William.
Mrs Page.
Is he at Master Ford's already, think'st
thou?
Quick.
Sure he is by this, or will be presently: but,
truly, he is very courageous mad about his throwing into
the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly.
Mrs Page.
I'll be with her by and by; I'll but bring
-- 223 --
my young man here to school. Look, where his master
comes; 'tis a playing-day, I see.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans.
How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day?
Evans.
No; Master Slender is let note the boys leave to
play.
Quick.
Blessing of his heart!
Mrs Page.
Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits
nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him
some questions in his accidence.
Evans.
Come hither, William; hold up your head; come.
Mrs Page.
Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer
your master, be not afraid.
Evans.
William, how many numbers is in nouns?
Will.
Two.
Quick.
Truly, I thought there had been one number
more, because they say, ‘Od's nouns.’
Evans.
Peace your tattlings! What is ‘fair,’ William?
Will.
Pulcher.
Quick.
Polecats! there are fairer things than polecats note,
sure.
Evans.
You are a very simplicity 'oman: I pray you,
peace.—What is ‘lapis,’ William?
Will.
A stone.
Evans.
And what is ‘a stone,’ William?
Will.
A pebble.
Evans.
No, it is ‘lapis:’ I pray you, remember in your
prain.
Will.
Lapis.
Evans.
That is a good William. What is he, William,
that does lend articles?
Will.
Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be
thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hic, hæc, hoc.
Evans.
Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you, mark:
genitivo, hujus. Well, what is your accusative case?
-- 224 --
Will.
Accusativo note, hinc note.
Evans.
I pray you, have your remembrance, child;
accusativo, hung note, hang, hog.
Quick.
‘Hang-hog’ is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.
Evans.
Leave your prabbles, 'oman.—What is the focative
case, William?
Will.
O,—vocativo, O.
Evans.
Remember, William; focative is caret.
Quick.
And that's a good root.
Evans.
'Oman, forbear.
Mrs Page.
Peace!
Evans.
What is your genitive case plural, William?
Will.
Genitive case!
Evans.
Ay.
Will.
Genitive,—horum, harum, horum.
Quick.
Vengeance of Jenny's note case! fie on her! never
name her, child, if she be a whore.
Evans.
For shame, 'oman.
Quick.
You do ill to teach the child such words:—he
teaches him to hick and to hack, which they'll do fast
enough of themselves, and to call ‘horum’:—fie upon
you!
Evans.
'Oman, art thou lunaties note? hast thou no understandings
for thy cases, and the numbers of note the genders?
Thou art as foolish Christian creatures as I would desires note.
Mrs Page.
Prithee, hold thy peace.
Evans.
Show me now, William, some declensions of
your pronouns.
Will.
Forsooth, I have forgot.
Evans.
It is qui, quæ, quod: if you forget your
‘quies,’ your ‘quæs note,’ and your ‘quods,’ you must be preeches.
Go your ways, and play; go.
Mrs Page.
He is a better scholar than I thought he
was.
-- 225 --
Evans.
He is a good sprag memory. Farewell, Mistress
Page.
Mrs Page.
Adieu, good Sir Hugh.
[Exit Sir Hugh.]
Get you home, boy. Come, we stay too long.
[Exeunt.
Scene II.
A room in Ford's house.
Enter Falstaff and Mistress Ford.
Fal.
Mistress Ford, your sorrow hath eaten up my
sufferance. I see you are obsequious in your love, and
I profess requital to a hair's breadth; not only, Mistress
Ford, in the simple office of love, but in all the accoutrement,
complement, and ceremony of it. But are you sure
of your husband now?
Mrs Ford.
He's a-birding, sweet Sir John.
Mrs Page. [Within]
What, ho, gossip Ford! what, ho!
Mrs Ford.
Step into the chamber, Sir John.
[Exit Falstaff.
Enter Mistress Page.
Mrs Page.
How now, sweetheart! who's at home besides
yourself?
