SCENE I.
Before Page's house in Windsor.
Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Shal.
Sir Hugh3 note, persuade me not: I will make4 note
a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty sir
-- 220 --
John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow2
esquire.
-- 221 --
Slen.
In the county of Gloster, justice of peace,
and coram.
Shal.
Ay, cousin Slender, and 5 note
custalorum.
Slen.
Ay, and ratalorum 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 louses do become an old
coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar
beast to man, and signifies—love.
Shal.
6 note
The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is
an old coat.
-- 222 --
Slen.
I may quarter, coz.
Shal.
You may, by marrying.
-- 223 --
Eva.
It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal.
Not a whit.
-- 224 --
Eva.
Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your
coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my
simple conjectures: but that is all one: If sir John
Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you,
I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence,
to make atonements and compromises between
you.
Shal.
7 noteThe 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 vizaments in that8 note
.
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 goot discretions with
it: There is Anne Page, 9 notewhich is daughter to
master George Page, which is pretty virginity.
-- 225 --
Slen.
Mistress Anne Page? she has brown hair,
and 1 note
speaks small like a woman.
Eva.
It is that very 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 goot motion, if we leave our pribbles
and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master
Abraham, and mistress Anne Page.
Slen.
Did her grandsire 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 master 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-willers.
I will peat the door [Knocks] for master Page. What,
hoa! Got pless your house here!
Enter Page.
Page.
Who's there?
-- 226 --
Eva.
Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and
justice Shallow: and here is 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.
Shal.
Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.
Page.
I am glad to see you, good master Slender.
Slen.
2 noteHow does your fallow greyhound, sir? I
heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale.
-- 227 --
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, 3 noteand broke open my lodge.
-- 228 --
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.
4 note
'Twere better for you, if 'twere known in
council; you'll be laugh'd at.
Eva.
Pauca verba, sir John; good worts.
Fal.
Good worts! 5 note
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 6 note
coney-catching rascals, Bardolph,
Nym, and Pistol.
-- 229 --
Bar.
7 note
You Banbury cheese!
Slen.
Ay, it is no matter.
Pist.
8 note
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?
Evan.
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 myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three
party is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter.
Page.
We three, to hear it, and end it between
them.
Eva.
Fery 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,—
-- 230 --
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-sixpences9 note
, and two
1 note
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,
2 note
I combat challenge of this latten bilboe:
-- 231 --
3 note
Word of denial in thy labra's here;
Word of denial: froth and scum, thou ly'st.
-- 232 --
Slen.
By these gloves, then 'twas he.
Nym.
Be avis'd, Sir, and pass good humours: I
will say, 4 notemarry trap, with you, if you run the 5 note
nuthook's
humour on me; that is the very note of it.
Slen.
By this hat, then he in the red face had it:
for though I cannot remember what I did when you
made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.
Fal.
What say you, 6 noteScarlet 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 fap7 note, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd;
and so conclusions pass'd the 8 note
careires.
-- 233 --
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 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind.
Fal.
You hear all these matters deny'd, gentlemen;
you hear it.
Enter mistress Anne Page with wine; mistress Ford and mistress Page following.
Page.
Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll
drink within.
[Exit Anne Page.
Slen.
O heaven! this is mistress Anne 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.
[Exe. all but Shal. Slend. and Evans.
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 myself, must I? You have not the book of
riddles about you, have you?
-- 234 --
Sim.
Book of riddles! why, did you not lend it to
Alice Shortcake 9 note
upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight
afore Michaelmas?
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, master 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 though 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 mistress
Anne Page.
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 1 note
the lips is parcel
-- 235 --
of the mouth;—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 heaven
may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we
are marry'd, and have more occasion to know one
another: 2 note
I hope, upon familiarity will grow more
-- 236 --
contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry
her, that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
Eva.
It is a fery discretion answer; save, the faul'
is in the '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.
Re-enter 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. Shal. 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: [Exit 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.
-- 237 --
Slen.
I had rather walk here, I thank you: I
bruis'd my shin the other day with playing at sword
and dagger with a master of fence, 3 note
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'the 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 4 noteSackerson loose,9Q0115 twenty times; and have
taken him by the chain: but, I warrant you, the
women have so cry'd and shriek'd at it, 5 notethat it
pass'd:—but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em;
they are very ill-favour'd rough things.
Re-enter Page.
Page.
Come, gentle master Slender, come; we
stay for you.
-- 238 --
Slen.
I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.
Page.
6 noteBy cock and pye, you shall not choose,
sir: come, come.
Slen.
Nay, pray you, lead the way.
Page.
Come on, sir.
Slen.
Mistress Anne, yourself 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 yourself wrong, indeed-la.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
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 'oman that altogether's acquaintance 7 note
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.
-- 239 --
SCENE III.
The Garter inn.
Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and Robin.
Fal.
Mine host of the Garter,—
Host.
What says my bully-rook8 note? speak schollarly,
and wisely.
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, Keisar9 note, and
Pheezar. 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: 1 note note and lime, I take to be the true one. The Host
calls for an immediate specimen of Bardolph's abilities as a tapster;
and frothing beer and liming sack were tricks practised in the time
of Shakespeare. The first was done by putting soap into the bottom
of the tankard when they drew the beer; the other, by mixing
lime with the sack (i. e. sherry) to make it sparkle in the glass.
