me too.

you, follow.

avel ? Shall I lose my doctor ? no; he gives me the torture my wise, pluck the borrowed veil of modesty potions, and the motions. Shall I lose my parson? from the so seeming mistress Page, divulge Page my priest? my sir Hugh? no: he gives me the himself for a secure ani wilfui Acteon; and to proverbs and the no-verbs. Give me thy hand, these violent proceedings all iny neighbours shall terrestrial ; so: - Give me thy hand, celestial ; so. cry aim. [Clock strikes.] The clock gives me my Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have cue,

and my assurance bids me search; there I shall directed you to wrong places; your hearts are find Falstaff': I shall be rather praised for this, than mighty, your skins are whole, and let burnt sack be mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm, the issue. Come, lay their swords to pawn:

that Falstaff is there : I will go. Follow me, lad of peace; follow, follow, follow.

Shal. Trust me, a mad host : — Follow, gentle- Enter Page, SHALLOW, SLENDER, Host, Sir Hugh men, follow.

Evans, Caius, and Rugby. Slen. O, sweet Anne Page !

Shal. Page, &c. Well met, master Ford. (Ereunt Shallow, SLENDER, Page, and Host. Caius. Ha! do I perceive dat? have you make-a

Ford. Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer de sot of us? ha, ha!

at home; and, I pray you, all go with me. Eva. This is well ; he has made us his vlouting

Shul. I must excuse myself, master Ford. stog. – I desire you, that we may be friends ; and dine with mistress Anne, and I would not break

Slen. And so must I, sir; we have appointed to let us knog our prains together, to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, cogging companion, the

with her for more money than I'll speak of. host of the Garter.

Shal. We have lingered about a match between Caius. By gar, vit all my heart ; he promise to

Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we

shall have our answer. bring me vere is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive

Slen. I hope I have your good will, father Page. Eva. Well, I will smite his noddles : - Pray

Page. You have, master Slender; I stand wholly [Ereunt.

for you: – but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.

Caius. Ay, by gar; and de maid is love a-me; SCENE II. - The Street in Windsor.

my nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush. Enter Mistress Page and Robin.

Host. What say you to young master Fenton? he Mrs. Page. Nay, keep your way, little gallant ; verses, lie speaks holyday, he smells April and

capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader : Whether had you rather, lead mine eyes, or

May: he will carry't, he will carry't ; 'tis in his but

tons; he will carry't. eve your master's heels?.

The Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a

Page. Not by my consent, I promise you.

gentleman is of no having: he kept company with man, than follow him like a dwarf.

the wild Prince and Poins; he is of too high a reMrs. lage. () you are a flattering boy ; now, I gion, he knows too much. No, he shall not knit a see, you'll be a courtier.

knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance: Enter Fond.

if he take her, let him take her simply; the wealth Ford. Well met, mistress Page : Whither go you?

I have waits on my consent, and my consent goes

not that way. Mrs. Page. Truly, sir, to see your wife;. Is she

Ford. I beseech you, heartily, some of you go at home? Ford. Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, shall have sport; I will show you a monster

. – home with me to dinner : besides your cheer, you

Masfor want of company : I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry.

ter doctor, you shall go ; — so shall you, master Mrs. Page. Be sure of that, — two other husbands.

Page; - and you, sir Hugh. Ford. Where had you this pretty weather-cock?

Shal. Well, fare you well :

: - we shall have the Mírs. Paye. I cannot tell what the dickens his

freer wooing at master Page's. name is my husband had him of: What do you call

[Exeunt Shallow and SLENDER. your knight's name, sirrah?

Caius. Go home, John Rugby; I come anon. Rob. Sir John Falstaff.

[Erit Rugby. Ford. Sir John Falstaff!

Host. Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest Mrs. Page. He, he; I can never hit on's name.

knight Falstaff, and drink canary with him. - There is such a league between my good man

(Exit Hosi. and he ! — Is your wife at home, indeed ?

Ford. Aside.] I think, I shall drink in pipe

wine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will Ford. Indeed, she is.

Mrs. Page. By your leave, sir ;- I am sick, till you go, gentles? I see her. (Exeunt Mrs. Page and Robin.

