William.
Mrs. Page.
Is he at Mr. Ford's already, think'st thou?
Quic.
Sure he is by this, or will be presently;
but truly he is very courageous mad, about his
throwing into the water; Mrs. Ford desires you
to come suddenly.
Mrs. Page.
I'll be with her by and by; I'll
but bring my young man here to school. Look where his master
comes; 'tis a playing-day I see. How now, Sir Hugh, no
school to day?
Enter Evans.
Eva.
No; master Slender is let the boys leave to play.
Quic.
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.
Eva.
Come hither, William; hold up your head, come.
Mrs. Page.
Come on Sirrah, hold up your head; answer your
master, be not afraid.
-- 291 --
Eva.
William, how many numbers is in nouns?
Will.
Two.
Quic.
Truly, I thought there had been one number more,
because they say, od's nowns.
Eva.
Peace your tatlings. What is, Fair, William
Will.
Pulcher.
Quic.
Poulcats? there are fairer things than poulcats, sure.
Eva.
You are a very simplicity o'man; I pray you peace.
What is Lapis, William?
Will.
A stone.
Eva.
And what is a stone, William?
Will.
A pebble.
Eva.
No it is Lapis: I pray you remember in your prain.
Will.
Lapis.
Eva.
That is a good William: what is he, William, that
does lend articles?
Will.
Articles are borrow'd of the pronoun, and be thus declin'd,
singulariter nominativo, hic, hæc, hoc.
Eva.
Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you mark: genitivo,
hujus: well, what is your accusative case?
Will.
Accusative, hinc.
Eva.
I pray you have your remembrance, child, accusative,
hung, hang, hog.
Quic.
Hang hog is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.
Eva.
Leave you prabbles, o'man. What is the focative case,
William?
Will.
O, vocativo, O.
Eva.
Remember William, focative is caret.
Quic.
And that's a good root.
Eva.
O'man, forbear.
Mrs. Page.
Peace.
Eva.
What is your genitive case plural, William?
Will.
Genitive case?
-- 292 --
Eva.
Ay.
Will.
Genitive, horum, harum, horum.
Quic.
'Vengeance of Ginyes case; fie on her; never name
her, child, if she be a whore.
Eva.
For shame o'man.
Quic.
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.
Eva.
O'man, art thou lunacies? hast thou no understandings
for thy cases, and the numbers of the genders? thou art as foolish
christian creatures as I would desire.
Mrs. Page.
Pr'ythee hold thy peace.
Eva.
Shew me now, William, some declensions of your
pronouns.
Will.
Forsooth, I have forgot.
Eva.
It is qui, quæ, quod; if you forget your quies, your
quæs, 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.
Eva.
He is a good sprag memory. Farewel, Mrs. Page.
Mrs. Page.
Adieu, good Sir Hugh. Get you home, boy.
Come we stay too long.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
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 hairs breadth, not only, mistress Ford,
in the simple office of love, but in all the accoustrement, complement,
and ceremony of it. But are you sure of your husband now?
-- 293 --
Mrs. Ford.
He's a birding, sweet Sir John.
Mrs. Page. [within]
what hoa, gossip Ford! what hoa!
Mrs. Ford.
Step into th'chamber, Sir John.
[Ex. Falstaff.
Enter Mistress Page.
Mrs. Page.
How now, sweet heart, who's at home besides
your self?
Mrs. Ford.
Why none but mine own people.
Mrs. Page.
Indeed?
Mrs. Ford.
No certainly.—Speak louder.
Mrs. Page.
Truly, I am so glad you have no body here.
Mrs. Ford.
Why?
Mrs. Page.
Why woman, your husband is in his old lines
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 fore-head, crying
peer-out, peer-out, that any madness I ever yet beheld seem'd
but tameness, civility and patience to this distemper he is in now;
I am glad the fat Knight is not here.
Mrs. Ford.
Why, does he talk of him?
Mrs. Page.
Of none but him, and swears he was carry'd out,
the last time he search'd 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 streets end, he will be here anon.
Mrs. Ford.
I am undone, the Knight is here.
Mrs. Page.
Why then thou art utterly sham'd, and he's but
a dead man. What a woman are you? away with him, away
with him; better shame than murther.
