Hugh Evans.
Shallow.
Sir Hugh, perswade me not; I will make
a Star-Chamber matter of it: if he were
twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse
Robert Shallow, Esq;
Slen.
In the county of Gloucester, justice
of peace, and Coram.
Shal.
Ay, cousin Slender, and Custalorum.
-- 224 --
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
three hundred years.
Slen.
All his successors, gone before him, have don't;
and all his ancestors, that come after him, may; they
may give the dozen white luces in their Coat.
Shal.
It is an old Coat.
Eva.
The dozen white lowses 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.
Slen.
I may quarter, coz.
Shal.
You may by marrying.
Eva.
It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal.
Not a whit.
Eva.
Yes, per-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat,
there is but three skirts for your self, in my simple
conjectures; but that is all one: if Sir John Falstaff
have committed disparagements upon you, I am of the
Church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to
make atonements and compromises between you.
Sal.
The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.
Eva.
It is not meet, the Council hear of 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 viza-ments in that.
Shal.
Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the
sword should end it.
Eva.
It is petter that friends is the sword, and end
it; and there is also another device in my prain, which,
peradventure, prings good discretions with it: there
is Anne Page, (2) notewhich is daughter to master George
Page, which is pretty virginity.
-- 225 --
Slen.
Mistress Anne Page? she has brown hair, and
speaks small like a woman.
Eva.
It is that ferry person for all the orld, as just
as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies,
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 good motion, if we leave our pribbles and
prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham
and mistress Anne Page.
Slen.
Did her grand-sire leave her seven hundred
pounds?
Eva.
Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
Slen.
I know the young gentlewoman; she has good
gifts.
Eva.
Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good
gifts.
Shal.
Well; let us see honest Mr. Page: is Falstaff
there?
Eva.
Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as
I do 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-wishers. I will
peat the door [Knocks.] for master Page. What, hoa?
Got bless your house here.
Enter Mr. Page.
Page.
Who's there?
Eva.
Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and
Justice Shallow; and here's 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
you for my venison, master Shallow.
Shal.
Master Page, I am glad to see you; much
good do it your good heart: I wish'd your venison
better; it was ill kill'd. How doth good mistress
Page? and I thank you always with my heart, la; with
my heart.
Page.
Sir, I thank you.
-- 226 --
Shal.
Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.
Page.
I am glad to see you, good master Slender.
Slen.
How do's your fallow greyhound, Sir? I
heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale.
Page.
It could not be judg'd, 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.
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.
Eva.
It is spoke, as a christians ought to speak.
Shal.
He hath wrong'd me, master Page.
Page.
Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.
Shal.
If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not
that so, master Page? he hath wrong'd me; indeed,
he hath; at a word, he hath; believe me, Robert Shallow
Esquire saith, he is wrong'd.
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, kill'd my
deer, and broke open my lodge.
Fal.
But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter.
Shal.
Tut, a pin; this shall be answer'd.
Fal.
I will answer it strait: I have done all this.
That is now answer'd.
Shal.
The Council shall know this.
Fal.
'Twere better for you, if 'twere not known in
Council; you'll be laugh'd at.
Eva.
Pauca verba, Sir John, good worts.
Fal.
Good worts? good cabbage. Slender, I broke
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.
-- 227 --
Bar.
You Banbury cheese!
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.
Slen.
Where's Simple, my man? can you tell, cousin?
Eva.
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 my self; fidelicet, my self; and the three party is,
lastly and finally, mine Host of the Garter.
Mr. Page.
We three to hear it, and end it between
them.
Eva.
Ferry goot; I will make a prief of it in my
note-book, and we will afterwards ork upon the cause
with as great discreetly as we can.
Fal.
Pistol,—
Pist.
He hears with ears.
Eva.
The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, he
hears with ear? why, it is affectations.
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 Yead Miller, by these gloves.
Fal.
Is this true, Pistol?
Eva.
No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
Pist.
Ha, thou mountain foreigner!—Sir John, and master mine,
I Combat challenge of this latten bilboe:(3) note
-- 229 --
Word of denial in thy Labra's here;
Word of denial; froth and scum, thou ly'st.
Slen.
By these gloves, then 'twas he.
Nym.
Be advis'd, Sir, and pass good humours: I
will say marry trap with you, if you run the base humour
on me; that is the very note of it.
Slen.
By this hat, then he in the red face had it;
for tho' I cannot remember what I did when you made
me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.
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.
Eva.
It is his five senses: fie, what the Ignorance is!
Bard.
And being fap, Sir, was, as they say, cashier'd;
and so conclusions past the car-eires.
Slen.
Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no
matter; I'll never 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 with drunken knaves.
Eva.
So Got udg me, that is virtuous mind.
Fal.
You hear all these matters deny'd, gentlemen;
you hear it.
Enter Mistress Anne Page, with wine.
Page.
Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink
within.
[Exit Anne Page.
Slen.
Oh heav'n! this is mistress Anne Page.
Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress Page.
Page.
