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mand to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the raouth-Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid?

Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? Sen. I hope, sir,-I will do, as it shall become one that would do reason.

Eva. 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?

Sten. 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 mail?

Sien. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven

y decrease 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.

Eva. 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.

Shel. Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

Sten. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la.
Re-enter Anne Page.

Shel. Here comes fair mistress Anne :-'Would I were young, for your sake, mistress Anne!

Ann. The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships' company.

Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. Eva. Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace. [Exe. Shal. and sir H. Evans. Ann. Will't please your worship to come in, sir? Sen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well.

Ann. 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: [Ex. Simp.] A justice of peace sometime may be beholden 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 like a poor gentleman born.

Ann. I may not go in without your worship: they will not sig, till you come.

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Eva. Nay, it is petter yet :-give her this letter; for
it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with mis-
tress Anne Page; and the letter is, to desire and re-
quire 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.

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.

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

Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.

Host. Thou'rt an emperor, Caesar, Keisar, and Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector?

Fal. Do so, good mine host.

Host. I have spoke; let him follow: Let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit. Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered

Sten. I'faith, I'll eat nothing: I thank you as much serving-man, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu. as though I did.

Ans. I pray yon, sir, walk in.

Sien. I had rather walk here, I thank you: I bruised my shin the 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 meat since.-Why do your dogs bark mo? be there bears i' the town?

Ann. I think, there are, sir; I heard them talked of. Sten. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel at it, as any man in England:-You are afraid, if yan see the bear loose, are you not?

Ann. Ay, indeed, sir.

Slen. That's ineat and drink to me now: I have seen Sacherson loose twenty times; and have taken him by the chain: but I warrant you, the women have so fried and shrieked at it, that it pass'd: but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill-favoured, raigh things.

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

[Exit.

Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

Nym. He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the bu mour of it.

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.

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.

Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney-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.
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 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 English'd rightly, is, I am sir John Falstaff's.

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Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her || night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. [Exwell; 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; she hath legions of angels.

Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy, say I.

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 eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

Pist. Then did the sun on dung-hill shine.
Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Fal. 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 'cheater 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 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 reputa

tion.

Fal. Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly;
Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. [To Rob.
-Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of this 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 beguile the rich and poor:
Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack,

Base Phrygian Turk!

Nym. I have operations in my head, which be hu

mours 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 Page.

Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold,

How Falstaff, varlet vile,

His dove will prove, his gold will bold,

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 mien is dangerous: that is my true humour.

it Rug.] 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 nobody but has his fault ;-but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?

Sim. Ay, for fault of a better.

Quic. And master Slender's your master?
Sim. Ay, forsooth.

Quic. 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. Quic. 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.

Quic. How say you?-O, I should remember him; Does he not hold up his head, as it were? and strut in his gait?

Sim. 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 wishRe-enter Rugby.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.

Quic. We shall all be shent: Run in here, good young man; go into this closet. [Shuts Simple in the closet.] He will not stay long.-What, John Rugby! John, what, John, I say!-Go, John, go, inquire for my master; I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not home-and down, down, adown-a, &c. [Sings.

Enter Doctor Caius.

Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys: Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd ; a box, a green-a box; Do intend vat I speak? a green-a

box.

Quic. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad. [Aside

Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a la Cour, la grande affaire.

Quic. Is it this, sir?

Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depeche, quickly:-Vere is dat knave Rugby?

Quic. What, John Rugby! John!

Rug. Here, sir.

Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rug by: Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court.

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

Cains. By my trot, I tarry too long:-Od's me! Qu'ay j'oublie dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

Quic. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and be mad.

Caitis. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?-Vilay! tarron-Rugby, my rapier. [Pulling Simp. out. Quic. Good master, be content. Cars. Verefore shall I be content-a? Quie. The young man is an honest man.

Carur. Vat shall the honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. Quie. I beseech you, be not so flegmatic; hear the truth of it: He came of an errand to me from parson Hugh.

Caiur. Vell.

Sum. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to→→→

Quic. Peace, I pray you.

Caius. Peace-a your tongue :-Speak-a your tale. St. 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.

Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you?-Rugby, baillez me some paper:-Tarry you a little-a while. [Writes.

Quic. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoreaghly moved, you should have heard him so loud, and

melancholy ;-But notwithstanding, man, I'll do 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; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself;

Sim. '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.

Caius. You jack'nape; give-a dis letter to sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I vill cut his throat in de park; and I vill 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 vill cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit Simp. Quic. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. Caius. 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 bost of de Jarterre 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 goodjer!

Caius. Rugby, come to de court vit me :-By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door :-Follow my heels, Rugby. [Ex. Cai. & Rug. Qne. You shall have An fools-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. Fenton. [Within.] Who's within there, ho? Quic. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.

Enter Fenton.

Feat. 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

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Fent. Shall I do any good, thinkest 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 money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: if thou seest her before me, commend me

Quic. 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.

