* ^noteFal.

Which of you know Ford, of this town?

Pist.

I ken the wight, he is of substance good.

Fal.

My honest lads, what think you I am about.

Pist.

Two yards and more.

Fal.

No quips now, Pistol: Indeed I am in the waste two yards about; but I am now about no waste, I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation; I can construe the action of her familiar stile, and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be english'd right, is, I am Sir John Falstaff's.

Pist.

He hath study'd her well, and translated her will, out of honesty into English.

Fal.

Now the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse: he hath a legion of angels.

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 willing eyes too, examin'd my parts; sometimes she kindly view'd my goodly legs, 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 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 cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear thou this letter to Mrs. Page, and thou this to Mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive* ^note.

Pist.
Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become;
And by my side wear steel? Then, Lucifer, take all!

Nym.

I will run no base humour: here take the

humour letter, I will keep the 'haviour of reputation* ^note.

Fal.

Here, boy, bear you these letters as they are directed.

Pist.

Let vultures gripe thy guts; for gord and † ^notefullam holds: and high and low beguiles the rich and poor. Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, base Phrygian Turk.

Nym.
I have operations in my head,
Which be humours of revenge.

Pist.
Wilt thou revenge?

Nym.
By welkin and her star.

Pist.
With wit, or steel?

Nym.
With both the humours, I:
I will discuss the humour of this love, to Ford.

Pist.
And I to Page shall eke unfold
How Falstaff, varlet vile,
His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile.

Nym.

My humour shall not cool; I will incense Ford to deal with poison. I will possess him with yellowness, for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that is my true humour.

Pist.

Thou art the Mars of male-contents: I second thee; troop on.