hear it. Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter ? Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer'd.

Enter Mistress ANNE Page with wine; Mistress Fal. I will answer it straight ;- I have done all

Ford and Mistress Page following: this : - That is now answer'd.

Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll Shal. The Council shall know this.

drink within.

(Erit Anne Page Fal. 'Twere better for you, if it were known in Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. counsel : you'll be laugh'd at.

Page. How now, mistress Ford ? Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, goot worts.

Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very Fal. Good worts ! good cabbage. Slender, I well met: by your leave, good mistress. (kissing her. broke your head; What matter have you against me? Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome :

Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner; come you; and against your coney-catching rascals, Bar- gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkinddolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the ness. (Ereunt all but Shal. SLENDER, and Evans.

:

the grace.

very well.

man:

Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my Eva. Od's plessed will' I will not be absence at book of Songs and Sonnets here :

(Ereunt SHALLOW and Sir H. Evans.

Anne. Will't please your worship to come in, sir? Enter SIMPLE.

Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am How now, Simple! Were have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not The Book of Anne. The dinner attends you, sir, Ruldles about you, have you?

Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Sim. Book of Riddles! why, did not you lend it Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon to Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fort my cousin Shallow : [Exit Simple.) A justice of night afore Michaelmas ?

peace sometime may be beholden to his friend for a Slin!. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you.

- I keep but three men and a boy yet, till my A word with you, coz : marry, this, coz; There is, mother be dead : But what though? yet I live like as 'tuere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off a poor gentleman born. by sir Hugh here : - Do you understand me? Anne. I may not go in without your worship:

Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable ; if it they will not sit, till you come. he so, I shall do that that is reason.

Slen. I'faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as Shal. Nay, but understand me.

much as though I did. Slen. So I do, sir.

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in. Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender : I Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you; I will description the matter to you, if you be capa- bruised my shin the other day with playing at sword city of it.

and dagger with a master of fence, three veneys Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: for a dish of stewed prunes ; and, by my troth, I ! pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. Why do his country, simple though I stand here.

your dogs bark so ? be there bears i’ the town. Eva. But this is not the question ; the question Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talkea is concerning your marriage.

of. Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon Ern. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mis- quarrel at it, as any man in England :You are tress Anne Page.

afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not ? Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon Anne. Ay, indeed, sir. any reasonable demands.

Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have Eva. But can you affection the 'oman ? Let us seen Sackerson loose twenty times; and have taken command to know that of your mouth, or of your him by the chain : but, I warrant you, the women lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass'd:- - but parcel of the mouth ;-— Therefore, precisely, can women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill you carry your good will to the maid ?

favoured rough things. Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?

Re-enter PAGE. Slen. I hope, sir,- I will do, as it shall become Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we one that would do reason.

stay for you. Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose, towards her.

sir : come, come. Shal. That you must : Will you, upon good

Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way. dowry, marry her?

Page. Come on, sir. Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon

Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. your request, cousin, in any reason.

Anne. Not I, sir ; pray you, keep on, Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz; Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la : I wil. what I do, is to pleasure you, coz: Can you love

not do you that wrong. the maid ?

Anne. I pray you, sir. Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request ; but Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome; if there be no great love in the beginning, yet hea- you do yourself wrong, indeed, la. [Exeunt. Fen may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we are married, and have more occasion to know one

SCENE II. - The same. another : I hope, upon familiarity will grow more

Enter Sir Hugh Evans and SIMPLE, contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry her, that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely. Eva. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius'

Era. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the house, which is the way: and there dwells one misfaul is iy the 'ort dissolutely : the 'ort is, according tress Quickly, which is in the manner of his nurse, to our meaning, resolutely ; — his meaning is good.

nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, bis Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

washer, and his wringer. Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la. Simp. Well, sir.

Eva. Nay, it is petter yet: give her this letter; Re-enter Anne PAGE.

for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne:— Would mistress Anne Page : and the letter is, to desire and I were young, for your sake, mistress Anne ! require her to solicit your master's desires to mistress

Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father de- | Anne Page: I pray you, begone ; I will make an sires your worships' company.

end of my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to Shah. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. come.