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Ask me no reason why I love you: for though love use reason for his precisian, he admits him not for his counsellor: You are not young, no more am I ; go to then, there's sympathy: you are merry, so am I; ha! ha! then there's more sympathy; you love sack, and so do I; would you desire better sympathy? Let it suffice thee, mistress Page, (at the least, if the love of a soldier can suffice) that I love thee. I will not say, pity me, 'tis not a soldier-like phrase; but I say, love me. By me, Thine own true knight,

By day or night,

Or

any kind of light,

With all his might,

For thee to fight.

John Falstaff.

What a Herod of Jewry is this?-O wicked, wicked world!-one that is well nigh worn to pieces with age, to show himself a young gallant!-What an unweighed behaviour has this Flemish drunkard picked (with the devil's name) out of my conversation, that he dares in this manner assay me? Why, he hath not been thrice in my company!-What should I say to him?-I was then frugal of my mirth :-heaven forgive me!-Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men. How shall I be revenged on him? for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.

Enter Mistress Ford. Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to your house.

Mrs. Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. You look very ill.

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I'll ne'er believe that; I have to show to the contrary.

Mrs. Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind. Mrs. Ford. Well, I do then; yet, I say, I could show you to the contrary: O, mistress Page, give me some counsel!

Mrs. Page. What's the matter, woman?

Pist. Hope is a curtail-dog in some affairs: Sir John affects thy wife.

Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young.

Pist. He woos both high and low, both rich and poor, Both young and old, one with another, Ford: Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for one trifling He loves thy gally-mawfry; Ford, perpend. respect, I could come to such honour!

Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman; take the honour: What is it?-dispense with trifies ;-what is it? Mrs. Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment, or so, I could be knighted.

Mrs. Page. What?-thou liest!-Sir Alice Ford !These knights will hack; and so thou shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry.

Mrs. Ford. We burn day-light-here, read, read ;— perceive how I might be knighted.-I shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking: And yet he would not swear; praised women's modesty: and gave such or derly and well-behaved reproof to all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his disposition would have gone to the truth of his words: but they do no more adhere and keep place together than the hundredth psalm to the tune of Green Sleeves. What tempest, I trow, threw this whale, with so many tons of oil in his belly, ashore at Windsor? How shall I be revenged on him? I think, the best way were to entertain him with hope, till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own grease.-Did you ever hear the like?

Mrs. Page. Letter for letter; but that the name of Page and Ford differs!-To thy great comfort in this mystery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother of thy letter: but let thine inherit first; for, I protest, mine never shall. I warrant, he bath a thousand of these letters, writ with blank space for different names, (sure more,) and these are of the second edition: he will print them, out of doubt; for he cares not what he puts into the press, when he would put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and lie under mount Pelion. Well, I will find you twenty lascivious turtles, cre one chaste man.

Mrs. Ford. Why, this is the very same; the very hand, the very words: What doth he think of us?

Mrs. Page. Nay, I know not: It makes me almost ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'il entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure, unless he know some strain in me, that I know not myself, he would never have boarded me in this fury.

Mrs. Ford. Boarding, call you it? I'll be sure to keep him above deck.

Mrs. Page. So will I; if he come under my hatches, I'll never to sea again. Let's be revenged on him: let's appoint him a meeting; give him a show of comfort in his suit; and lead him on with a fine-baited delay, till he hath pawn'd his horses to mine host of the Garter.

Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any villany against him, that may not sully the chariness of our honesty. O, that my husband saw this letter! it would give eternal food to his jealousy.

Mrs. Page. Why, look, where he comes; aud my good man too: he's as far from jealousy, as I am from giving him cause; and that, I hope, is an unmeasur

able distance.

Mrs. Ford. You are the happier woman. Mrs. Page. Let's consult together against this greasy knight: Come hither. [They retire.

Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Nym. Ford. Well, I hope, it be not so.

Ford. Love my wife?

Pist. With liver burning hot: Prevent, or go thou Like sir Acteon he, with Ring-wood at thy heels :O, odious is the name! Ford.

What name, sir?
Pist. The horn, I say: Farewell.

Take heed; have open eye; for thieves do foot by night :
Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do sing.
-Away, sir corporal Nym.-
Believe it, Page; he speaks sense.

[Exit Pistol. Ford. I will be patient; I will find out this. Nym. And this is true; [To Page.] I like not the humour of lying. He hath wronged me in some humours: I should have borne the humoured letter to her; but I have a sword, and it shall bite upon my ne cessity. He loves your wife; there's the short and the long. My name is corporal Nym; I speak, and I avouch. 'Tis true-my name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife.-Adieu! I love not the humour of bread and cheese; and there's the humour of it. Adieu. [Exit. Page. The humour of it, quoth 'a! here's a fellow frights humour out of its wits.

Ford. I will seek out Falstaff.

Page. I never heard such a drawling, affecting rogue. Ford. If I do find it, well.

Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, though the priest o' the town commended him for a true man. Ford. "Twas a good sensible fellow :-Well.

Re-enter Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford.

Page. How now, Meg?

Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George?-Hark you. Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank? why art thou melancholy?

Ford. I melancholy! I am not melancholy.-Get you home, go.