Aů. Have with you, to see this monster. (Ereuni. Ford. Has Page any brains ? hath he any eyes? hath he any thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath

SCENE III. A Room in Ford's House. no use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter

Enter Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page. twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot pointblank twelve score. He pieces-out his wife's in

Mrs. Ford. What, John! what, Robert ! clination ; he gives her folly motion and advantage: Mrs. Page. Quickly, quickly: Is the buck-basand now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy

ket with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the Mrs. Ford. I warrant: - What, Robin, I say. wind! — and Falstaff's boy with her ! — Good plots! they are laid ; and our revolted wives share

Enter Servants, with a basket. damnation together. Well; I will take him, thua Urs. Page. Come, come, come.

woman.

hide me.

Mrs. Ford. Here, set it down.

thee, there's something extraordinary in thee. Cone Mrs. Page. Give your men the charge; we must I cannot cog, and say, thou art this and that, like a be brief.

many of these lisping haw-thorn buds, that come like Mrs. Ford. Marry, as I told you before, John, women in men's apparel, and smell like Buckler'sand Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew- bury in simple-time; I cannot : but I love thee; house; and when I suddenly call you, come forth, none but thee; and thou deservest it. and (without any pause, or staggering,) take this Mrs. Ford. Do not betray me, sir; I fear, you basket on your shoulders : that done, trudge with it love mistress Page. in all haste, and carry it among the whitsters in Fal. Thou might'st as well say, I love to walk by Datchet mead, and there empty it in the muddy the Counter-gate ; which is as hateful to me as the ditch, close by the Thames side.

reek of a lime-kiln. Mrs. Page. You will do it?

Mrs. Ford. Well, heaven knows, how I love you; Mrs. Ford. I have told them over and over; they and you shall one day find it. lack no direction : Be gone, and come when you Fal. Keep in that mind; I'll deserve it. are called.

(Exeunt Servants. Mrs. Ford. Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or Jrs. Page. Here comes little Robin.

else I could not be in that mind.

Rob. (within.] Mistress Ford, mistress Ford ! Enter Robin.

here's mistress Page at the door, sweating, and Mrs. Ford. How now, my eyas-musket? what blowing, and looking wildly, and would needs speak news with you?

with you presently. Rob. My master, sir John, is come in at your behind the arras.

Fal. She shall not see me; I will ensconce me back-door, mistress Ford ; and requests your com

Mrs. Ford. Pray you, do so: she's a very tattling pany. Asrs. Page. You little Jack-a-lent, have you been

(Falstaff hides himself. true to us?

Enter Mistress Page and Robin. Rob. Ay, I'll be sworn : My master knows not

What's the matter? how now ? of your being here; and hath threatened to put me

Mrs. Page. O mistress Ford, what have you into everlasting liberty, if I tell you of it; for, he You're shamed, you are overthrown, you are undone

done? swears, he'll turn me away.

for ever. Mrs. Page. Thou’rt a good boy ; this secrecy o

Mrs. Ford. What's the matter, good mistress thine shall be a tailor to thee, and shall make thee

Page ? a new doublet and hose. I'll

go

Mrs. Page. O well-a-day, mistress Ford! having Mrs. Ford. Do so: - Go tell thy master, I am alone. Mistress Page, remember you your cue.

an honest man to your husband, to give him such

cause of suspicion ! [Erit Robin.

Mrs. Ford. What cause of suspicion ? Mrs. Page. I warrant thee; if I do not act it,

Mrs. Page. What cause of suspicion? [Erit Mrs. Page.

on you! how am I mistook in you? J[rs. Ford. Go to then ; we'll use this unwhole

Mrs. Ford. Why, alas! what's the matter? some humidity, this gross watery pumpion ;- we'll teach him to know turtles from jays.

Mrs. Page. Your husband's coming hither, wo

man, with all the officers in Windsor, to search for Enter FalsTAFF.

a gentleman, that, he says, is here now in the house,

by your consent, to take an ill advantage of his al)Fal. Have I caught thee, my heavenly jewel ?sence : You are undone. Why, now let me die, for I have lived long enough; Mrs. Ford. Speak louder. – [Aside.] — 'Tis not this is the period of my ambition ; 0 this blessed so, I hope. hour!