Mrs. Ford.
Which way should he go? how should I bestow him?
shall I put him into the basket again?
-- 294 --
SCENE III.
Enter Falstaff.
Fal.
No, I'll come no more i'th' basket: may I not go out
ere he come?
Mrs. Page.
Alas, alas, three of master Ford's brothers watch
the door with pistols, that none should issue out, otherwise you
might slip 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 kill-hole.
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. Ford.
If you go out in your own semblance, you die,
Sir John, unless you go out disguis'd. 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 kercheif, and so escape.
Fal.
Good heart, devise something; any extremity, rather
than mischief.
Mrs. Ford.
My maid's aunt, the fat woman of Brainford, has
a gown above.
Mrs. Page.
On my word it will serve him, she's as big as he
is, and there's her thrumb hat, and her muffler too. Run up,
Sir John.
Mrs. Ford.
Go, go, sweet Sir John, mistress Page and I will
look some linnen for your head.
-- 295 --
Mrs. Poge.
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 Brainford; he swears she's a
witch, forbad her my house, and hath threatned to beat her.
Mrs. Page.
Heav'n 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, however 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 Brainford.
Mrs. Ford.
I'll first direct my men, what they shall do with
the basket; go up, I'll bring linnen for him straight.
Mrs. Page.
Hang him, dishonest varlet, we cannot misuse
him enough.
We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do,
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.
We do not act, that often jest and laugh:
'Tis old but true, still swine eats all the draugh.
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.
Enter servants with the basket.
1 Serv.
Come, come, take up.
2 Serv.
Pray heav'n it be not full of the Knight again.
1 Serv.
I hope not. I had as lief bear so much lead.
-- 296 --
SCENE IV.
Enter Ford, Shallow, Page, Caius and Evans.
Ford.
Ay, but if it prove true, master Page, have you any
way then to unfool me again? set down the basket villain; somebody
call my wife: youth in a basket! oh you panderly rascals,
there's a knot, a gang, a pack, a conspiracy against me; now
shall the devil be sham'd. What wife, I say; come, come forth,
behold what honest cloaths you send forth to bleaching.
Page.
Why this passes, master Ford; you are not to go loose
any longer, you must be pinnion'd.
Eva.
Why, this is lunaticks; this is mad as a mad dog.
Shal.
Indeed, master Ford, this is not well indeed.
Ford.
So say I too, Sir. 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?
Mrs. Ford.
Heav'n be my witness you do, if you suspect me
in any dishonesty.
Ford.
Well said, brazen-face, hold it out: come forth, Sirrah.
[Pulls the cloaths out of the basket.
Page.
This passes.
Mrs. Ford.
Are you not asham'd, let the cloaths alone.
Ford.
I shall find you anon.
Eva.
'Tis unreasonable; will you take up your wife's cloaths?
come away.
Ford.
Empty the basket, I say.
Mrs. Ford.
Why man, why?
Ford.
Master Page, as I am a man, there was one convey'd 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 jealousie
is reasonable; pluck me out all the linnen.
-- 297 --
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.
Eva.
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 no where else but in your brain.
Ford.
Help to search my house this one time; if I find not
what I seek, shew 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 wall-nut for his wife's lemman. Satisfie me
once more, once more search with me.
Mrs. Ford.
What hoa, 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 Brainford.
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 th' figure, and such dawbry as 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 strike the old woman.
SCENE V.
Enter Falstaff in womens cloaths, and Mrs. Page.
Mrs. Page.
Come mother Prat, come, give me your hand.
Ford.
I'll Prat her. Out of my door you witch, [Beats him.]
you hag, you baggage, you poulcat, you runnion, out, out,
out; I'll conjure you, I'll fortune-tell yo.
[Exit Fal.
-- 298 --
Mrs. Page.
Are you not asham'd? I think you have kill'd
the poor woman.
Mrs. Ford.
Nay, he will do it; 'tis a goodly credit for you.
Ford.
Hang her, witch.
Eva.
By yea and no I think the o'man is a witch indeed:
I like not when a o'man has a great peard; I spy a great peard
under her muffler.
Ford.
Will you follow, gentlemen? I beseech you follow; see
but the issue of my jealousie; if I cry out thus upon no tryal,
never trust me when I open again.
