The Merry Wives of Windsor: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

SCENE I. _Windsor. Before PAGE’S house._

_Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS._

_Shal._ Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

_Slen._ In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and ‘Coram.’ 5

_Shal._ Ay, cousin Slender, and ‘Custalorum.’

_Slen._ Ay, and ‘Rato-lorum’ 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 10 three hundred years.

_Slen._ All his successors gone before him hath done’t; and all his ancestors that come after him may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. 15

_Shal._ It is an old coat.

_Evans._ 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._ The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. 20

_Slen._ I may quarter, coz.

_Shal._ You may, by marrying.

_Evans._ It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

_Shal._ Not a whit.

_Evans._ Yes, py’r lady; if he has a quarter of your 25 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 compremises between you. 30

_Shal._ The council shall hear it; it is a riot.

_Evans._ It is not meet the council hear 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 that. 35

_Shal._ Ha! o’ my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it.

_Evans._ 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 40 Page, which is daughter to Master Thomas Page, which is pretty virginity.

_Slen._ Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman.

_Evans._ It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as 45 you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, 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 50 Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page.

_Slen._ Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?

_Evans._ Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.

_Slen._ I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. 55

_Evans._ Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts.

_Shal._ Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff there?

_Evans._ Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar as I do 60 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. [_Knocks_] What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

_Page._ [_Within_] Who’s there? 65

_Enter PAGE._

_Evans._ Here is Got’s plessing, and your friend, and Justice Shallow; and here 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 70 you for my venison, Master Shallow.

_Shal._ Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it was ill killed. How doth good Mistress Page?--and I thank you always with my heart, la! with my heart. 75

_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 outrun on Cotsall. 80

_Page._ It could not be judged, 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. 85

_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.

_Evans._ It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. 90

_Shal._ He hath wronged 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 wronged me; indeed he hath; at a word, he hath, believe me: Robert Shallow, esquire, 95 saith, he is wronged.

_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, killed my 100 deer, and broke open my lodge.

_Fal._ But not kissed your keeper’s daughter?

_Shal._ Tut, a pin! this shall be answered.

_Fal._ I will answer it straight; I have done all this. That is now answered. 105

_Shal._ The council shall know this.

_Fal._ ’Twere better for you if it were known in counsel: you’ll be laughed at.

_Evans._ Pauca verba, Sir John; goot worts.

_Fal._ Good worts! good cabbage. Slender, I broke 110 your head: what matter have you against me?

_Slen._ Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your cony-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol.

_Bard._ You Banbury cheese! 115

_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. 120

_Slen._ Where’s Simple, my man? Can you tell, cousin?

_Evans._ 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 125 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.

_Evans._ Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards ork upon the cause 130 with as great discreetly as we can.

_Fal._ Pistol!

_Pist._ He hears with ears.

_Evans._ The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, ’He hears with ear’? why, it is affectations. 135

_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-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence a-piece of 140 Yead Miller, by these gloves.

_Fal._ Is this true, Pistol?

_Evans._ No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.

_Pist._ Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! Sir John and master mine, 145 I combat challenge of this latten bilbo. Word of denial in thy labras here! Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest!

_Slen._ By these gloves, then, ’twas he.

_Nym._ Be avised, sir, and pass good humours: I will 150 say ‘marry trap’ with you, if you run the 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. 155

_Fal._ What say you, Scarlet and John?

_Bard._ Why, sir, for my part, I say the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences.

_Evans._ It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

_Bard._ And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered; 160 and so conclusions passed the careires.

_Slen._ Ay, you spake in Latin then too; 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 165 with drunken knaves.

_Evans._ So Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind.

_Fal._ You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it.

_Enter ANNE PAGE, with wine; MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE, following._

_Page._ Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we’ll drink 170 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. [_Kisses her._ 175

_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 except Shal., Slen., and Evans._

_Slen._ I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book of Songs and Sonnets here. 180

_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?

_Sim._ Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight afore 185 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? 190

_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.

_Evans._ Give ear to his motions, Master Slender: I will 195 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.

_Evans._ But that is not the question: the question is 200 concerning your marriage.

_Shal._ Ay, there’s the point, sir.

_Evans._ 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 205 demands.

_Evans._ 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 your good will to the 210 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.

_Evans._ Nay, Got’s lords and his ladies! you must 215 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 220 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 225 it upon better acquaintance, when we are married and have more occasion to know one another; I hope, upon familiarity will grow more contempt: but if you say, ‘Marry her,’ I will marry her; that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

_Evans._ It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is in 230 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 hanged, la!

_Shal._ Here comes fair Mistress Anne. 235

_Re-enter ANNE PAGE._

Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!