(Excuni.

or his

:

:

SCENE III. - d Room in the Garter Inn. Nym. I thank thee for that humour. Enter Falstaff, Host, BARDOLPH, Nym, Pistol, such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her

Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with and Robin.

eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Fal. Mine host of the Garter,

Here's another letter to her : she bears the purse Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scho- too ; she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. larly, and wisely.

I will be cheater to them both, and they shall be exFal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some chequers to me; they shall be my East and Wes: of iny followers.

Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them thou this letter to mistress Page; and thou this to wag ; trot, trot.

mistress Ford : we will thrive, lads, we will thrive. Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.

Pist. Shall I sir Pandarus of Troy become, Host. Thou 'rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keisar, and And by my side wear steel ? then, Lucifer take all' Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, Nym. I will run no base humour: here, take the he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector ?

humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation. Fal. Do so, good mine host.

Fal. Hold, sirrah, (to Ros. ] bear you these letter Host. I have spoke ; let him follow: Let me see

tightly; thee froth, and lime : I am at a word; follow. Sail like my pinnance to these golden shores.

[Erit Host. Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go; Fal. Bardolph, follow him : a tapster is a good Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack ! trade : an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered Falstaff will learn the humour of this age, servingman, a fresh tapster : Go; adieu.

French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page. Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will

[Ereunt Falstaff and Robix. thrive.

(Exit Bard. Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd, and Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the

fullam holds, spigot wield?

And high and low beguile the rich and poor; Nym. He was gotten in drink : Is not the hu- Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, mour conceited ? His mind is not heroick, and Base Phrygian Turk ! there's the humour of it.

wym. I have operations in my head, which bo Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinder- humours of revenge. box; his thefts were too open; his filching was like Pist. Wilt thou revenge? an unskilful singer, he kept not time.

Nym. By welkin, and her star! Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's Pist. With wit, or steel ? rest.

Nym. With both the humours, I: Pist. Convey, the wise it call : Steal! foh; a fico I will discuss the humour this love to Page. for the phrase !

Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold, Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.

How Falstaff, varlet vile, Pist. Why then, let kibes ensue.

His dove will prove, his gold will hoid, Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney-catch ;

And his soft couch detile. I must shift.

Nym. My humour shall not cool : I will incense Pist. Young ravens must have food.

Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town? yellowness, for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good. is my true humour.

Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents : I seabout.

cond thee; troop on.

(Ereunt. Pist. Two yards, and more.

Fal. No quips now, Pistol ; Indeed I am in the SCENE IV. - A Room in Dr. Caius's House. waist two yards about: but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love

Enter Mrs. QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and Rugby. to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her ; she dis- Quick. What: John Rugby! · I pray thee, go courses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation: to the casement, and see if you can see my master, I can construe the action of her familiar style; and master Doctor Caius, coming: if he do, i'faith, and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd find any body in the house, here will be an old rightly, is, I am sir John Falstaff's.

abusing of God's patience, and the king's English. Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated Rug. I'll go watch.

(Erit Rugby, hier well; out of honesty into English.

Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at Nym. The anchor is deep: Will that humour night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.

An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of shall come in house withal ; and, I warrant you, no her husband's purse; she hath legions of angels. tell-tale, nor no breed-bate : his worst fault is, that Pixt. As many devils entertain ; and, To her, boy, he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that

way; but nobody but has his fault; - but let that Num. The humour rises; it is good : humour pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is? me the angels.

Sim. Ay, for fault of a better. Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and Quick. And master Slender's your master ? here another to Page's wife; who even now gave Sim. Ay, forsooth. me good eyes too, examin'd my parts with most ju- Quick. Does he not wear a great round beara, dicious eyliads : sometimes the beam of her view like a glover's paring knife ? gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

Sim. No, forsooth : he hath but a little wee face, Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. with a little yellow beard ; a Cain-coloured beard

pass?

Sily I.

:

ܪ

verd;

Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not ?

