Caius.
Mrs. Page.
Mr. Doctor, my daughter is in green;
when you see your time, take her by the hand, away
with her to the Deanery, and dispatch it quickly;
go before into the Park; we two must go together.
Caius.
I know vat I have to do; adieu.
[Exit.
Mrs. Page.
Fare you well, Sir. My husband will
not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff, as he will
chafe at the Doctor's marrying my daughter; but 'tis
no matter; better, a little chiding, than a great deal
of heart-break.
Mrs. Ford.
Where is Nan now, and her troop of
fairies, and the Welch devil Evans?6 note
Mrs. Page.
They are all couch'd in a pit hard by
Herne's Oak, with obscur'd lights; which, at the very
instant of Falstaff's and our meeting, they will at
once display to the night.
Mrs. Ford.
That cannot chuse but amaze him.
Mrs. Page.
If he be not amaz'd, he will be mock'd;
if he be amaz'd, he will every way be mock'd.
Mrs. Ford.
We'll betray him finely.
-- 546 --
Mrs. Page.
Against such lewdsters, and their lechery,
Those, that betray them, do no treachery.
Mrs. Ford.
The hour draws on; to the Oak, to
the Oak.
[Exeunt.
Enter Evans and Fairies.
Eva.
Trib, trib, fairies; come, and remember
your parts; be pold, I pray you; follow me into the
pit; and when I give the watch-'ords, do as I pid you;
come, come; trib, trib.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