_Anne._ The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships’ company.

_Shal._ I will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.

_Evans._ Od’s plessed will! I will not be absence at the 240 grace. [_Exeunt Shallow 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. 245

_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 sometimes may be beholding to his friend for a man. I keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: but 250 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. 255

_Anne._ I pray you, sir, walk in.

_Slen._ I had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruised my shin th’ other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence; three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot 260 meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i’ the town?

_Anne._ I think there are, sir; I heard them talked 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 265 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 cried and 270 shrieked at it, that it passed: but women, indeed, cannot abide ’em; they are very ill-favoured rough things.

_Re-enter PAGE._

_Page._ Come, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for you.

_Slen._ I’ll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. 275

_Page._ By cock and pie, 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. 280

_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. 285 You do yourself wrong, indeed, la! [_Exeunt._

Notes. I, 1

6: _Custalorum_] _Custos_ Farmer conj. 7: _Rato-lorum_] Ff. _Rotulorum_ Q3. 10: _I_] _We_ Steevens (Farmer conj.). 12: _hath_] F1 Q3 F2. _have_ F3 F4. 19: _The luce is_] _The luce_ [To _Slen._ showing him his seal-ring] _is_ Capell. 23: _marring_] F1 Q3. _marrying_ F2 F3 F4. 25: _py’r lady_] _per-lady_ Ff Q3. 26: _skirts_] _shirts_ Q3. 28: _unto_] _upon_ Pope. 30: _compremises_] _compromises_ Pope. 32: _hear_] F1 Q3. _hear of_ F2 F3 F4. 34: _take your_] F1 Q3. _take you_ F2 F3 F4. 38: _and_] _that_ Pope. 40: _goot_] F1 Q3. _good_ F2 F3 F4. 41: _Thomas_] Ff Q3. _George_ Theobald. See note (I). 44: _small_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4. 45: _orld_] Ff. _world_ Q3. 49: See note (II). 52, 54, 55: Given to Shallow by Capell. 53: _her father_] _his father_ Capell (corrected in MS.). 56: _possibilities_] F1 Q3. possibility F2 F3 F4. 63: _well-willers_] _well-wishers_ Rowe. 65: Enter PAGE.] Edd. Enter Page. Rowe (after line 64). Halliwell (after line 69). 65: SCENE II. Pope. 67: _here_] F1 Q3. _here’s_ F2 F3 F4. 70: _worships_] _worship’s_ Rowe. 75: _thank_] _love_ (Q1 Q2) Steevens (Farmer conj.). 77: _thank_] _love_ Farmer conj. MS. 80: _Cotsall_ F1 Q3.] _Cotsale_ F2 F3 F4. 82-84: _Slen ... dog_] _Shall. You’ll ... confess._ Slen. _That ... not._ Shall. _’Tis ... dog._ Farmer conj. MS. 98: SCENE III. Pope. 99: _king_] _council_ (Q1 Q2) Warburton. 102: _daughter?_] F1 Q3 F2 F3. _daughter._ (Q1 Q2) F4. 106, 107: _council ... counsel_] _councell ... counsell_ (Q1 Q2). _councell ... councill_ F1 Q3 F2. _council ... counsell_ F3. _council ... councel_ F4. 107, 108: _you if ... you’ll_] _you: if it were known in council, you’ll_ Harness (Johnson conj.). 107: _known_] _not known_ Pope. 114: _Pistol._] _Pistol; they carried me to the tavern and made me drunk, and afterward picked my pocket._ Malone (from Q1 Q2). See note (III). 119-120: _pauca, pauca ... humour_] Evans. _Pauca, pauca._ Nym. _Slice ... humour._ Farmer conj. 126: _three_] _third_ Pope. 127: _Garter_] Q3. _Gater_ Ff. 131: _discreetly_] _discretions_ Pope. 146: _latten_] _laten_ (Q1 Q3). latine Ff Q3. _latten bilbo._] _latten. Bilbo!_ Becket conj. 147: _thy labras here_] _my labras hear_ Johnson conj. 150: _avised_] _advis’d_ F4. 151: _the nuthook’s humour_] _the base humour_ Pope. _bace humors_ (Q1 Q2). 160: _fap_] _sap_ A. A. conj. _vap_ Boys conj. 161: _careires_] _car-eires_ Ff Q3. _careeres_ Capell. 171: [Exit A. P.] Theobald. 175: [Kisses her.] Pope. 179: SCENE IV. Pope. 186: _Michaelmas_] _Martlemas_ Theobald. 188: _this, coz_] _this_ Q3. 192: _that that_] _that_ F3 F4. 209: _mouth_] _mind_ Pope. 210: _carry_] F1 Q3. _marry_ F2 F3 F4. 216: _carry her_] _carry-her_ F1 Q3 F2 F3. _carre-her_ F4. 228: _contempt_] Theobald. _content_ Ff Q3. 230: _fall_] Ff Q3. _faul’_ Hanmer. _fault_ Collier. _fall’_ Singer. _faul_ Dyce. 234: _hanged_] _hang’_ F2 F3 F4. 236: SCENE V. Pope. 249: _beholding_] _beholden_ Pope. 251: _like_] om. F2 F3 F4. 275: _I’ll eat_] _I chuse to eat_ Hanmer.