Mrs. Page. Pray heaven it be not so, that you Mrs. Ford. ( sweet sir John!

have such a man here; but 'tis most certain your Fal. Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, husband's coming with half Windsor at his heels, to mistress Ford. Now shall I sin in my wish : I search for such a one. I come before to tell you : would thy husband were dead; I'll speak it before if you know yourself clear, why I am glad of it: the best lord, I would make thee my lady.

but if you have a friend here, convey, convey him Mrs. Ford. I your lady, sir John! alas, I should { out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to you; be a pitiful lady.

defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good Fal. Let the court of France show me such an- life for ever. other; I see how thine eye would emulate the dia- Mrs. Ford. What shall I do? — There is a gentlemond: Thou hast the right arched bent of the man, my dear friend; and I fear not mine own brow, that becomes the ship-tire, the tire-valiant, or shame, so much as his peril : I had rather than a any tire of Venetian admittance.

thousand pound, he were out of the house. Mrs. Ford. A plain kerchief, sir John: my brows Mrs. Page. For shame, never stand you had rabecome nothing else; nor that well neither. ther, and you had rather ; your husband's here at Fal. Thou art a traitor to say so: thou would'st hand, bethink you of soine conveyance :

in the make an absolute courtier ; and the firm fixture of house you cannot hide him. - O, how have you dethy foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait, ceived me! Look, here is a basket ; if he be of in a semi-circled farthingale. I see what thou wert, any reasonable stature, he may creep in here; and if fortune thy foe were not; nature is thy friend : throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going to Come, thou canst not hide it.

bucking: Or, it is whiting-time, send him by your Urs. Ford. Believe me, there's no such thing in two men to Datchet mead.

Mrs. Ford. He's too big to go in there : What Fal. What made me love thee? let that persuade'shall I do?

Out up

hiss me.

ES

you this?

don me.

Rezer Falstarz.

Mrs. Page. Heard you that ? Fal. Let me see't, let me see't! O let me see't!

Mrs. Ford. Ay, ay, peace :

You use :ne well, I'll in, I'll in; follow your friend's counsel;- I'll in.

master Ford, do you? Mrs. Page. What! Sir John Falstaff! Are these

Ford. Ay, I do so. your letters, knight?

Mrs. Ford. Heaven make you better than your Fal. I love thee, and none but thee; help me

thoughts!

Ford. Amen. away: let me creep in here; I'll never (He goes into the basket ; they cover him with foul lmen.

Mrs. Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, masMrs. Page. Help to cover your master, boy: Call

ter Ford. your men, mistress Ford:-You dissembling knight!

Ford. Ay, ay; I must bear it. Mrs. Förd. What John, Robert, John ! [Exit chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses,

Eva. If there be any pody in the house, and in the Robin. Re-enter Servants.] Go take up these clothes here, quickly; where's the cowl-staff? look, heaven forgive my sins at the day of judgment ! how you drumble; carry them to the laundress in

Caius. By gar, nor I too; dere is no bodies. Datchet mead; quickly, come.

Page. Fie, fie, master Ford! are you not ashamed?

What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination ? Enter Forn, Page, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans. I would not have your distemper in this kind, for

Ford. Pray you, come near : if I suspect without the wealth of Windsor Castle. cause, why then make sport at me, then let me be Ford. 'Tis my fault, niaster Page: I suffer for it. your jest; I deserve it. How now? whither bear Eva. You suffer for a pad conscience: your wife

is as honest a 'omans, as I will desires among five Sery. To the laundress, forsooth.

thousand, and five hundred too. Ufrs. Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they Caius. By gar, I see 'tis an honest woman. bear it? You were best meddle with buck-washing.

Ford. Well ; - I promised you a dinner :Ford. Buck? I would I could wash myself of Come, come, walk in the park: I pray you, pardon the buck! Buck, buck, buck ? Ay, buck; I war- me;

I will hereafter make known to you, why I rant you, buck; and of the season too; it shall ap

have done this.- Come, wife; - come,

mistress pear. (Exeuni Servants with the basket.] Gentle-Page; I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, par. men, I have dreamed to-night; I'll tell you my dream Here, here, here be my keys : ascei o my Page. Let's go in, gentlemen ; but, trust me, chainbers, search, seek, find out : I'll warrant wn'} we'll mock him. I do invite you to-morrow mornunkennel the fox : Let me stop this way first : ing to my house to breakfast ; after, we'll a birding so, now uncape.

together; I have a fine hawk for the bush : Shall it Page. Good master Ford be contented: you

be so? wrong yourself too much.