Mrs Ford.
Why, none but mine own people.
Mrs Page.
Indeed!
Mrs Ford.
No, certainly. [Aside to her] Speak louder.
Mrs Page.
Truly, I am so glad you have nobody here.
Mrs Ford.
Why?
Mrs Page.
Why, woman, your husband is in his old
lunes note again: he so takes on yonder with my husband; so
rails against all married mankind; so curses all Eve's
daughters, of what complexion soever; and so buffets himself
on the forehead, crying, ‘Peer out, peer out!’ that any
madness I ever yet beheld seemed but tameness, civility,
and patience, to this his distemper he is in now: I am glad
the fat knight is not here.
-- 226 --
Mrs Ford.
Why, does he talk of him?
Mrs Page.
Of none but him; and swears he was carried
out, the last time he searched for him, in a basket;
protests to my husband he is now here; and hath drawn
him and the rest of their company from their sport, to make
another experiment of his suspicion: but I am glad the
knight is not here; now he shall see his own foolery.
Mrs Ford.
How near is he, Mistress Page?
Mrs Page.
Hard by; at street note end; he will be here anon.
Mrs Ford.
I am undone!—the knight is here.
Mrs Page.
Why, then, you are utterly shamed, and
he's but a dead man. What a woman are you!—Away
with him, away with him! better shame than murder.
Mrs Ford.
Which way should he go? how should I
bestow him? Shall I put him into the basket again?
Re-enter Falstaff. note
note
Fal.
No, I'll come no more i' the basket. May I not
go out ere he come?
Mrs Page.
Alas, three of Master Ford's brothers watch
the door with pistols note, that none shall issue out; otherwise
you might slip away ere he came. But what make you
here?
Fal.
What shall I do?—I'll creep up into the chimney.
Mrs Ford.
There they always use to discharge their
birding-pieces. Creep into the kiln-hole note.
Fal.
Where is it?
Mrs Ford.
He will seek there, on my word. Neither
press, coffer, chest, trunk, well, vault, but he hath an abstract
for the remembrance of such places, and goes to
them by his note: there is no hiding you in the house.
Fal.
I'll go out, then.
Mrs Page note.
If you go out in your own semblance, you
die, Sir John. Unless you go out disguised,—
-- 227 --
Mrs Ford note.
How might we disguise him?
Mrs Page.
Alas the day, I know not! There is no
woman's gown big enough for him; otherwise he might put
on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so escape.
Fal.
Good hearts, devise something: any extremity
rather than a mischief note.
Mrs Ford.
My maid's aunt, the fat woman of Brentford note,
has a gown above.
Mrs Page.
On my word, it will serve him; she's as big
as he is: and there's her thrummed note hat, and her muffler
too. Run up, Sir John.
Mrs Ford.
Go, go, sweet Sir John: Mistress Page and
I will look some linen for your head.
Mrs Page.
Quick, quick! we'll come dress you straight:
put on the gown the while.
[Exit Falstaff.
Mrs Ford.
I would my husband would meet him in
this shape: he cannot abide the old woman of Brentford note;
he swears she's a witch; forbade her my house, and hath
threatened to beat her.
Mrs Page.
Heaven guide him to thy husband's cudgel,
and the devil guide his cudgel afterwards!
Mrs Ford.
But is my husband coming?
Mrs Page.
Ay, in good sadness, is he; and talks of
the basket too, howsoever he hath had intelligence.
Mrs Ford.
We'll try that; for I'll appoint my men to
carry the basket again, to meet him at the door with it, as
they did last time.
Mrs Page.
Nay, but he'll be here presently: let's go
dress him like the witch of Brentford note.
Mrs Ford.
I'll first direct my men what they shall do
with the basket. Go up; I'll bring linen for him straight.
[Exit.
Mrs Page.
Hang him, dishonest varlet! we cannot misuse
him note enough.