Scene Ii. _The same._

_Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE._

_Evans._ 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.

_Sim._ Well, sir. 5

_Evans._ Nay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for it is a ’oman that altogether’s 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; 10 there’s pippins and cheese to come. [_Exeunt._

Notes. I, 2

SCENE II.] SCENE VI. Pope. The same.] Capell. An outer room in Page’s house. Dyce. 3: _dry_] _try_ (Q1 Q2) Dyce. 4: _wringer_] Theobald. _Ringer_ Ff Q3. 11: _cheese_] _seese_ Dyce.

Scene Iii. _A room in the Garter Inn._

_Enter FALSTAFF, Host, BARDOLPH, NYM, PISTOL, and ROBIN._

_Fal._ Mine host of the Garter!

_Host._ What says my bully-rook? speak scholarly and wisely.

_Fal._ Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers. 5

_Host._ Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag; trot, trot.

_Fal._ I sit at ten pounds a week.

_Host._ Thou’rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keisar, and Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said 10 I well, bully Hector?

_Fal._ Do so, good mine host.

_Host._ I have spoke; let him follow. [_To Bard._] Let me see thee froth and lime: I am at a word; follow. [_Exit._

_Fal._ Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade: 15 an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man a fresh tapster. Go; adieu.

_Bard._ It is a life that I have desired: I will thrive.

_Pist._ O base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

[_Exit Bardolph._ 20

_Nym._ He was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited?

_Fal._ 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. 25

_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!

_Fal._ Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.

_Pist._ Why, then, let kibes ensue. 30

_Fal._ There is no remedy; I must cony-catch; I must shift.

_Pist._ Young ravens must have food.

_Fal._ Which of you know Ford of this town?

_Pist._ I ken the wight: he is of substance good. 35

_Fal._ My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.

_Pist._ Two yards, and more.

_Fal._ No quips now, Pistol! Indeed, I am in the waist two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford’s 40 wife: I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be Englished rightly, is, ‘I am Sir John Falstaff’s.’

_Pist._ He hath studied her will, and translated her will, 45 out of honesty into English.

_Nym._ The anchor is deep: will that humour pass?

_Fal._ Now, the report goes she has all the rule of her husband’s purse: he hath a legion of angels.

_Pist._ As many devils entertain; and ‘To her, boy,’ say I. 50

_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, examined my parts with most judicious œillades; 55 sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

_Pist._ Then did the sun on dunghill shine.

_Nym._ I thank thee for that humour.

_Fal._ O, she did so course o’er my exteriors with such 60 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 cheaters to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East 65 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! 70

_Nym._ I will run no base humour: here, take the humour-letter: I will keep the haviour of reputation.

_Fal._ [_To Robin_] Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly; Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go; 75 Trudge, plod away o’ the hoof; seek shelter, pack! Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, French thrift, you rogues; myself and skirted page.

[_Exeunt Falstaff and Robin._

_Pist._ Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam holds, And high and low beguiles the rich and poor: 80 Tester I’ll have in pouch when thou shalt lack, Base Phrygian Turk!

_Nym._ I have operations which be humours of revenge.

_Pist._ Wilt thou revenge?

_Nym._ By welkin and her star! 85

_Pist._ With wit or steel?

_Nym._ With both the humours, I: I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.

_Pist._ And I to Ford shall eke unfold How Falstaff, varlet vile, 90 His dove will prove, his gold will hold, And his soft couch defile.

