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The Merry Wives of WindsorAct I

By William Shakespeare

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ACT ISCENE I. Windsor. Before PAGE’s house.

Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANSSHALLOWSir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir JohnFalstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

SLENDERIn the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and‘Coram.’

SHALLOWAy, cousin Slender, and ‘Custalourum.

SLENDERAy, and ‘Rato-lorum’ too; and a gentleman born,master parson; who writes himself ‘Armigero,’ in anybill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ‘Armigero.’

SHALLOWAy, that I do; and have done any time these threehundred years.

SLENDERAll his successors gone before him hath done’t; andall his ancestors that come after him may: they maygive the dozen white luces in their coat.

SHALLOWIt is an old coat.

SIR HUGH EVANSThe dozen white louses do become an old coat well;

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it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar beast toman, and signifies love.

SHALLOWThe luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.

SLENDERI may quarter, coz.

SHALLOWYou may, by marrying.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

SHALLOWNot a whit.

SIR HUGH EVANSYes, py’r lady; if he has a quarter of your coat,there is but three skirts for yourself, in mysimple conjectures: but that is all one. If SirJohn Falstaff have committed disparagements untoyou, I am of the church, and will be glad to do mybenevolence to make atonements and compremisesbetween you.

SHALLOWThe council shall bear it; it is a riot.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is not meet the council hear a riot; there is nofear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, shalldesire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear ariot; take your vizaments in that.

SHALLOWHa! o’ my life, if I were young again, the swordshould end it.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is petter that friends is the sword, and end it:and there is also another device in my prain, whichperadventure prings goot discretions with it: thereis Anne Page, which is daughter to Master ThomasPage, which is pretty virginity.




SLENDERMistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speakssmall like a woman.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is that fery person for all the orld, as just asyou will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys,and gold and silver, is her grandsire upon hisdeath’s-bed–Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!–give, when she is able to overtake seventeen yearsold: it were a goot motion if we leave our pribblesand prabbles, and desire a marriage between MasterAbraham and Mistress Anne Page.

SLENDERDid her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?

SIR HUGH EVANSAy, and her father is make her a petter penny.

SLENDERI know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

SIR HUGH EVANSSeven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts.

SHALLOWWell, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff there?

SIR HUGH EVANSShall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar as I dodespise one that is false, or as I despise one thatis not true. The knight, Sir John, is there; and, Ibeseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I willpeat the door for Master Page.

Knocks

What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

PAGE[Within] Who’s there?

Enter PAGE




SIR HUGH EVANSHere is Got’s plessing, and your friend, and JusticeShallow; and here young Master Slender, thatperadventures shall tell you another tale, ifmatters grow to your likings.

PAGEI am glad to see your worships well.I thank you for my venison, Master Shallow.

SHALLOWMaster Page, I am glad to see you: much good do ityour good heart! I wished your venison better; itwas ill killed. How doth good Mistress Page?–and Ithank you always with my heart, la! with my heart.

PAGESir, I thank you.

SHALLOWSir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.

PAGEI am glad to see you, good Master Slender.

SLENDERHow does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say hewas outrun on Cotsall.

PAGEIt could not be judged, sir.

SLENDERYou’ll not confess, you’ll not confess.

SHALLOWThat he will not. ‘Tis your fault, ’tis your fault;’tis a good dog.

PAGEA cur, sir.

SHALLOWSir, he’s a good dog, and a fair dog: can there bemore said? he is good and fair. Is Sir JohnFalstaff here?




PAGESir, he is within; and I would I could do a goodoffice between you.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is spoke as a Christians ought to speak.

SHALLOWHe hath wronged me, Master Page.

PAGESir, he doth in some sort confess it.

SHALLOWIf it be confessed, it is not redress’d: is not thatso, Master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed hehath, at a word, he hath, believe me: RobertShallow, esquire, saith, he is wronged.

PAGEHere comes Sir John.