Ford. Any thing. Ford. True, master Page. — Up, gentlemen; Eva. If there is one, I shall make two in the you shall see sport anon : follow me, gentlemen. company

[Erit. Caius. If there be one or two, I shall make-a de Eva. This is fery fantastical humours and jea- turd. lousies,

Eva. In your teeth : for shame. Caius. By gar, 'tis no de fashion of France : it is Ford. Pray you go, master Page. not jealous in France

Eva. I pray you now, remembrance to-morrow Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen ; see the issue on the lousy knave, mine host. of his search ( Ereunt Evans, Page, and Caius. Caius. Dat is good; by gar, vit all my heart.

Mrs. Page. Is there not a double excellency in this? Eva. A lousy knave; to have his gibes and his Mrs. Ford. I know not which pleases me better, mockeries.

(Exeunt. that my husband is deceived, or sir John. Mrs. Page. What a taking was he in, when your

SCENE IV. - A Room in Page's House. husband asked who was in the basket !

Enter Fenton and Mistress Anne Page. Mrs. Ford. I am half afraid he will have need of washing; so throwing him into the water will do Fent. I see, I cannot get thy father's love; him a benefit

Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan. Mrs. Page. Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would Anne. Alas! how then ? all of the same strain were in the same distress.

Fent.

Why, thou must be thyself. Mrs. Ford. I think my husband hath some spe

He doth object, I am too great of birth; cial suspicion of Falstaff's being here ; for I never

And that, my state being gall’d with my expence, saw him so gross in his jealousy till now.

I seek to heal it only by his wealth : Mrs. Puge. I will lay a plot to try that : And we Besides these, other bars he lays before me, will yet have more tricks with Falstaff: his disso- My riots past, my wild societies ; lute disease will scarce obey this medicine.

And tells me, 'tis a thing impossible Mrs. Ford. Shall we send that foolish carrion, I should love thee, but as a property. mistress Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing Anne. May be, he tells you true. into the water; and give him another hope, to betray Fent. No, heaven so speed me in my time to him to another punishment ?

come! Mrs. Page. We'll do it; let him be sent for to- Albeit, I will confess, thy father's wealth morrow eight o'clock, to have amends.

Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne:

Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Re-enter Ford, Pace, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans.

Than stamps in gold, or sums in scaled bags; Ford. I cannot find him : may be the knave And 'tis the very riches of thyself bragged of that he could not compass.

That now I aim at.

:

:- my uncle

inne,
Gentia inaster l'enton,

Core, master Shallow ; come, son Sle:der; in:
Yo: seek iny father's love ; still seek it, sir : Knowing my mind, you wrong me, master Fenton.
If opportunity and humblest suit

[Ereunt Page, Shallow, and SLENDER. Cannot attain it, why then. — Hark you hither. Quick. Speak to mistress Page. (They converse apart. Fent. Good mistress Page, for that I love your

daughter Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, anı Mrs. Quickly.

In such a righteous fashion as I do, Shal. Break their talk, mistress Quickly; my Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and mannia i, kinsman shall spcak for himself.

I must advance the colours of my love, Slen. I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't : slid, 'tis And not retire : Let me have your good will. but venturing.

Anne. Good mother, do not marry me to yord? Shal. Be not dismay’d.

fool. Slen. No, she shall not dismay me: I care not Mrs. Page. I mean it not; I seek you a bettes for that, but that I am afeard.

husband. Quick. Hark ye; master Slender would speak a Quick. That's my master, master doctor. word with you.

Anne. Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth, Anne. I come to him. - This is my father's | And bowl'd to death with turnips. choice.

Mrs. Page. Come, trouble not yourself : Good 0, what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults

master Fenton, Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year ! I will not be your friend, nor enemy:

[ Aside. | My daughter will I question how she loves you, Quick. And how does good master Fenton ? Pray And as I find her, so am I affected; you, a word with you.