Mrs. Ford. Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now.Will you go, mistress Page?

Mrs. Page. Have with you.-You'll come to dinner, George?-Look, who comes yonder: she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight. [Aside to Mrs. Ford.

Enter Mistress Quickly.

Mrs. Ford. Trust me, I thought on her: she'll fit it. Mrs. Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne? Quic. Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good mistress Anne?

Mrs. Page. Go in with us, and see; we have an hour's talk with you.

[Er. Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quic. Page. How now, master Ford?

Ford. You heard what this knave told me; did you not?

Page. Yes; and you heard what the other told me? Ford. Do you think there is truth in them? Page. Hang 'chi, slaves; I do not think the knight would offer it: but these that accuse him in his intent towards our wives, are a yoke of his discarded men ; very rogues now they be out of service. Ford. Were they his men?

Page. Marry, were they,

Ford. I like it never the better for that.-Does he lie at the Garter?

Page. Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend his wage towards my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it be on my head.

Ford. I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be luch to turn them together: a man may be too confident: I would have nothing lie on my head: I cannot be thus satisfied.

Page. Look, where my ranting host of the Garter enes: there is either liquor in his pate, or money in tas pürse, when he looks so merrily.-How now, mine host?

Enter Host and Shallow.

Hest. How now, bully-rook? thou'rt a gentleman:Cavalero-justice, I say.

Sha!. I follow, mine host, I follow.-Good even, and twenty, good master Page! Master Page, will you go with us? we have sport in hand.

Hast. Tell him, cavalero-justice; tell him, bully

reok.

Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought, between sir Hugh the Welch priest, and Caius the French doctor. Ford. Good mine host o' the Garter, a word with YOUL

Host. What say'st thou, bully-rook? [They go aside. Shel. Will you [To Page.] go with us to behold it? My merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons; and, I think, he hath appointed them contrary places: for, believe me, I hear, the parson is no jester. Hark, I will tell you what our sport shall be.

Hat. Hast thou no suit against my knight, my gurst-cavalier?

Ford. None, I protest: but I'll give you a pottle of burnt sack to give me recourse to him, and tell him, my name is Brook; only for a jest.

Hest. My hand, bully: thou shalt have egress and regress; said I well? and thy name shall be Brook : It is a merry knight.-Will you go on, hearts?

Shal. Have with you, mine host.

Page. I have heard, the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier.

Shel. Tut, sir, I could have told you more: In these times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and I know not what: 'tis the heart, master Page; 'tis here, 'tis here. I have seen the time, with my long sward, I would have made you four tall fellows skip

The rats.

Had. Here, boys, here, bere! shall we wag? Page. Have with you :-I had rather bear them scold than fight. [Exeunt Host, Shal, and Page. Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so fruly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion so easily: She was in his company at Page's honse; and, what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look farther into't: and I have a disguise to soural Falstaff: if I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise, 'tis labour well bestowed. [Exit.

SCENE II-A room in the Garter Inn.
staff and Pistol.

Fel. I will not lend thee a penny.
Piet. Why, then the world's mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.-

1 will retort the sum in equipage

Enter Fal

Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow, Nym; or else you had looked rough the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am

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damned in hell, for swearing to gentlemen my friends, you were good soldiers, and tall fellows: and when mistress Bridget lost the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadst it not.

Pist. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence.

Fal. Reason, you rogue, reason: Think'st thou I'll endanger my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you:-go.-A short knife and a throng; to your manor of Pickt-hatch, go.You'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue !—you stand! upon your honour!-Why, thou uncoufinable baseness, it is as much as I can do, to keep the terms of my honour precise. I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle, to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you?

Pist. I do relent; What wouldst thou more of man?
Enter Robin.

Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with you.
Fal. Let her approach.

Enter Mistress Quickly.

Quic. Give your worship good-morrow.
Fal. Good-morrow, good wife.

Quic. Not so, an't please your worship.
Ful. Good maid, then.

Quic. I'll be sworn; as my mother was, the first hour I was born.

Fal. I do believe the swearer: What with me? Quie. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Fal. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll vouchsafe thee the hearing.

Quic. There is one mistress Ford, sir ;-I pray, come a little nearer this ways:-I myself dwell with master doctor Caius.

Fal. Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,——— Quic. Your worship says very true :-1 pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways.

Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears;-mine own people, mine own people.

Quic. Are they so? Heaven bless them, and make them his servants!

Fal. Well: Mistress Ford ;-what of her? Quic. Why, sir, she's a good creature. Lord, lord! your worship's a wanton: Well, heaven forgive you, and all of us, I pray !

Fal. Mistress Ford ;-come, mistress Ford,

Quic. Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you have brought her into such a canaries, as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windsor, could never have brought her to such a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, (all musk) and so rushling, I warrant you, in silk and gold; and in such alligant terms; and in such wine and sugar of the best, and the fairest, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her.-I had myself twenty angels given me this morning: but I defy all angels, (in any such sort, as they say,) but in the way of hones

ty :-and. I warrant you, they could never get her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them alt: and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pen• sioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

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