We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do,
-- 228 --
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too:
We do not act that often jest and laugh;
'Tis old, but true,—Still swine eat all the draff.
[Exit.
Re-enter Mistress Ford with two Servants.
Mrs Ford.
Go, sirs, take the basket again on your
shoulders: your master is hard at door; if he bid you set it
down, obey him: quickly, dispatch.
[Exit.
First Serv.
Come, come, take it up.
Sec. Serv.
Pray heaven it be not full of knight note again.
First Serv.
I hope not; I had as lief note bear so much lead.
noteEnter Ford, Page, Shallow, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Ford.
Ay, but if it prove true, Master Page, have you
any way then to unfool me again? Set down the basket,
villain note! Somebody call my wife. Youth in a basket note!—O
you panderly rascals! there's a knot, a ging note, a pack, a conspiracy
against me: now shall the devil be shamed note.—What,
wife note, I say!—Come, come forth! Behold what honest
clothes you send forth to bleaching!
Page.
Why, this passes, Master Ford; you are not to
go loose any longer; you must be pinioned.
Evans.
Why, this is lunatics! this is mad as a mad
dog!
Shal.
Indeed, Master Ford, this is not well, indeed.
Ford.
So say I too, sir.
Re-enter Mistress Ford.
Come hither, Mistress Ford; Mistress Ford, the honest woman,
the modest wife, the virtuous creature, that hath the
jealous fool to her husband! I suspect without cause, mistress,
do I?
-- 229 --
Mrs Ford.
Heaven be my witness you do, if you suspect
me in any dishonesty.
Ford.
Well said, brazen-face! hold it out. Come forth,
sirrah!
[Pulling clothes out of the basket.
Page.
This passes!
Mrs Ford.
Are you not ashamed? let the clothes alone.
Ford.
I shall find you anon.
Evans.
'Tis unreasonable! Will you take up your
wife's clothes? Come away.
Ford.
Empty the basket, I say!
Mrs Ford.
Why, man, why?
Ford.
Master Page, as I am a man, there was one conveyed
out of my house yesterday in this basket: why may
not he be there again? In my house I am sure he is: my
intelligence is true; my jealousy is reasonable. Pluck me
out all the linen.
Mrs Ford.
If you find a man there, he shall die a flea's
death.
Page.
Here's no man.
Shal.
By my fidelity, this is not well, Master Ford;
this wrongs you.
Evans.
Master Ford, you must pray, and not follow the
imaginations of your own heart: this is jealousies.
Ford.
Well, he's not here I seek for.
Page.
No, nor nowhere else but in your brain.
Ford.
Help to search my house this one time. If I
find not what I seek, show no colour for my extremity; let
me for ever be your table-sport; let them say of me, ‘As
jealous as Ford, that searched a hollow walnut for his wife's
leman.’ Satisfy me once more; once more search with me.
Mrs Ford.
What, ho, Mistress Page! come you and the
old woman down; my husband will come into the chamber.
Ford.
Old woman! what old woman's that?
Mrs Ford.
Why, it is my maid's aunt of Brentford note.
Ford.
A witch, a quean, an old cozening quean! Have
I not forbid her my house? She comes of errands, does
she? We are simple men; we do not know what's brought
to pass under the profession of fortune-telling. She works
by charms, by spells, by the figure, and such daubery as
-- 230 --
this is, beyond our element: we know nothing. Come
down, you witch, you hag, you; come down, I say!
Mrs Ford.
Nay, good, sweet husband!—Good gentlemen,
let him not note strike the old woman.
noteRe-enter Falstaff in woman's clothes note, and Mistress Page.
Mrs Page.
Come, Mother Prat; come, give me your
hand.
Ford.
I'll prat her. [Beating him] Out of my door,
you witch, you hag note, you baggage, you polecat, you ronyon!
out, out! I'll conjure you, I'll fortune-tell you.
[Exit Falstaff.
Mrs Page.
Are you not ashamed? I think you have
killed the poor woman.
