Evans.
Shal.
Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a
star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty sir John
Falstaffs, note he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire,—
Slen.
In the county of Gloster, justice of peace and
coram.
Shal.
Ay, cousin Slender, and custalorum.
Slen.
Ay, and ratolorum note 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 note;
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.
Sir H.
The dozen white louses do become an old coat
-- 4 --
well; it agrees well passant: it is a familiar beast to man,
and signifies—love.
Shal.
The luce14Q0044 [to Slen. showing him his Seal-ring.]
is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.
Slen.
I may quarter, coz'.
Shal.
You may, by marrying.
Sir H.
It is marring, indeed, note if he quarter it.
Shal.
Not a whit.
Sir H.
Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your
coat, there is but three skirts note 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 compremises between you.
Shal.
The council shall hear it; it is a riot.
Sir H.
It is not meet the council hear a note 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 visaments note in that.
Shal.
Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the
sword should end it.
Sir H.
It is petter that friends is the sword, and end note
it: and there is also another device in my prain, which,
peradventure, prings goot discretions note with it: There is
Anne Page, which is daughter to master Thomas Page, note14Q0045
which is pretty virginity.
Slen.
Mistress Anne Page? she has brown hair, and
speaks small like note a woman.
Sir H.
It is that fery person for all the 'orld, note 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!)
-- 5 --
give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old:
It were a goot motion, note if we leave our pribbles and
prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham,
and mistress Anne Page.
Shal.
Did her grandsire14Q0046 leave her seven hundred
pound?
Sir H.
Ay, and his father note note is make her a petter
penny.
Shal.
I know the young gentlewoman; she has good
gifts.
Sir H.
Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities note, is
good gifts.
Shal.
Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff
there?
Sir H.
Shall I tell you a lye? 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 for master Page.—What, hoa! Got pless note your house
here!
Enter Page.
Page.
Who's there?
Sir H.
Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and
justice Shallow: and here is young note 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 killed:—How doth good mistress
Page?—and I thank you always with my heart, la;
-- 6 --
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.
How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard
say, he was out-run on Cotsall.
Page.
It could not be judg'd, sir.
Slen.
You'll not confess, you'll not confess.
Shal.
That he will not;14Q0047—'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.
Sir H.
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 confessed, it is not redressed; 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 wronged.
Page.
Here comes sir John.
Enter Sir John Falstaff, Nym, Pistol, and Bardolph.
Fals.
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.
Fals.
But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter?
Shal.
Tut note a pin! this shall be answer'd.
-- 7 --
Fals.
I will answer it straight;—I have done all
this:—That is now answer'd.
Shal.
The council shall know this.
Fals.
'Twere better for you if it were known in
council? you'll be laugh'd at.
Sir H.
Pauca verba, sir John; good worts.
Fals.
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 coney-catching rascals, Bardolph,
Nym, and Pistol.
Bard.
You Banbury cheese!14Q0048
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?
Sir H.
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.
Sir H.
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.
Fals.
Pistol,—
Pist.
He hears with ears.
Sir H.
The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this,
-- 8 --
He hears with ear? Why, it is affectations.
Fals.
Pistol, did you pick master14Q0049 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.
Fals.
Is this true, Pistol?
Sir H.
No, it is false, if it is a pickpurse.
Pist.
Ha, thou mountain foreigner!—
Sir John and master mine,
I combat challenge of this latten note bilboe:—
Word of denial in thy labras here;
Word of denial; froth and scum, thou ly'st.
Slen.
By these gloves, then 'twas † he.
Nym.
Be avis'd, sir, and pass good humours: I will
say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nuthook's
humour note 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.
Fals.
What say you, Scarlet and John?
Bard.
Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman
had drunk himself out of his five sentences;
Sir H.
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 careeres.
Slen.
Ay, you spake in Latin then too; note but 'tis no
matter: I'll ne'er 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.
-- 9 --
Sir H.
So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind.
Fals.
You hear all these matters deny'd, gentlemen;
you hear it.
Enter Mistress Anne Page, with Wine; Mist. Ford,
and Mist. Page, following her.