How now, mistress Ford?
Fal.
Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well
met; by your leave, good mistress.
[Kissing her.
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.
[Ex. Fal. Page, &c.
-- 230 --
Manent Shallow, Evans, and Slender.
Slen.
I had rather than forty shillings, I had my
book of songs and sonnets here.
Enter Simple.
How now, Simple, where have you been? I must wait
on my self, must I? you have not the book of riddles
about you, have you?
Simp.
Book of riddles! why, did you not lend it to
Alice Shortcake (4) noteupon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight
afore Martlemas?
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?
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.
Eva.
Give ear to his motions, Mr. Slender: I will
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 tho' I stand here.
Eva.
But that is not the question: the question is
concerning your marriage.
Shal.
Ay, there's the point, Sir.
Eva.
Marry, is it; the very point of it, to Mrs.
Anne Page.
-- 231 --
Slen.
Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any
reasonable demands.
Eva.
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 mind: therefore precisely, can you carry your good
will to the 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.
Eva.
Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must
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
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 heav'n
may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we
are marry'd, and have more occasion to know one another:
(5) noteI hope, upon familiarity will grow more
contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry her,
that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
Eva.
It is a ferry discretion answer; save, the fall is
in th' 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 hang'd, la.
-- 232 --
Enter Mistress Anne Page.
Shal.
Here comes fair mistress Anne: would I were
young for your sake, mistress Anne.
Anne.
The dinner is on the table; my father desires
your worship's company.
Shal.
I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne.
Eva.
Od's plessed will, I will not be absence at the
Grace.
[Ex. 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.
Slen.
I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,
Sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon my
cousin Shallow: [Ex. Simple.] a Justice of peace sometime
may be beholden to his friend for a man. I keep
but three men and a boy yet, 'till my mother be dead;
but 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.
Anne.
I pray you, Sir, walk in.
Slen.
I had rather walk here, I thank you: I bruis'd
my shin th'other day with playing at sword and dagger
with a master of fence, three veneys for a dish of
stew'd prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the
smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so?
be there Bears i'th' town?
Anne.
I think, there are, Sir; I heard them talk'd 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
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 cry'd and shriek'd at it, that it past: but women,
-- 233 --
indeed, cannot abide 'em, they are very ill-favour'd
rough things.
Enter Mr. Page.
Page.
Come, gentle Mr. Slender, come; we stay for
you.
Slen.
I'll eat nothing, I thank you, Sir.
Page.
By cock and pye, you shall not chuse, Sir;
come; come.
Slen.
Nay, pray you, lead the way.
Page.
Come on, Sir.
Slen.
Mistress Anne, your self shall go first.
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;
you do your self wrong, indeed-la.
[Exeunt.
Re-enter Evans and Simple.
Eva.
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.
Simp.
Well, Sir.
Eva.
Nay, it is petter yet; give her this letter; for
it is a o'man that altogethers 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; there's pippins and cheese to come.
[Exeunt severally.
Scene 2
SCENE changes to the Garter-Inn.
Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol and Robin.
Fal.
Mine host of the garter,—
Host.
What says my bully rock? speak
schollarly, and wisely.
-- 234 --
Fal.
Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of
my followers.
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 Pheazar.
I will entertain Bardolph, he shall draw, he shall
tap; said I well, bully Hector?
Fal.
Do so, good mine host.
Host.
I have spoke, let him follow; let me see
thee froth, and live: I am at a word; follow.
[Exit Host.
Fal.
Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade;
an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wither'd servingman,
a fresh tapster; go, adieu.
Bard.
It is a life that I have desir'd: I will thrive.
[Exit Bard.
Pist.
O base Hungarian wight, wilt thou the spigot
wield?
Nym.
He was gotten in drink, is not the humour
conceited? His mind is not heroick, and there's the
humour of it.
Fal.
I am glad, I am so quit of this tinderbox; his
thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful
finger, he kept not time.
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.
Fal.
There is no remedy: I must conycatch, 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.
Fal.
My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
Pist.
Two yards and more.
-- 235 --
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
well; 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: she hath a legion of angels.
Pist.
As many devils entertain; and to her, boy,
say I.
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, examin'd my parts with most judicious Iliads;
sometimes, the beam of her view guilded my foot;
sometimes, my portly belly.
Pist.
Then did the sun on dung-hill shine.
[Aside.
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; (6) noteshe
is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be
Cheater to them both, and they shall be Exchequers to
-- 236 --
me; they shall be my East 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 Pandaras 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.
Fal.
Hold, Sirrah, bear you these letters tightly,
Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.
[To Robin.
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go;
Trudge, plod away o'th' hoof, seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of the age,(7) note
French thrift, you rogues; my self, and skirted Page.
[Ex. Falstaff and Boy.
Pist.
Let vultures gripe thy guts; for gourd, and Fullam 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.
-- 237 --
Nym.
My humour shall not cool; I will incense
Ford to deal with poison; (8) note
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.
[Exeunt.
Scene 3
SCENE changes to Dr. Caius's House.