Mrs Ford.
Nay, he will do it. 'Tis a goodly credit for
you.
Ford.
Hang her, witch!
Evans.
By yea and no note, I think the 'oman is a witch indeed:
I like not when a 'oman note has a great peard; I spy a
great peard under his note muffler.
Ford.
Will you follow, gentlemen? I beseech you,
follow; see but the issue of my jealousy: if I cry out thus
upon no trail note, never trust me when I open again.
Page.
Let's obey his humour a little further: come,
gentlemen.
[Exeunt Ford, Page, Shal., Caius, and Evans.
Mrs Page.
Trust me, he beat him most pitifully.
Mrs Ford.
Nay, by the mass, that he did not; he beat
him most unpitifully methought.
Mrs Page.
I'll have the cudgel hallowed and hung
o'er the altar; it hath done meritorious service.
Mrs Ford.
What think you? may we, with the warrant
of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pursue
him with any further revenge?
-- 231 --
Mrs Page.
The spirit of wantonness is, sure, scared
out of him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with
fine note and recovery, he will never, I think, in the way of
waste, attempt us again.
Mrs Ford.
Shall we tell our husbands how we have
served him?
Mrs Page.
Yes, by all means; if it be but to scrape
the figures out of your husband's brains note. If they can find
in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight shall be any
further afflicted, we two will still be the ministers.
Mrs Ford.
I'll warrant they'll have him publicly
shamed: and methinks there would be no period note to the
jest note, should he not be publicly shamed.
Mrs Page.
Come, to the forge with it, then; shape it: note
I would not have things cool.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Host and Bardolph.
Bard.
Sir, the Germans desire note to have three of your
horses: the duke himself will be to-morrow at court, and
they are going to meet him.
Host.
What duke should that be comes so secretly? I
hear not of him in the court. Let me speak with the gentlemen:
they speak English?
Bard.
Ay note, sir; I'll call them to you.
Host.
They shall have my horses; but I'll make them
pay; I'll sauce them: they have had my house note a week at
command; I have turned away my other guests: they must
come off note; I'll sauce them. Come.
[Exeunt.
-- 232 --
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
A room in Ford's house.
Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Evans.
'Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman note as
ever I did look upon.
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 note
Than thee with wantonness: now doth thy honour stand,
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith note.
Page.
'Tis well, 'tis well; no more:
note
Be not as extreme note 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? Fie, fie! he'll never come.
Evans.
You say note he has been thrown in the rivers note, and
has been grievously peaten, as an old 'oman: methinks
there should be terrors note 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.
-- 233 --
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 midnight note,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd note horns;
And there he blasts the tree note, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner:
You have heard of such a spirit; and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
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;
note
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us.
Page.
Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come:
And in this shape when you have brought him thither,
What shall be done with him? what is your plot?
Mrs Page.
That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:
Nan Page my daughter and my little son
And three or four more of their growth we'll dress
Like urchins, ouphes and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads,
And rattles in their hands: upon a sudden,
As Falstaff, she, and I, are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffused song: upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly:
Then let them all encircle him about,
And, fairy-like, to-pinch note note the unclean knight;
-- 234 --
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
Mrs Ford.
And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposed fairies pinch him sound note,
And burn him with their tapers.
Mrs Page.
The truth being known,
We'll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
And mock him home to Windsor.
Ford.
The children must
Be practised well to this, or they'll ne'er do't.
Evans.
I will teach the children their behaviours; and
I will be like a jack-an-apes also, to burn the knight with
my taber note.
Ford.
That will be excellent. I'll go and buy them
vizards.
Mrs Page.
My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies,
Finely attired in a robe of white.
Page.
That silk will I go buy. [Aside] And in that time note
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away,
And marry her at Eton. Go send to Falstaff straight.
Ford.
Nay, I'll to him again in name note of Brook:
He'll tell me all his purpose: sure, he'll come.