Page.
Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink
within.
Slen.
O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page.
Page.
How now, mistress Ford?
Fals.
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.
[Exeunt All, but Shal. Slen. and Sir H. 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?
Simp.
Book of riddles! why, did you not lend it to
Alice Short-cake, upon Alhallowmas last, a fortnight afore
Michaelmas? note14Q0050
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.
-- 10 --
Sir H.
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.
Sir H.
But that is not the question; the question is
concerning your marriage.
Shal.
Ay, there's the point, sir.
Sir H.
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.
Sir H.
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 mouth;—Therefore, precisely, can you carry note 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.
Sir H.
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
-- 11 --
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:
I hope, upon familiarity will grow more content: note but
if you say, marry her, I will marry her, that I am freely
dissolv'd, and dissolutely.
Sir H.
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 worships' note company.
Shal.
I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne.
Sir H.
Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at
the grace.
[Exeunt Shallow, and Sir Hugh 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 beholding 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 note like a poor gentleman
born.
Anne.
I may not go in without your worship: they
will not sit, 'till you come.
-- 12 --
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 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.
Slen.
I'll eat note nothing, I thank you, sir.
Page.
By 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.
-- 13 --
Anne.
I pray you, sir.
Slen.
I'll rather be unmannerly, than troublesome:
You do yourself wrong, indeed, la.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
The same.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans, and Simple.
Sir H.
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.
Sir H.
Nay, it is petter yet:—give her this &dagger2; letter;
for it is a 'oman 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 III.
A Room in the garter Inn.
Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, and Robin.
Fals.
Mine host of the garter,—
Host.
What says my bully rook?14Q0051 speak schollarly,
and wisely.
Fals.
Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of
my followers.
Host.
Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag;
trot, trot.
Fals.
I sit at ten pounds a week.
Host.
Thou'rt an emperor, Cesar, Keisar, and Pheasar.
I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: note
-- 14 --
Said I well, bully Hector?
Fals.
Do so, good mine host.
Host.
I have spoke; let him follow:—Let me see
thee froth and lime: note I am at a word; follow.
[Exit Host.
Fals.
Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good
trade: An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wither'd
serving-man, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu.
Bard.
It is a life that I have desir'd: I will thrive.
[Exit Bardolph.
Pist.
O base Gongarian note wight! wilt thou the spigot
wield?
Nym.
He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour
conceited? note
Fals.
I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinder-box;
his thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful
singer, 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!
Fals.
Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
Pist.
Why then, let kybes ensue.
Fals.
There is no remedy; I must coney-catch, I
must shift.
Pist.
Young ravens must have food.
Fals.
Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist.
I ken the wight; he is of substance good.
Fals.
My honest lads, I will tell you what I am
about.
Pist.
Two yards, and more.
Fals.
No quips now, Pistol: Indeed, I am in the
-- 15 --
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 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, and translated her
will; out of honesty into English.
Nym.
The anchor is deep: Will that humour pass?
Fals.
Now, the report goes,14Q0052 she hath all note the rule of
her husband's purse; she hath legions of note angels.
Pist.
As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy,
say I.
Nym.
The humour rises; it is good: humour me
the angels.
Fals.
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
oeillades note: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my
foot, note sometimes my portly belly.
Pist.
Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
Nym.
I thank thee for that humour.
Fals.
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; she is
a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be
'cheator note note 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
-- 16 --
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.
Fals.
Hold, sirrah,14Q0053 [to Rob.] bear you &dagger2; these letters tightly note;
Sail, like my pinnace, to the golden note shores.—
Rogues, hence, avaunt, vanish like hailstones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o'the hoof note, note seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of this note age,
French thrift, you rogues, myself and skirted page.
[Exeunt Falstaff, and Robin.
Pist.
Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and Fullam holds; note
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 note, 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.
Nym.
My humour shall not cool: I will incense Ford
to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness,14Q0054
for the revolt of mien note is dangerous: that is my true
-- 17 --
humour.
Pist.