Enter FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYM, and PISTOL

FALSTAFFNow, Master Shallow, you’ll complain of me to the king?

SHALLOWKnight, you have beaten my men, killed my deer, andbroke open my lodge.

FALSTAFFBut not kissed your keeper’s daughter?

SHALLOWTut, a pin! this shall be answered.

FALSTAFFI will answer it straight; I have done all this.That is now answered.

SHALLOWThe council shall know this.




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

SIR HUGH EVANSPauca verba, Sir John; goot worts.

FALSTAFFGood worts! good cabbage. Slender, I broke yourhead: what matter have you against me?

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

BARDOLPHYou Banbury cheese!

SLENDERAy, it is no matter.

PISTOLHow now, Mephostophilus!

SLENDERAy, it is no matter.

NYMSlice, I say! pauca, pauca: slice! that’s my humour.

SLENDERWhere’s Simple, my man? Can you tell, cousin?

SIR HUGH EVANSPeace, I pray you. Now let us understand. There isthree umpires in this matter, as I understand; thatis, Master Page, fidelicet Master Page; and there ismyself, fidelicet myself; and the three party is,lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter.

PAGEWe three, to hear it and end it between them.

SIR HUGH EVANSFery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-




book; and we will afterwards ork upon the cause withas great discreetly as we can.

FALSTAFFPistol!

PISTOLHe hears with ears.

SIR HUGH EVANSThe tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, ‘Hehears with ear’? why, it is affectations.

FALSTAFFPistol, did you pick Master Slender’s purse?

SLENDERAy, by these gloves, did he, or I would I mightnever come in mine own great chamber again else, ofseven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edwardshovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and twopence apiece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

FALSTAFFIs this true, Pistol?

SIR HUGH EVANSNo; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.

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

SLENDERBy these gloves, then, ’twas he.

NYMBe avised, sir, and pass good humours: I will say‘marry trap’ with you, if you run the nuthook’shumour on me; that is the very note of it.

SLENDERBy this hat, then, he in the red face had it; for




though I cannot remember what I did when you made medrunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.

FALSTAFFWhat say you, Scarlet and John?

BARDOLPHWhy, sir, for my part I say the gentleman had drunkhimself out of his five sentences.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

BARDOLPHAnd being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered; andso conclusions passed the careires.

SLENDERAy, you spake in Latin then too; but ’tis nomatter: 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 havethe fear of God, and not with drunken knaves.

SIR HUGH EVANSSo Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind.

FALSTAFFYou hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it.

Enter ANNE PAGE, with wine; MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE, following

PAGENay, daughter, carry the wine in; we’ll drink within.

Exit ANNE PAGE

SLENDERO heaven! this is Mistress Anne Page.

PAGEHow now, Mistress Ford!

FALSTAFFMistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met:by your leave, good mistress.




Kisses her

PAGEWife, bid these gentlemen welcome. Come, we have ahot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hopewe shall drink down all unkindness.

Exeunt all except SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS

SLENDERI had rather than forty shillings I had my Book ofSongs and Sonnets here.

Enter SIMPLE

How now, Simple! where have you been? I must waiton myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddlesabout you, have you?

SIMPLEBook of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to AliceShortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnightafore Michaelmas?

SHALLOWCome, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word withyou, coz; marry, this, coz: there is, as ’twere, atender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hughhere. Do you understand me?

SLENDERAy, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so,I shall do that that is reason.

SHALLOWNay, but understand me.

SLENDERSo I do, sir.

SIR HUGH EVANSGive ear to his motions, Master Slender: I willdescription the matter to you, if you be capacity of it.

SLENDERNay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I pray




you, pardon me; he’s a justice of peace in hiscountry, simple though I stand here.

SIR HUGH EVANSBut that is not the question: the question isconcerning your marriage.

SHALLOWAy, there’s the point, sir.

SIR HUGH EVANSMarry, is it; the very point of it; to Mistress Anne Page.