'Till then, farewell, sir : She must needs go in; Shal. She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou Her father will be angry. hadst a father !

(Exeunt Mrs. Page and ANNE Slen. I had a father, mistress Anne;

Fent. Farewell, gentle mistress; farewell, Nan. can tell you good jests of him :- Pray you, uncle, Quick. This is my doing now;— Nay, said I, will tell mistress Anne the jest, how my father stole two you cast away your child on a fool, and a physician ? geese out of a pen, good uncle.

Look on master Fenton : - this is my doing. Shal. Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.

Fent. I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to Slei. Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman

night in Gloucestershire.

Give my sweet Nan this ring: There's for thy pains. Shal. He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.

(Erit. Slen. Ay, that I will, como cut and long-tail, Quick. Now heaven send thee good fortune! A under the degree of a 'squire.

kind heart he hath : a woman would run through Shal. He will make you a hundred and fifty fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet, I pounds jointure.

would my master had mistress Anne; or I would Anne. Good master Shallow, let him woo for master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would mashimself

ter Fenton had her: I will do what I can for them Shal. Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for all three ; for so I have promised, and I'll be as good that good comfort. She calls you, coz: I'll leave as my word; but speciously for master Fenton. you

Well, I must of another errand to sir John Falstaff Anne. Now, master Slender.

from my two mistresses; What a beast am I to Slen. Now, good mistress Anne.

slack it?

Erit. Anne. What is your will ?

Slen. My will? 'od's heartlings, that's a pretty SCENE V. - A Room in the Garter Inn. jest, indeed! I ne'er made my will yet, I thank heaven; I am not such a sickly creature, I give

Enter Falstaff and BARDOLPH. heaven praise.

Fal. Bardolph, I say, Anne. I mean, master Slender, what would you Bard. Here, sir. with me?

Fal. Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast Slen. Truly, for mine own part, I would little or in't. (Evit BarD.) Have I lived to be carried in a nothing with you : Your father, and my uncle, have basket, like a barrow of butcher's offal ; and to be irade motions : if it be my luck, so: if not, happy thrown into the Thames? Well, if I be served man be his dole! They can tell you how things go, such another trick, I'll have my brains ta'en out, better than I can : You may ask your father; here and butter'd, and give them to a dog for a new he comes.

year's gift. The rogues slighted me into the river Enter Page and Mistress Page.

with as little remorse as they would have drowned a

bitch's blind puppies, fifteen i' the litter : and you Page. Now, master Slender :-Love him, daugh- may know by my size, that I have a kind of alacrity ter Anne.

in sinking; if the bottom were as deep as hell, I Why, how now! what does master Fenton here? should down. I had been drowned, but that the You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house : shore was shelvy and shallow; a death that I abhor; I told you, sir, my daughter is dispos'd of.

for the water swells a man; and what a thing Fent. Nay, master Page, be not impatient. should I have been, when I had been swelled! I Mrs. Page. Good master Fenton, come not to should have been a mountain of inummy. Page. She is no match for you.

Re-enter BardolpH, will the wire. Fent. Sir, will you hear me?

Bard. Here's mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with Page.

No, good master Fenton. 'you.

:

a

my child.

Fil. Çome, iet ine pour in one sack to the Ford's wife's distraction, they conveyed me into a
Thames water ; for my belly's as cold as if I had buck-basket.
swallowed snow-balls for pills to cool the reins. Ford. A buck-basket!
Call her in.

Fal. By the Lord, a buck-basket: rammed ine in Bard. Come in, woman.

with foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings,

and greasy napkins; that, master Brook, there was Enter Mrs. QUICKLY.

the rankest compound of villainous smell, that ever Quick. By your leave; I cry you mercy: Give offended nostril. your rship good-morrow.

Ford. And how long lay you there? Fal. Take away these chalices. Go, brew me a Fal. Nay, you shall hear, master Brook, what I pottle of sack finely.

have suffered to bring this woman to evil for your Bard. With eggs, sir?

good. Being thus crammed in the basket, a couple Fal. Simple of itself; I'll no pullet-sperm in my

of Ford's knaves, his hinds, were called forth by rewage.