Thou art the Mars of male-contents: I second
thee; troop on.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
A Room in Doctor Caius' 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 an old abusing of God's
patience, and the king's English.
Rugb.
I'll go watch.
[Exit Rugby.
Quic.
Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at
night, i'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 no breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given
to prayer; he is something peevish that way: but no
body but has his fault;—but let that pass. Peter Simple,
you say, your name is?
Simp.
Ay, for fault of a better.
Quic.
And master Slender's your master?
Simp.
Ay, forsooth.
Quic.
Does he not wear a great round beard, like a
glover's paring-knife?
Simp.
No, forsooth: he hath but a little whey-face note,
with a little yellow beard; a cane-colour'd note beard.14Q0055
Quic.
A softly-sp'rited man, is he not?
Simp.
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;
-- 18 --
Does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in
his gait?
Simp.
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, hastily.
Rugb.
Out, alas! here comes my master.
Quic.
We shall all be shent:—Run in here, good
young man; go into this closet; [Shuts him in.] 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, adown-a, &c.
[singing.
Enter Doctor Caius.
D. Cai.
Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys:
Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier note
verd; a box, a green-a box;—Do intend vat I speak?—
a green-a note box.
Quic.
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. &clquo;I am glad
he went not in himself: if he had found the young
man, he would have been horn-mad.&crquo;
D. Cai.
Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je
m'en vai a la cour,—la grande affaire.
Quic.
Is it this, sir?
D. Cai.
Oui, mette le au mon pocket; depeche, quickly:
—Vere is dat knave Rugby?
Quic.
What, John Rugby; John!
Rugb.
Here, sir.
D. Cai.
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack
Rugby: Come, take-a your note rapier, and come after my
heel to de court.
-- 19 --
Rugb.
'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
D. Cai.
By my trot, I tarry too long:—Od's me! qu'
ay je oubliè? dere is some simples in my closet, dat I
vil not for de varld I shall leave behind.
Quic.
Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and
be mad.
D. Cai.
O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?—Villany, note
larron!—[pulling Simple out.] Rugby, my rapier.
Quic.
Good master, be content.
D. Cai.
Verefore shall I note be content-a?
Quic.
The young man is an honest man.
D. Cai.
Vat shall de honest man do in my closet?
dere is note 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:
D. Cai.
Vell.
Simp.
Ay, forsooth; to desire her to—
Quic.
Peace, I pray you.
D. Cai.
Peace-a your tongue;—Speak-a your tale.
Simp.
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.
D. Cai.
Sir Hugh send-a note you?—Rugby, baillez me note
some paper:—Tarry you a little-a while.
[sitting note down to write.
Quic.
I am glad, he is so quiet: if he had been
throughly moved, you should have heard him so loud
and so melancholy;—But notwithstanding, man, I'll do
your note master what good I can: and the very yea and the
-- 20 --
no is, the French note 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,14Q0056 make
the beds, and do all myself.
Simp.
'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.
D. Cai.
You, jack'nape; give-a dis &dagger2; letter to sir
Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his troat in
de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jackanape priest to
meddle or make:—you may be gone; it is not good
you tarry here:—by gar, I vill 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.
D. Cai.
It is no matter-a for dat:—do not you 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 jarteer 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
good year note!
D. Cai.
Rugby, come to de court vit me:—By gar,
if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of
door: note—Follow my heels, Rugby.
[Exeunt Caius, and Rugby.
-- 21 --
Quic.
You shall have An fool's 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 heaven.
Fent. [within.]
Who's within there, ho?
Quic.
Who's there, I trow? come near the house, I
pray you.
Enter 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, 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; 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 &dagger2;
money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf:
if thou see'st her before me, commend me—
Quic.
Will I? i'faith, that we will: and I will tell
-- 22 --
your worship more of the wart, the next time we have
confidence; and of other wooers.
Fent.
Well, farewel; I am in great haste now.
[Exit.
Quic.
Farewel to your worship.—Truly, an honest
gentleman; but Anne loves him not; for I know Anne's
mind as well as another does: Out upon't! what have
I forgot?
[Exit.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