_Nym._ My humour shall not cool: I will incense Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness, for the revolt of mine is dangerous: that is my true humour. 95

_Pist._ Thou art the Mars of malecontents: I second thee; troop on. [_Exeunt._

Notes. I, 3

SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope. 2: _bully-rook_] _Bully Rock_ Rowe, passim. 10: _shall ... shall_] F1 Q3. _will ... will_ F2 F3 F4. 14: _see thee froth_] _see thee, froth_ Staunton. _lime_] Steevens. _lyme_ (Q1 Q2). _live_ Ff Q3. 19: _Hungarian_] Ff Q3. _Gongarian_ (Q1 Q2) Capell. 22: _conceited?_] Theobald here inserts (from Q1 Q2), _His mind is not heroic and there’s the humour of it._ 23: _acquit_] _quit_ Pope. 26: _minute’s_] Ff. _minuntes_ Q3. _minim’s_ Singer (Bennet-Langton conj.). 41: _carves_] Ff (Q1 Q2). _craves_ Q3. 45: _studied her will_] Ff Q3. _studied her well_ (Q1 Q2) Pope. _translated her will_] Ff Q3 (om. Q1 Q2). _translated her well_ Pope. translated her Hanmer. _studied her well and translated her will_ Grant White. _studied her well and translated her ill_ Edd. conj. 47: _anchor_] _author_ Johnson conj. 49: _he_] _she_ (Q1 Q2) Pope. _a legion_] Pope. _a legend_ Ff. Q3. _legians_ (Q1). _legions_ (Q2) Capell. 50: _entertain_] Ff Q3. _attend her_ (Q1 Q2). _enter swine_ Coleridge conj. _in her train_ Anon. conj. 55: _œillades_] _illiads_ Ff Q3. _eyelids_ Halliwell (Pope conj.). 56: _gilded_] _guilded_ F1 Q3. _guided_ F2 F3 F4. 64: _cheaters_] (Q1 Q2) F1 Q3 F3 F4. _cheators_ F2. _cheater_ Theobald. _escheator_ Hanmer. _’cheator_ Capell. 73: _tightly_] F1. _titely_ (Q1 Q2). _rightly_ Q3 F2 F3 F4. 74: [Exit Robin. Dyce. 76: _o’ the_] _oth’_ F2 F3 F4. _ith’_ F1 Q3. 77: _learn_] _earn_ Anon. conj. _humour_] (Q1 Q2) Theobald. _honour_ Ff Q3. _the_] Ff Q3. _this_ (Q1 Q2) Capell. 78: [Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.] Rowe. [Exit. Dyce. 79: SCENE VIII. Pope. _fullam holds_] _fullams hold_ Hanmer. 80: _beguiles_] _beguile_ Hanmer. 83: _operations_] Ff Q3. _operations in my head_ (Q1 Q2) Pope. 85: _star_] _fairies_ (Q1 Q2). _stars_ Collier MS. 88: _discuss_] _disclose_ Pope. 88, 89: _Page_ ... _Ford_] (Q1 Q2) Steevens. _Ford_ ... _Page_ Ff Q3. See note (I). 93: _Page_] Steevens. _Ford_ Ff Q3. 94: _yellowness_] _jealousies_ Pope. 95: _the_] _this_ Pope. 95: _mine_] _mien_ Theobald. _mind_ Jackson conj. _meisne_ or _men_ Anon. conj. See note (IV).

Scene Iv. _A room in DOCTOR CAIUS’S house._

_Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBY._

_Quick._ 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. 5

_Rug._ I’ll go watch.

_Quick._ Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. [_Exit Rugby._] An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale nor no 10 breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way: but nobody but has his fault; but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?

_Sim._ Ay, for fault of a better.

_Quick._ And Master Slender’s your master? 15

_Sim._ Ay, forsooth.

_Quick._ Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover’s paring-knife?

_Sim._ No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard,--a Cain-coloured beard. 20

_Quick._ A softly-sprighted man, is he not?

_Sim._ 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.

_Quick._ How say you?--O, I should remember him: 25 does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?

_Sim._ Yes, indeed, does he.

_Quick._ 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-- 30

_Re-enter RUGBY._

_Rug._ Out, alas! here comes my master.

_Quick._ We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young man; go into this closet: he will not stay long. [_Shuts Simple in the closet._] What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; 35 I doubt he be not well, that he comes not home.

[_Singing_] And down, down, adown-a, &c.

_Enter DOCTOR CAIUS._

_Caius._ Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert,--a box, a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box. 40

_Quick._ Ay, forsooth; I’ll fetch it you. [_Aside_] I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad.

_Caius._ Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m’en vais à la cour,--la grande affaire. 45

_Quick._ Is it this, sir?

_Caius._ Oui; mette le au mon pocket: dépêche, quickly. Vere is dat knave Rugby?

_Quick._ What, John Rugby! John!

_Rug._ Here, sir! 50

_Caius._ You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.