Quick. I am glad he is so quiet : if he had been Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of thoroughly moved, you should have neard him so his hands, as any is between this and his head; he loud, and so melancholy; — But notwithstanding, hath fought with a warrener.

man, I'll do your master what good I can ; and the Quick. How say you ? - 0, I should remember very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my mashim; Does he not hold up his head, as it were ? and ter, - I may call him my master, look you, for I strut in his gait ?

keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, Sim. Yes, indeed, does he.

scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse all myself : Cortune! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what Sim. 'Tis a great charge, to come under one body's I can for vour master : Anne is a good girl, and I hand. wish

Quick. Are you avis'd o’that? you shall find it a Re-enter Rugby.

great charge: and to be up early and down late;

but notwithstanding, (to tell you in your ear; I Rug. Out, alas ! here comes my master.

would have no words of it;) my master himself is in Quick. We shall all be shent: Run in here, love with mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding good young man ; go into this closet. (Shuts Sim- that, - I know Anne's mind, that's neither here PLE in the closet.] He will not stay long. - What,

nor there. John Rugby! John, what John, I say ! - Go, Caius. You jack’nape; give-a dis letter to sir John, go enquire for my master; I doubt, he be Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat not well, that he comes not home: - and down, in de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape down, adown-a, &c.

[Sings. priest to meddle or make:

- you may be gone; it is Enter Doctor Cajus.

not good you tarry here: - by gar, I vill cut all his

two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys; at his dog.

[Erit SIMPLE. Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend.

a box, a green-a box ; Do intend vat I speak ? Caius. It is no matter-a for dat: - do not you a green-a box.

tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? Quick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad by gar, I will kill de Jack Priest; and I have aphe went not in himself: if he had found the young pointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our wan, he would have been horn-mad.

(Aside. weapon : — by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be Je m'en vais à la Cour, - la grande affaire.

well : we must give folks leave to prate : What, the Quick. Is it this, sir?

good-jer! Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depeche, Caius. Rugby, come to de court vit me :- - By quickly: Vere is dat knave Rugby?

gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head Quick. What, John Rugby! John!

out of my door : - Follow my heels, Rugby. Rug. Here, sir.

[Exeunt Caius and Rugby. Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your Rugby: Come, take-a your rapier, and come after No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a my heel to de court.

woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's mind, Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

than I do: nor can do more than I do with her, I Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long: - Od's me! thank heaven. Qu'ay j'oublié ? dere is some simples in my closet, Fent. (Within.] Who's within there ? ho ! dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

Quick. Who's there, I trow ? Come near the Quick. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, house, I pray you. and be mad! Caius. O diable, diable ! vat is in my closet ?

Enter Fenton. Villainy! larron! (Pulling SIMPLE out.] Rugby, Fent. How now, good woman; how dost thou my rapier.

Quick. The better, that it pleases your good worQuick. Good master, be content.

ship to ask. Caius. Verefore shall I be content-a?

Fent. What news? how does pretty mistress Quick. The young man is an honest man. Anne? Caius. Vat shall de honest man do in

my closet? Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell

Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatick; hear you that by the way; I praise heaven for it. the truth of it: He came of an errand to me from Fent. Shall I do any good, think'st thou ? Shall parson Hugh.

I not lose my suit? Caius. Vell.

Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above : bu Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to

notwithstanding, master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a Quick. Peace, I pray you.

book, she loves you : - Have not your worship a Caius. Peace-a your tongue: – Speak-a your wart above your eye? tale.

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that? Sint. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale ; - good faith, maid, to speak a good word to Mrs. Anne Page for it is such another Nan; — but, I detest, an honest my master, in the way of marriage.

maid as ever broke bread : - We had an hour's talk Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put of that wart; - I shall never laugh but in that ny finger in the fire, and need not.

maid's company! But, indeed, she is given too Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you ? — Rugby, baillez much to allicholly, and musing: But for you — me some paper : Tarry you a little-a while. [Writes. Well, go to.

own.

Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day ; Hold, there's Fen!. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now, money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf :

[Erit. if thou seest her before me, commend me

Quick. Farewell to your worship. — Truly, an hoQuick. Will I ? i'faith, that we will; and I will nest gentleman ; but' Anne loves him not; for I tell your worship more of the wart, the next time know Anne's mind as well as another does :

Out we have confidence; and of other wooers.

upon't! what have I forgot?