Page.
Let's obey his humour a little further: come gentlemen.
[Exeunt.
Mrs. Page.
Trust me, he beat him most pitifully.
Mrs. Ford.
Nay, by th' mass that he did not; he beat him
most unpitifully, methought.
Mrs. Page.
I'll have the cudgel hallow'd and hung o'er the
altar; it hath done meritorious service.
Mrs. Ford.
What think you? may we, with the warrant of
woman-hood, and the witness of a good conscience, pursue him
with any further revenge?
Mrs. Page.
The spirit of wantonness is sure scar'd out of him;
if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with fine 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 brain. 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 publickly sham'd;
and methinks there would be no period to the jest, should he
not be publickly sham'd.
Mrs. Page.
Come to the forge with it, then shape it: I would
not have things cool.
[Exeunt.
-- 299 --
SCENE VI.
Changes to the Garter-Inn.
Enter Host and Bardolph.
Bard.
Sir, the German desires 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.
Sir, I'll call them to you.
Host.
They shall have my horses, but I'll make them pay, I'll
sawce them. They have had my house a week at command;
I have turn'd away my other guests; they must come off; I'll
sawce them, come.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
Changes to Ford's house.
Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page, Mistress Ford and Evans.
Eva.
'Tis one of the best discretions of a o'man 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,
Than thee with wantonness; thy honour stands,
In him that was of late an heretick,
As firm of faith.
Page.
'Tis well, 'tis well; no more.
-- 300 --
Be not extream in submission, as in offence,
But let our plot go forward: let our wives
Yet once again, to make us publick 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.
Eva.
You say he hath been thrown into the river; and has
been grievously peaten, as an old o'man; methinks there should
be terrors in him, that he should not come; methinks his flesh
is punish'd, 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.
Mrs. Page.
There is an old tale goes, that Herne the hunter,
Sometime a keeper in our Windsor forest,
Doth all the winter time at still of midnight
Walk round about an Oak, with ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattel,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You've 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,
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us.
Page.
Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come.
-- 301 --
And in this shape when you have brought him thither,
What shall be done with him? what is your plot?
Mrs. Page.
That likewise we have 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 saw-pit 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 the unclean Knight;
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape prophane?
Mrs. Ford.
And 'till he tell the truth
Let the supposed fairies pinch him round,
And burn him with their tapers.
Mrs. Page.
The truth being known,
We'll all present our selves; dis-horn the spirit,
And mock him home to Windsor.
Ford.
The children must
Be practis'd well to this, or they'll ne'er do't.
Eva.
I will teach the children their behaviours; and I will
be like a jack-a-napes also, to burn the Knight with my taper.
Ford.
This will be excellent. I'll go 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, and in that time
Shall Mr. Slender steal my Nan away,
[Aside.
-- 302 --
And marry her at Eaton. Go, send to Falstaff straight.
Ford.
Nay, I'll to him again in the name 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 your fairies.
Eva.
Let us about it, it is admirable pleasures, and ferry
honest knaveries.
[Exeunt Page, Ford and Evans.
Mrs. Page.
Go, Mrs. 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, tho' well landed, is an ideot;
And he my husband best of all affects:
The Doctor is well mony'd, and his friends
Potent at court; he, none but he shall have her,
Tho' twenty thousand worthier came to crave her.
[Exit.
SCENE VIII.
The Garter-Inn.
Enter Host and Simple.
Host.
What wouldst 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
-- 303 --
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.
Enter Falstaff.
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.
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, muscle-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 her self,
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.
Host.
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.
-- 304 --
Simp.
May I be so bold to say so, Sir?
Host.
Ay Sir; like who more bold.
Simp.
I thank you worship: I shall make my master glad with
these tidings.
[Exit Simple.
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.
SCENE IX.
Enter Bardolph.
Bard.
Out alas, Sir, cozenage; meer cozenage!
Host.
Where be my horses? speak well of them, varletto.
Bard.
Run away with the cozeners; for so soon as I came
beyond Eaton, 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 Faustus's.
Host.
They are gone but to meet the Duke; villain, do not
say they be fled; Germans are honest men.
Enter Evans.
Eva.