SLENDERWhy, if it be so, I will marry her upon anyreasonable demands.

SIR HUGH EVANSBut can you affection the ‘oman? Let us command toknow that of your mouth or of your lips; for diversphilosophers hold that the lips is parcel of themouth. Therefore, precisely, can you carry yourgood will to the maid?

SHALLOWCousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?

SLENDERI hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one thatwould do reason.

SIR HUGH EVANSNay, Got’s lords and his ladies! you must speakpossitable, if you can carry her your desirestowards her.

SHALLOWThat you must. Will you, upon good dowry, marry her?

SLENDERI will do a greater thing than that, upon yourrequest, cousin, in any reason.

SHALLOWNay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz: what I dois to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid?




SLENDERI will marry her, sir, at your request: but if therebe no great love in the beginning, yet heaven maydecrease it upon better acquaintance, when we aremarried 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; thatI am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

SIR HUGH EVANSIt is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is inthe ort ‘dissolutely:’ the ort is, according to ourmeaning, ‘resolutely:’ his meaning is good.

SHALLOWAy, I think my cousin meant well.

SLENDERAy, or else I would I might be hanged, la!

SHALLOWHere comes fair Mistress Anne.

Re-enter ANNE PAGE

Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!

ANNE PAGEThe dinner is on the table; my father desires yourworships’ company.

SHALLOWI will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.

SIR HUGH EVANSOd’s plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace.

Exeunt SHALLOW and SIR HUGH EVANS

ANNE PAGEWill’t please your worship to come in, sir?

SLENDERNo, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well.




ANNE PAGEThe dinner attends you, sir.

SLENDERI am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon mycousin Shallow.

Exit SIMPLE

A justice of peace sometimes may be beholding to hisfriend for a man. I keep but three men and a boyyet, till my mother be dead: but what though? Yet Ilive like a poor gentleman born.

ANNE PAGEI may not go in without your worship: they will notsit till you come.

SLENDERI’ faith, I’ll eat nothing; I thank you as much asthough I did.

ANNE PAGEI pray you, sir, walk in.

SLENDERI had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruisedmy shin th’ other day with playing at sword anddagger with a master of fence; three veneys for adish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannotabide the smell of hot meat since. Why do yourdogs bark so? be there bears i’ the town?

ANNE PAGEI think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.

SLENDERI love the sport well but I shall as soon quarrel atit as any man in England. You are afraid, if you seethe bear loose, are you not?

ANNE PAGEAy, indeed, sir.




SLENDERThat’s meat and drink to me, now. I have seenSackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him bythe chain; but, I warrant you, the women have socried and shrieked at it, that it passed: but women,indeed, cannot abide ’em; they are very ill-favoredrough things.

Re-enter PAGE

PAGECome, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for you.

SLENDERI’ll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.

PAGEBy cock and pie, you shall not choose, sir! come, come.

SLENDERNay, pray you, lead the way.

PAGECome on, sir.

SLENDERMistress Anne, yourself shall go first.

ANNE PAGENot I, sir; pray you, keep on.

SLENDERI’ll rather be unmannerly than troublesome.You do yourself wrong, indeed, la!

Exeunt

SCENE II. The same.

Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLESIR HUGH EVANSGo your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius’ house whichis the way: and there dwells one Mistress Quickly,which is in the manner of his nurse, or his drynurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, andhis wringer.




SIMPLEWell, sir.

SIR HUGH EVANSNay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for itis a ‘oman that altogether’s acquaintance withMistress Anne Page: and the letter is, to desireand require her to solicit your master’s desires toMistress Anne Page. I pray you, be gone: I willmake 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 ROBINFALSTAFFMine host of the Garter!

HostWhat says my bully-rook? speak scholarly and wisely.

FALSTAFFTruly, mine host, I must turn away some of myfollowers.

HostDiscard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag; trot, trot.