- [Erit BARDOLPH.] — How now ? their mistress, to carry me in the name of fou! Quick. Marry, sir, I come to your worship from clothes to Datchet-lane: they took me on their mistress Ford.

shoulders ; met the jealous knave their master in the Fal. Mistress Ford! I have had ford enough: I door; who asked them once or twice what they hai was thrown into the ford: I have my belly full of in their basket: I quaked for fear, lest the lunatis ford.

knave would have searched it; but fate, ordaining Quick. Alas the day! good heart, that was not

he should be a cuckold, held his hand. Well: 01 her fault : she does so take on with her men ; they went he for a search, and away went I for foul mistook their erection.

clothes. But mark the sequel, master Brook : I sutFal. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish wo- fered the pangs of three several deaths: first, an inman's promise.

tolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous rotte! Quick. Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it bell-wether : next, to be compassed, like a good bilwould yearn your heart to see it. Her husband bo, in the circumference of a peck, hilt to point, goes this morning a birding ; she desires you once heel to head : and then, to be stopped in, like a more to come to her between eight and nine; I strong distillation, with stinking clothes that fretted must carry her word quickly: she'll make you their own grease : think of that, - a man of my amends, I warrant you.

kidney, — think of that : that am as subject to heat, Fal. Well, I will visit her: Tell her so; and bid as butter ; a man of continual dissolution and thaw; her think what a man is : let her consider his frailty, it was a miracle, to 'scape suffocation. And in the and then judge of my merit.

height of this bath, when I was more than half Quick. I will tell her.

stewed in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown Fal. Do so. Between nine and ten, say st thou ? | into the Thames, and cooled, glowing hot, in that Quick. Eight and nine, sir.

surge, like a horse-shoe; think of that, — hissing Fal. Well, be gone : I will not miss her.

hot, - think of that, master Brook. Quick. Peace be with you, sir.

[Erit. Ford. In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for Fal. I marvel, I hear not of master Brook; he my sake you have suffered all this. My suit then is sent me word to stay within : I like his money well. desperate; you'll undertake her no more. O here he comes.

Fal. Master Brook, I will be thrown into Etna,

as I have been into Thames, ere I will leave her Enter Ford.

thus. Her husband is this morning gone a birding : Ford. Bless you, sir!

I have received from her another embassy of meetFal. Now, master Brook ? you come to know ing ; 'twixt eight and nine is the hour, Master what hath passed between me and Ford's wife. Brook.

Ford. That, indeed, sir John, is my business. Ford. 'Tis past eight already, sir.

Fal. Master Brook, I will not lie to you; I was Fal. Is it? I will then address me to my apat her house the hour she appointed me.

pointment. Come to me at your convenient leisure, Ford. And how sped you, sir?

and you shall know how I speed; and the concluFal. Very ill-favouredly, master Brook.

sion shall be crowned with your enjoying her : Ford. How so, sir? Did she change her deter- | Adieu. You shall have her, master Brook; master mination ?

Brook, you shall cuckold Ford.

[Eril. Fal. No, master Brook; but the peaking cor- Ford. Hum! ha! is this a vision ? is this a nuto her husband, master Brook, dwelling in a con- dream? do I sleep? Master Ford, awake; awake, tinual 'larum of jealousy, comes me in the instant master Ford; there's a hole made in your best coat, of our encounter, after we had embraced, kissed, master Ford. This 'tis to be married! this 'tis to protested, and, as it were, spoke the prologue of have linen, and buck-baskets ! Well, I will pro our comedy; and at his heels a rabble of his com- claim myself what I am :

I will now take the panions, thither provoked and instigated by his dis- lecher; he is at my house: he cannot 'scape me; temper, and forsooth, to search his house for his l 'tis impossible he should ; he cannot creep into a wife's love.

halfpenny purse, nor into a pepper-box; but, lest Ford. What, while you were there?

the devil that guides him should aid him, I will Fal. While I was there.

search impossible places. Though what I am I Ford. And did he search for you and could not cannot avoid, yet to be what I would not, shall no find you?

make me tame: if I have horns to make me mad, Fal. You shall hear. As good luck would nave let the proverb go with me, I'll be horn ? it comes in one mistress Page; gives intelligence

Ford's approach; and, by her invention and