Mrs Page.
Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
Evans.
Let us about it: it is admirable pleasures and
fery honest knaveries.
[Exeunt Page, Ford, and Evans.
Mrs Page.
Go, Mistress Ford,
Send quickly to Sir John, to know his mind.
[Exit Mrs Ford.
I'll to the doctor: he hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well landed, is an idiot;
-- 235 --
And he note my husband best of all affects.
The doctor is well money'd, and his friends
Potent at court: he, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.
[Exit.
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Host and Simple.
Host.
What wouldst thou have, boor? what, thick-skin?
speak, breathe, discuss; brief, short, quick, snap note.
Sim.
Marry, sir, I come to speak with Sir John Falstaff
from Master Slender.
Host.
There's his chamber, his house, his castle, his
standing-bed, and truckle-bed; 'tis painted about with the
story of the Prodigal, fresh and new. Go knock and call;
he'll speak like an Anthropophaginian unto thee: knock,
I say.
Sim.
There's an old woman, a fat woman, gone up into
his chamber: I'll be so bold as stay, sir, till she come
down; I come to speak with her, indeed.
Host.
Ha! a fat woman! the knight may be robbed:
I'll call.—Bully knight! bully Sir John! speak from thy
lungs military: art thou there? it is thine host, thine Ephesian,
calls.
Fal. [Above note]
How now, mine host!
Host.
Here's a Bohemian-Tartar tarries the coming
down of thy fat woman. Let her descend, bully, let her
descend; my chambers are honourable: fie! privacy? fie!
Enter Falstaff.
Fal.
There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now
with me; but she's gone.
Sim.
Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of
Brentford?
Fal.
Ay, marry, was it, muscle-shell: what would you
with her?
-- 236 --
Sim.
My master, sir, Master Slender note, sent to her, seeing
her go thorough note the streets, to know, sir, whether one Nym,
sir, that beguiled him of a chain, had the chain or no.
Fal.
I spake with the old woman about it.
Sim.
And what says she, I pray, sir?
Fal.
Marry, she says that the very same man that beguiled
Master Slender of his chain cozened him of it.
Sim.
I would I could have spoken with the woman
herself; I had other things to have spoken with her too
from him.
Fal.
What are they? let us know.
Host.
Ay, come; quick.
Sim.
I may note not conceal note them, sir.
Host. note
Conceal note them, or note thou diest.
Sim.
Why, sir, they were nothing but about Mistress
Anne Page; to know if it were my master's note fortune to have
her or no.
Fal.
'Tis, 'tis his fortune.
Sim.
What, sir?
Fal.
To have her, or no. Go; say the woman told
me so.
Sim.
May I be bold to say so, sir?
Fal.
Ay, sir; like note who more bold.
Sim.
I thank your worship: I shall make my master
glad with these tidings.
[Exit.
Host.
Thou art clerkly, thou art clerkly, Sir John.
Was there a wise woman with thee?
Fal.
Ay, that there was, mine host; one that hath
taught me more wit than ever I learned before in my
life; and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for
my learning.
-- 237 --
noteEnter Bardolph.
Bard.
Out, alas, sir! cozenage, mere cozenage!
Host.
Where be my horses? speak well of them,
varletto.
Bard.
Run away with note the cozeners: for so soon as I
came beyond Eton, they threw me off, from behind one of
them, in a slough of mire; and set spurs and away, like
three German devils, three Doctor Faustuses.
Host.
They are gone but to meet the duke, villain: do
not say they be fled; Germans are honest men.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans.
Evans.
Where is mine host?
Host.
What is the matter, sir?
Evans.
Have a care of your entertainments: there is a
friend of mine come to town, tells me there is three cozen-germans
that has cozened all the hosts of Readins note, of Maidenhead,
of Colebrook, of horses and money. I tell you for
good will, look you: you are wise, and full of gibes and
vlouting-stocks, and 'tis not convenient you should be
cozened. Fare you well.