FALSTAFFI sit at ten pounds a week.

HostThou’rt an emperor, Caesar, Keisar, and Pheezar. Iwill entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shalltap: said I well, bully Hector?

FALSTAFFDo so, good mine host.

HostI have spoke; let him follow.

To BARDOLPH

Let me see thee froth and lime: I am at a word; follow.




Exit

FALSTAFFBardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade:an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a witheredserving-man a fresh tapster. Go; adieu.

BARDOLPHIt is a life that I have desired: I will thrive.

PISTOLO base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

Exit BARDOLPH

NYMHe was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited?

FALSTAFFI am glad I am so acquit of this tinderbox: histhefts were too open; his filching was like anunskilful singer; he kept not time.

NYMThe good humour is to steal at a minute’s rest.

PISTOL‘Convey,’ the wise it call. ‘Steal!’ foh! a ficofor the phrase!

FALSTAFFWell, sirs, I am almost out at heels.

PISTOLWhy, then, let kibes ensue.

FALSTAFFThere is no remedy; I must cony-catch; I must shift.

PISTOLYoung ravens must have food.

FALSTAFFWhich of you know Ford of this town?




PISTOLI ken the wight: he is of substance good.

FALSTAFFMy honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.

PISTOLTwo yards, and more.

FALSTAFFNo quips now, Pistol! Indeed, I am in the waist twoyards about; but I am now about no waste; I am aboutthrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford’swife: I spy entertainment in her; she discourses,she carves, she gives the leer of invitation: Ican construe the action of her familiar style; andthe hardest voice of her behavior, to be Englishedrightly, is, ‘I am Sir John Falstaff’s.’

PISTOLHe hath studied her will, and translated her will,out of honesty into English.

NYMThe anchor is deep: will that humour pass?

FALSTAFFNow, the report goes she has all the rule of herhusband’s purse: he hath a legion of angels.

PISTOLAs many devils entertain; and ‘To her, boy,’ say I.

NYMThe humour rises; it is good: humour me the angels.

FALSTAFFI have writ me here a letter to her: and hereanother to Page’s wife, who even now gave me goodeyes too, examined my parts with most judiciousoeillades; sometimes the beam of her view gilded myfoot, sometimes my portly belly.

PISTOLThen did the sun on dunghill shine.




NYMI thank thee for that humour.

FALSTAFFO, she did so course o’er my exteriors with such agreedy intention, that the appetite of her eye didseem to scorch me up like a burning-glass! Here’sanother letter to her: she bears the purse too; sheis a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I willbe cheater to them both, and they shall beexchequers to me; they shall be my East and WestIndies, and I will trade to them both. Go bear thouthis letter to Mistress Page; and thou this toMistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive.

PISTOLShall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become,And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all!

NYMI will run no base humour: here, take thehumour-letter: I will keep the havior of reputation.

FALSTAFF[To ROBIN] Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly;Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go;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

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

NYMI have operations which be humours of revenge.

PISTOLWilt thou revenge?




NYMBy welkin and her star!

PISTOLWith wit or steel?

NYMWith both the humours, I:I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.

PISTOLAnd I to Ford shall eke unfoldHow Falstaff, varlet vile,His dove will prove, his gold will hold,And his soft couch defile.

NYMMy humour shall not cool: I will incense Page todeal with poison; I will possess him withyellowness, for the revolt of mine is dangerous:that is my true humour.

PISTOLThou art the Mars of malecontents: I second thee; troop on.

Exeunt

SCENE IV. A room in DOCTOR CAIUS’ house.

Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBYMISTRESS QUICKLYWhat, John Rugby! I pray thee, go to the casement,and see if you can see my master, Master DoctorCaius, coming. If he do, i’ faith, and find anybody in the house, here will be an old abusing ofGod’s patience and the king’s English.

RUGBYI’ll go watch.

MISTRESS QUICKLYGo; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, infaith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.

