Evans.
Eva.
'Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman, as
ever I did look upon.
-- 61 --
Page.
And did he send you both these letters, at an
instant?
Mrs. Page.
Within a quarter of an hour.
Ford.
Pardon me, wife; henceforth, do what thou wilt:
I rather will suspect the sun with cold,
Than thee with wantonness; now doth thy honour stand,
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm of faith.
Page.
'Tis well, 'tis well; no more.
Be not as extreme in submission as in offence,
But let our plot go forward: let our wives,
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,
Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.
Ford.
There is no better way than that they spoke of.
Page.
How? to send him word they'll meet him in
the park, at midnight? Fy, fy, he'll never come.
Eva.
You say he hath been thrown into the river;
and hath been grievously peaten, as an old 'oman; methinks,
there should be terrors in him, that he should not
come; methinks his flesh is punished, he shall have no
desires.
Page.
So think I too.
Mrs. Ford.
Devise but how you'll use him when he
comes; and let us two devise to bring him thither.
Mrs. Page.
There is an old tale goes, that Herne the hunter,
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest,
Doth all the winter time, at still of midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with ragged horns;
You've heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed Eld* note
Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age,
This tale of Herne the hunter, for a truth.
Page.
Why yet there want not many, that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Herne's oak;
But what of this?
Mrs. Ford.
Marry, this is our device,
That Falstaff at this oak shall meet with us.
-- 62 --
Page.
Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come.
And in this shape when you have brought him hither,
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?
Mrs. Page.
That likewise we have thought upon* note.
Eva.
Let us about it;
It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaveries.
[Exeunt Page, Ford, and Evans.
John Bell [1774], Bell's Edition of Shakespeare's Plays, As they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London; Regulated from the Prompt Books of each House By Permission; with Notes Critical and Illustrative; By the Authors of the Dramatic Censor (Printed for John Bell... and C. Etherington [etc.], York) [word count] [S10401].