Froth and live is sense, but a little forced; and to make it so we
must suppose the Host could guess by his dexterity in frothing a
pot to make it appear fuller than it was, how he would afterwards
succeed in the world. Falstaff himself complains of limed sack.
Steevens.Let me see
thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow.
[Exit Host.
-- 240 --
Fal.
Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good
trade: An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wither'd
servingman, a fresh tapster2 note: Go; adieu.
Bard.
It is a life that I have desir'd: I will thrive.
[Exit Bard.
Pist.
3 note
O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the
spigot wield?
Nym.
He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour
conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the
4 notehumour of it.
-- 241 --
Fal.
I am glad, I am so acquit 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 5 note
at a minute's
rest.
Pist.
Convey, the wise it call6 note
: 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 cony-catch, I
must shift.
Pist.
7 noteYoung 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.
-- 242 --
Fal.
No quips now, Pistol: Indeed, I am in the
waist two yards about: but I am now 8 note
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 carves9 note, 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 rightly, is, I am sir John Falstaff's.
Pist.
He hath study'd her will,9Q0117 and translated her
will; out of honesty into English.
Nym.
1 note
The anchor is deep: Will that humour
pass?
-- 243 --
Fal.
Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of
her husband's purse; she hath a legion of angels.
Pist.
2 note
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
3 noteeyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded
my foot, sometimes my portly belly.
Pist.
Then did the sun on dung-hill shine.
Nym.
I thank thee for 4 note
that humour.
-- 244 --
Fal.
O, she did so course-o'er my exteriors with
such a greedy intention5 note, 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. 7 note
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 mistress Page; and thou
this to mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads; we will
thrive.
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.
Fal.
Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly8 note;9Q01189Q0119
-- 245 --
Sail like my pinnace9 note
to these golden shores.
[To Robin.
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of this age1 note,
French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page.
[Exit Falstaff and Boy.
Pist.
2 noteLet vultures gripe thy guts! 3 note
for gourd, and fullam holds;
And high and low beguiles the rich and poor:
-- 246 --
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 Ford4 note,
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
5 note
yellowness, for6 note
the revolt of mien is dangerous:
that is my true humour.
-- 247 --
Pist.
Thou art the Mars of malecontents: I second
thee; troop on.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
Dr. Caius's house.
Enter Mrs. 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 an 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, 7 noteat 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 no breed-bate8 note
: his worst fault is, that
-- 248 --
he is given to prayer; he is something peevish9 note that
way:9Q0121 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 1 note
a little wee
face, with a little yellow beard; 2 note
a Cain-colour'd
beard.
-- 249 --
Quic.
A softly-sprighted man, is he not?
Sim.
Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his
hands3 note
, 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 gait?
Sim.
Yes, indeed, does he.
Quic.
Well, heaven 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—
Re-enter Rugby.
Rug.
Out, alas! here comes my master.
-- 250 --
Quic.
We shall all be shent4 note
: 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-a5 note, &c.
[Sings.
Enter Doctor Caius6 note.
Caius.
Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys;
Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet 7 note
un boitier
verd; a box; a green-a box; Do intend vat I speak?
a green-a box.
Quick.
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you.
I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found
the young man, he would have been horn-mad.
[Aside.
Caius.
Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je
m'en vai àa la Cour,—la grande affaire.
-- 251 --
Quic.
Is it this, Sir.
Caius.
Ouy; mettez le au mon pocket; Depêchez,
quickly:—Vere 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 de court.
Rug.
'Tis ready, Sir, here in the porch.
Caius.
By my trot, I tarry too long:—Od's me!
Qu'ay j'oubliè? dere is some simples in my closet,
dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.
Quic.
Ah 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.
Verefore shall I be content-a?
Quic.
The young man is an honest man.
Caius.
Vat 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 flegmatic; 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 never put my
finger in the fire, and need not.
Caius.
Sir Hugh send-a you?—Rugby baillez me
some paper: Tarry you a little while.
Quic.
I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoroughly
moved, you should have heard him so loud,
-- 252 --
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 myself.
Sim.
'Tis a great charge, to come under one body's
hand.
Quic.
Are you avis'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 dis letter to Sir
Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his throat
in de park; and I vill 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 for dat:—do you not
tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself?—
by gar, I vill kill de jack priest; and I have appointed
mine host of de Jarterre to measure our weapon;
—by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page.
Quic.
Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be
well: we must give folks leave to prate: What, the
goujere8 note
!
Caius.
Rugby, come to the court vit me;—By
-- 253 --
gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head
out of door:—Follow my heels, Rugby.
[Ex. Caius and Rugby.
Quic.
You shall have An fools-head9Q0123 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
heaven.
Fent. [Within.]
Who's within there, ho?
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 heaven for it.
Fent.
Shall I do any good, thinkest 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 about your eye?
Fent.
Yes, marry, have I; 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 bread9Q0124:—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
money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf:
if thou seest her before me, commend me—
Quic.
Will I? ay, faith, that we will: and I will
-- 254 --
tell your worship more of the wart, the next time we
have confidence; and of other wooers.
Fent.
Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.
[Exit.
Quic.
Farewell 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.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