_Rug._ ’Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

_Caius._ By my trot, I tarry too long. --Od’s me! 55 Qu’ai-j’oublié! dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

_Quick._ Ay me, he’ll find the young man there, and be mad!

_Caius._ O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! 60 larron! [_Pulling Simple out._] Rugby, my rapier!

_Quick._ Good master, be content.

_Caius._ Wherefore shall I be content-a?

_Quick._ The young man is an honest man.

_Caius._ What shall de honest man do in my closet? 65 dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.

_Quick._ I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.

_Caius._ Vell.

_Sim._ Ay, forsooth; to desire her to-- 70

_Quick._ 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. 75

_Quick._ This is all, indeed, la! but I’ll ne’er put my finger in the fire, and need not.

_Caius._ Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baille me some paper. Tarry you a little-a while. [_Writes._

_Quick._ [_Aside to Simple_] I am glad he is so quiet: 80 if he had been throughly moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I’ll do you 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; 85 and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself,--

_Sim._ [_Aside to Quickly_] ’Tis a great charge to come under one body’s hand.

_Quick._ [_Aside to Simple_] Are you avised o’ that? you 90 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. 95

_Caius._ You jack’nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in de park; and I will 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 100 have a stone to throw at his dog. [_Exit Simple._

_Quick._ Alas, he speaks but for his friend.

_Caius._ It is no matter-a ver 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 105 Jarteer to measure our weapon:--By gar, I will myself have Anne Page.

_Quick._ Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. We must give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!

_Caius._ Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if 110 I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door. Follow my heels, Rugby. [_Exeunt Caius and Rugby._

_Quick._ 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 115 do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.

_Fent._ [_Within_] Who’s within there? ho!

_Quick._ Who’s there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.

_Enter FENTON._

_Fent._ How now, good woman! how dost thou? 120

_Quick._ The better that it pleases your good worship to ask.

_Fen._ What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?

_Quick._ In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by 125 the way; I praise heaven for it.

_Fent._ Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? shall I not lose my suit?

_Quick._ Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding, Master Fenton, I’ll be sworn on a book, she 130 loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?

_Fent._ Yes, marry, have I; what of that?

_Quick._ 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 135 never laugh but in that maid’s company!--But, indeed, she is given too much to allicholy 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: 140 if thou seest her before me, commend me.

_Quick._ Will I? i’ faith, that we will; and I will 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. 145

_Quick._ Farewell to your worship. [_Exit Fenton._] 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._

Notes. I, 4

SCENE IV.] SCENE IX. Pope. 4: _an_] om. Pope. 19: _wee_] _whey_ Capell. 20: _Cain_] F3 F4. _Kane_ (Q1 Q2). _Caine_ F1 Q3 F2. _cane_ Pope. 31: [Exit. Grant White. 34: [Shuts S. in the closet] Rowe. 38: SCENE X. Pope. _des toys_] F3 F4. _des-toyes_ F1 Q3 F2. _dese toys_ Theobald. 39: _un boitier_] Rowe. _unboyteene_ F1 F2 Q3. _unboyteen_ F3 F4. 44, 45: _ma foi ... affaire_] Rowe. _mai_ (_moi_ F2 F3 F4) _foy, il fait for chando, Ie man voi a le Court la grand affaires._ Ff Q3. 47: _dépêche_] _de-peech_ Ff Q3. 51: _Jack Rugby_] _Jack Rogoby_ Halliwell. 52: _take-a_] _take_ Q3. 56: _vill_] _will_ F2 F3 F4. 60: _villain_] Q3. _villainie_ Ff. 61: _larron_] _La-roone_ Ff Q3. [Pulling S. out] Theobald. 63, 66: _shall_] F1 Q3. _should_ F2 F3 F4. 78: _baille_] _ballow_ Ff Q3. _baillez_ Theobald. 83: _you_] _yoe_ F1 Q3. _for_ F2 F3 F4. om. Capell. 84: _the French_] Ff. _that French_ Q3. 86: _wring_] _ring_ Ff Q3. 96: _give-a_] F1 Q3. _givie-a_ F2 F3 F4. 97, 98, 100: _will_] _vill_ Pope. 101: _throw_] F1 Q3. _trow_ F2 F3 F4. 103: _ver_] Ff Q3. _for_ Capell. 106: _Jarteer_] F1 Q3 F2 F3. _Garter_ F4. 109: _good-jer_] _goujeres_ Hanmer. _goujere_ Johnson. _good year_ Capell. 120: SCENE XI. Pope. 131: _above_] _about_ Steevens. 132: _what of that_?] _and what of that_? Pope. 142: _we will_] _I will_ Halliwell MS.