Enter mistress Quickly, Simple, and John Rugby.
Quic.
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 old abusing
of God's patience, and the King's English.
Rug.
I'll go watch.
[Exit Rugby.
Quic.
Go, and we'll have a posset for't soon at
night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. An
honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come
in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale, nor
-- 238 --
no breed-bate; his worst fault is, that he is given to
pray'r; he is something peevish that way; but no body
but has his fault; but let that pass. Peter Simple, you
say, your name is.
Sim.
Ay, for fault of a better.
Quic.
And master Slender's your master?
Sim.
Ay, forsooth.
Quic.
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, (9) notea Cain-colour'd beard.
Quic.
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.
Quic.
How say you? oh, I should remember him;
does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in
his gate?
Sim.
Yes, indeed, does he.
Quic.
Well, heav'n 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—
Enter Rugby.
Rug.
Out, alas! here comes my master.
Quic.
We shall all be shent; run in here, good
young man; go into this closet; [shuts Simple in the
closet.] He will not stay long. What, John Rugby!
John! what, John, I say; go, John, go enquire for
my master; I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not
home: and down, down, a-down-a, &c.
[Sings.
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 verd; a
-- 239 --
box, a green-a box; do intend vat I speak? a green-a
box.
Quic.
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you.
I am glad, he went not in himself; if he had found the
man, he would have been horn-mad.
[Aside.
Caius.
Fe, fe, fe, fe, ma foi, il fait fort chaud; je me'n
vaie à la Cour—la grande affaire.
Quic.
Is it this, Sir?
Caius.
Ouy, mettez le au mon pocket; Depêchez, quickly;
ver is dat knave Rugby?
Quic.
What, John Rugby! John!
Rug.
Here, Sir.
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: Que
ay je oublié? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I
will not for the varld I shall leave behind.
Quic.
Ay-me, he'll find the young man there, and
be mad.
Caius.
O Diable! Diable! vat is in my closet? villaine,
Larron! Rugby, my rapier.
[Pulls Simple out of the closet.
Quic.
Good master, be content.
Caius.
Wherefore shall I be content-a?
Quic.
The young man is an honest man.
Caius.
What shall de honest man do in my closet?
dere is no honest man, dat shall come in my closet.
Quic.
I beseech you, be not so flegmatick; hear the
truth of it. He came of an errand to me from parson
Hugh.
Caius.
Vell.
Sim.
Ay, forsooth, to desire her to—
Quic.
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.
Quic.
This is all, indeed-la; but I'll ne'er put my
finger in the fire, and need not.
-- 240 --
Caius.
Sir Hugh send-a-you? Rugby, (10) notebaillez me
some paper; tarry you a little-a-while.
Quic.
I am glad, he is so quiet; if he had been
thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so loud,
and so melancholy: but notwithstanding, man, I'll do
for 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,
and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and
drink, make the beds, and do all my self.)
Simp.
'Tis a great charge to come under one body's
hand.
Quic.
Are you a-vis'd o'that? you 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.
Caius.
You jack'nape; give a this letter to Sir Hugh;
by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in de
parke, 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 have a stone to trow at his
dog.
[Exit Simple.
Quic.
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
Caius.
It is no matter'a ver dat: do you not tell-a-me,
dat I shall have Anne Page for my self? by gar, I
vill kill de jack priest; and I have appointed mine host
of de Jarterre to measure our weapon; by gar, I will
my self have Anne Page.
-- 241 --
Quic.
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 I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head
out of my door;—follow my heels, Rugby.
[Ex. Caius and Rugby.
Quic.
You shall have An fools-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 do more than I do with her, I thank heav'n.
Fent. [within.]
Who's within there, hoa?
Quic.
Who's there, I trow? come near the house, I
pray you.
Enter Mr. Fenton.
Fent.
How now, good woman, how dost thou?
Quic.
The better, that it pleases your good worship
to ask.
Fent.
What news? how does pretty mistress Anne?
Quic.
In truth, Sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and
gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that
by the way, I praise heav'n for it.
Fent.
Shall I do any good, think'st thou? shall I
not lose my suit?
Quic.
Troth, Sir, all is in his hands above; but notwithstanding,
master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a book,
she loves you: have not your worship a wart above
your eye?
Fent.
Yes, marry, have I; and what of that?
Quic.
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 never laugh but in that maid's company! but,
indeed, she is given too much to allicholly and musing;
but for you—Well—go to—
Fent.
Well, I shall see her to day; hold, there's
mony for thee: let me have thy voice in my behalf;
if thou seest her before me, commend me—
-- 242 --
Quic.
Will I? ay, faith, that we will: and I will tell
your worship more of the wart, the next time we have
confidence, and of other wooers.
Fen.
Well, farewel, I am in great haste now.
[Exit.
Quic.
Farewel to your worship. Truly, an honest
gentleman, but Anne loves him not; I know Anne's
mind as well as another does. Out upon't, what have
I forgot?
[Exit.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