[Erit.

ACT II.

SCENE I. — Before Page's House.

Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light :- here, read,

read; - perceive how I might be knighted. - I Enter Mistress Page, with a Letter.

shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have Mrs. Page. What! have I 'scap'd love-letters in an eye to make difference of men's liking: And yet the holy-day time of my beauty, and am I now a he would not swear ; praised women's modesty : subject for them? Let me see :

[Reads. And gave such orderly and well-behaved reproof to

all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his dispoAsk me no reason why I love you ; for though love sition would have gone to the truth of his words : use reason for his precision, he admits him not for his but they do no more adhere and keep place together counsellor : You are not young, no more am I; go than the hundredth psalm to the tune of Green to then, there's sympathy : you are merry, so am I ; sleeves. What tempest, I trow, threw this whale Ha! ha! then there's more sympathy : you love with so many tuns of oil in his belly, ashore at sack, and so do I; Would you desire better sympathy? Windsor? How shall I be revenged on him ? I Let it suffice thee, mistress Page, (at the least, if the think the best way were to entertain him with hope, love of a soldier can suffice,) that I love thee. I will till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his not say, pity me, 'tis not a soldier-like phrase ; but I own grease.

Did you ever hear the like? say, love me. By me,

Mrs. Page. Letter for letter ; but that the name Thine own true knight,

of Page and Ford differs ! - To thy great comfort By day or night,

in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-broOr any kind of light,

ther of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, I With all his might,

protest, mine never shall. I warrant he hath a For thee to fight, John Falstaff. thousand of these letters, writ with blank space for What a Herod of Jewry is this? - O wicked, wicked

different names, (sure more,) and these are of the

second edition : He will print them out of doubt ; world! - one that is well nigh worn to pieces with

for he cares not what he puts into the press when age, to show himself a young gallant! What an unweighed behaviour hath this Flemish drunkard

he would put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and picked (with the devil's name) out of my convers

lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will find you ation, that he dares in this manner assay me? Why, twenty lascivious turtles, ere one chaste man. he hath not been thrice in my company !

Mrs. Ford. Why this is the very same; the very

What should I say to him? - I was then frugal of my

hand, the very words: What doth he think of us? mirth : — heaven forgive me! Why I'll exhibit a

Mrs. Page. Nay, I know not : It makes me albill in the parliament for the putting down of men.

most ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'll How shall I be revenged on him? for revenged I withal ; for, sure, unless he know some strain in me,

entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.

that I know not myself, he would never have boardEnter Mistress Ford.

ed me in this fury.

Mrs. Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page ! trust me, I was going to keep him above deck. to your house!

Mrs. Page. So will I; if he come under my Alrs. Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. hatches, l'll never to sea again. Let's be reveng'd You look very ill.

on him : let's appoint him a meeting; give him a Mrs. Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; I have to show of comfort in his suit; and lead him on with show to the contrary.

a fine baited delay, till he hath pawn'd his horses to Mrs. Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind. mine Host of the Garter.

Mrs. Ford. Well, I do, then ; yet, I say, I could Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any vilshow you to the contrary: 0, mistress Page, give lainy against him, that may not sully the chariness me some counsel!

of our honesty. O, that my husband saw this letMrs. Page. What's the matter, woman?

ter! it would give eternal food to his jealousy. Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for one tri- Mrs. Page. Why, look, where he comes; and fling respect, I could come to such honour !

my good man too; he's as far from jealousy, as I Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman ; take the

am from giving him cause; and that, I hope, is an honour: What is it? dispense with trifles; unmeasurable distance. what is it?

Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman. Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eter- Mrs. Page. Let's consult together against this nal moment, or so, I could be knighted.

greasy knight : Come hither.

( They retire. Mrs. Page. What ? thou liest !- Sir Alice Ford! These knights will hack; and so thou shouldst

Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Nym. not alter the article of thy gentry.

Ford. Well, I hope, it be not so.