Host.

What would'st thou have, boor? what, thick-skin? speak, breathe, discuss; brief, short, quick, snap.

Simp.

Marry, Sir, I come to speak with Sir John Falstaff, from Mr. 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.

Simp.

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 robb'd: I'll call. Bully-Knight! Bully-Sir John! speak from thy lungs military: art thou there? it is thine Host, thine Ephesian calls.

Fal.

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.

Simp.

Pray you, Sir, was't not the wise woman of Brainford?

Fal.

Ay, marry was it, mussel-shell, what would you with her?

Simp.

My master, Sir, my master Slender sent to her, seeing her go thro' the street, to know, Sir, whether one Nym, Sir, that beguil'd him of a chain, had the chain, or no.

Fal.

I spake with the old woman about it.

Simp.

And what says she, I pray, Sir?

Fal.

Marry, she says, that the very same man, that beguil'd master Slender of his chain, cozen'd him of it.

Simp.

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.

Simp.

I may not conceal them, Sir.

Fal.

Conceal them, or thou dy'st.

Simp.

Why, Sir, they were nothing but about mistress Anne Page; to know, if it were my master's fortune to have her or no.

Fal.

'Tis, 'tis his fortune.

Simp.

What, Sir?

Fal.

To have her, or no: go; say, the woman told me so.

Simp.

May I be so bold to say so, Sir?

Fal.

Ay, Sir; like who more bold.

Simp.

I thank your worship: I shall make my master glad with these tidings.

Host.

Thou art clarkly; thou art clarkly, 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 learn'd before in my life; and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for my learning.