[Exit.
Enter Doctor Caius.
Caius.
Vere is mine host de Jarteer?
Host.
Here, master doctor, in perplexity and doubtful
dilemma.
Caius.
I cannot tell vat is dat: but it is tell-a me dat
you make grand note preparation for a duke de Jamany: by my
trot, dere is no duke dat the court is know to come. I tell
you for good vill: adieu.
[Exit.
Host.
Hue and cry, villain, go!—Assist me, knight.—
I am undone!—Fly, run, hue and cry, villain!—I am undone!
[Exeunt Host and Bard. note
Fal.
I would all the world might be cozened; for I
have been cozened and beaten too. If it should come to
-- 238 --
the ear of the court, how I have been transformed, and how
my transformation hath been washed and cudgelled, they
would melt me out of my fat drop by drop, and liquor
fishermen's boots with me: I warrant they would whip me
with their fine wits till I were as crest-fallen as a dried pear.
I never prospered since I forswore myself at primero. Well,
if my wind were but long enough [to say my prayers note,] I
would repent note.
noteEnter Mistress Quickly.
Now, whence come you?
Quick.
From the two parties, forsooth.
Fal.
The devil take one party, and his dam the other!
and so they shall be both bestowed. I have suffered more
for their sakes, more than the villanous inconstancy of
man's disposition is able to bear.
Quick.
And have not they suffered? Yes, I warrant;
speciously one of them; Mistress Ford, good heart, is
beaten black and blue, that you cannot see a white spot
about her.
Fal.
What tellest thou me of black and blue? I was
beaten myself into all the colours of the rainbow; and I
was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brentford: but
that my admirable dexterity of wit, my counterfeiting the
action of an old woman note, delivered me, the knave constable
had set me i' the stocks, i' the common stocks, for a
witch.
Quick.
Sir, let me speak with you in your chamber:
you shall hear how things go; and, I warrant, to your content.
Here is a letter will say somewhat. Good hearts,
what ado here is to bring you together! Sure, one of you
does not serve heaven well, that you are so crossed.
Fal.
Come up into my chamber.
[Exeunt.
-- 239 --
note
Scene VI. [Footnote:
The same note. Another room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Fenton and Host.
Host.
Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is
heavy: I will give over all.
Fent.
Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose,
And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee
A hundred pound in gold more than your loss.
Host.
I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will at
the least keep your counsel.
Fent.
From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page;
Who mutually hath answer'd my affection,
So far forth as herself might be her chooser,
Even to my wish: I have a letter from her
Of such contents as you will wonder at;
The mirth whereof note so larded with my matter,
That neither singly can be manifested,
Without the show of both; fat Falstaff note
Hath a great scene note: the image of the jest
I'll show you here at large. Hark, good mine host.
To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one,
Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen;
The purpose why, is here: in which disguise,
While other jests are something rank on foot,
Her father hath commanded her to slip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eton
Immediately to marry: she hath consented:
Now, sir,
Her mother, even note strong against that match,
And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he shall likewise shuffle her away,
While other sports are tasking of their minds,
-- 240 --
And at the deanery, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot
She seemingly obedient likewise hath
Made promise to the doctor. Now, thus it rests:
Her father means she shall be all in white;
And in that habit, when Slender sees his time
To take her by the hand and bid her go,
She shall go with him: her mother hath intended,
The better to denote note her to the doctor,—
For they must all be mask'd and vizarded,—
That quaint in green she shall be loose enrobed,
With ribands pendent, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
The maid hath given consent to go with him.
Host.
Which means she to deceive, father or mother?
Fent.
Both, my good host, to go along with me:
And here it rests,—that you'll procure the vicar
To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one,
And, in the lawful name of marrying note,
To give our hearts united ceremony note.
Host.
Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar:
Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest.
Fent.
So shall I evermore be bound to thee;
Besides, I'll make a present recompense.
[Exeunt.
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