Where is mine Host?
Host.
What is the matter, Sir?
Eva.
Have a care of your entertainments; there is a friend o'
mine come to town tells me there is three cozen-jermans that
has cozen'd all the hosts of Reading, of Maiden-head, of Cole-Brook,
of horses and mony. 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 Caius.
Caius.
Ver'is mine Host de Jarteer?
-- 305 --
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
a grand preparation for a Duke de Jamany; by my trot, der is
no Duke dat the court is know, to come: I tell you for good
will; adieu.
[Exit.
Host.
Hue and cry, villain, go; assist me, Knight, I am undone;
fly, run, hue and cry. Villain, I am undone.
[Exit.
Fal.
I would all the world might be cozen'd, for I have been
cozened and beaten too. If it should come to the ear of the court,
how I have been transformed, and how my transformation
hath been wash'd and cudgel'd, they would melt me out of my
fat, drop by drop, and liquor fishermens boots with me. I warrant
they would whip me with their fine wits, 'till I were as crestfaln
as a dry'd pear. I never prosper'd since I forswore my self
at Primero. Well, if my wind were but long enough b noteto say my
prayers, I would repent. Now, whence come you?
SCENE X.
Enter Mistress Quickly.
Quic.
From the two parties, forsooth.
Fal.
The devil take one party, and his dam the other, and
so they shall be both bestow'd. I have suffer'd more for their
sakes, more than the villainous inconstancy of man's disposition
is able to bear.
Quic.
And have not they suffer'd? 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 tell'st thou me of black and blue? I was beaten
my self into all the colours of the rain-bow; and I was like to
be apprehended for the witch of Brainford, but that my admirable
dexterity of wit, counterfeiting the action of an old woman
deliver'd me, the knave constable had set me i'th' stocks, i'th'
common stocks for a witch.
-- 306 --
Quic.
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 is here to
bring you together? sure one of you does not serve heav'n well,
that you are so cross'd.
Fal.
Come up into my chamber.
[Exeunt.
SCENE XI.
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 her self might be her chuser)
Ev'n to my wish. I have a letter from her
Of such contents, as you will wonder at;
The mirth whereof's so larded with my matter,
That neither singly can be manifested,
Without the shew of both. Fat Sir John Falstaff
Hath a great scene; the image of the jest
I'll shew 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
-- 307 --
Away with Slender, and with him at Eaton
Immediately to marry; she hath consented—Now Sir,
Her mother, ever 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,
And at the deanry, 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 dress 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 devote her to the Doctor,
(For they must all be mask'd and vizarded)
That, quaint in green, she shall be loose enrob'd,
With ribbands-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,
To give our hearts united ceremony.
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;
Beside, I'll make a present recompence.
[Exeunt.
-- 308 --
SCENE XII.
Re-enter Falstaff and Mistress Quickly.
Fal.
Pr'ythee no more pratling; go, I'll hold. This is the
third time; I hope good luck lyes in odd numbers; away, go;
they say there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity,
chance or death; away.
Quic.
I'll provide you a chain, and I'll do what I can to get
you a pair of horns.
[Exit Mrs. Quickly.
Fal.
Away, I say, time wears: hold up your head and mince.
Enter Ford.
How now, master Brook? master Brook, the matter will be known
to night, or never. Be you in the park about mid-night, at Herne's
oak, and you shall see wonders.
Ford.
Went you not to her yesterday, Sir, as you told me
you had appointed?
Fal.
I went to her, master Brook, as you see, like a poor
old man; but I came from her, master Brook, like a poor old
woman. That same knave, Ford her husband, hath the finest
mad devil of jealousie in him, master Brook, that ever govern'd
frenzy. I will tell you, he beat me grievously, in the shape of
a woman; for in the shape of a man, master Brook, I fear not
Goliah with a weaver's beam; because I know also life is a shuttle;
I am in haste; go along with me, I'll tell you all, master Brook.
Since I pluckt geese, play'd truant, and whipt top, I knew not
what 'twas to be beaten, 'till lately. Follow me, I'll tell you
strange things of this knave Ford, on whom to-night I will be
reveng'd, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow;
strange things in hand, master Brook; follow.
[Exeunt.
-- 309 --
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