Exit RUGBY




An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servantshall come in house withal, and, I warrant you, notell-tale nor no breed-bate: his worst fault is,that he is given to prayer; he is something peevishthat way: but nobody but has his fault; but letthat pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?

SIMPLEAy, for fault of a better.

MISTRESS QUICKLYAnd Master Slender’s your master?

SIMPLEAy, forsooth.

MISTRESS QUICKLYDoes he not wear a great round beard, like aglover’s paring-knife?

SIMPLENo, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with alittle yellow beard, a Cain-coloured beard.

MISTRESS QUICKLYA softly-sprighted man, is he not?

SIMPLEAy, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his handsas any is between this and his head; he hath foughtwith a warrener.

MISTRESS QUICKLYHow say you? O, I should remember him: does he nothold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?

SIMPLEYes, indeed, does he.

MISTRESS QUICKLYWell, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! TellMaster Parson Evans I will do what I can for yourmaster: Anne is a good girl, and I wish–

Re-enter RUGBY




RUGBYOut, alas! here comes my master.

MISTRESS QUICKLYWe 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; I doubthe be not well, that he comes not home.

Singing

And down, down, adown-a, & c.

Enter DOCTOR CAIUS

DOCTOR CAIUSVat 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.

MISTRESS QUICKLYAy, forsooth; I’ll fetch it you.

Aside

I am glad he went not in himself: if he had foundthe young man, he would have been horn-mad.

DOCTOR CAIUSFe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Jem’en vais a la cour–la grande affaire.

MISTRESS QUICKLYIs it this, sir?

DOCTOR CAIUSOui; mette le au mon pocket: depeche, quickly. Vereis dat knave Rugby?

MISTRESS QUICKLYWhat, John Rugby! John!




RUGBYHere, sir!

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

RUGBY‘Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

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

MISTRESS QUICKLYAy me, he’ll find the young man here, and be mad!

DOCTOR CAIUSO diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! larron!

Pulling SIMPLE out

Rugby, my rapier!

MISTRESS QUICKLYGood master, be content.

DOCTOR CAIUSWherefore shall I be content-a?

MISTRESS QUICKLYThe young man is an honest man.

DOCTOR CAIUSWhat shall de honest man do in my closet? dere isno honest man dat shall come in my closet.

MISTRESS QUICKLYI beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truthof it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.

DOCTOR CAIUSVell.




SIMPLEAy, forsooth; to desire her to–

MISTRESS QUICKLYPeace, I pray you.

DOCTOR CAIUSPeace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.

SIMPLETo desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, tospeak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for mymaster in the way of marriage.

MISTRESS QUICKLYThis is all, indeed, la! but I’ll ne’er put myfinger in the fire, and need not.

DOCTOR CAIUSSir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baille me some paper.Tarry you a little-a while.

Writes

MISTRESS QUICKLY[Aside to SIMPLE] I am glad he is so quiet: if hehad been thoroughly moved, you should have heard himso loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding,man, I’ll do you your master what good I can: andthe very yea and the no is, the French doctor, mymaster,–I may call him my master, look you, for Ikeep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake,scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds and doall myself,–

SIMPLE[Aside to MISTRESS QUICKLY] ‘Tis a great charge tocome under one body’s hand.

MISTRESS QUICKLY[Aside to SIMPLE] Are you avised o’ that? youshall find it a great charge: and to be up earlyand down late; but notwithstanding,–to tell you inyour ear; I would have no words of it,–my masterhimself is in love with Mistress Anne Page: but




notwithstanding that, I know Anne’s mind,–that’sneither here nor there.

DOCTOR CAIUSYou jack’nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh; bygar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in deepark; and I will teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priestto meddle or make. You may be gone; it is not goodyou tarry here. By gar, I will cut all his twostones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to throwat his dog:

Exit SIMPLE

MISTRESS QUICKLYAlas, he speaks but for his friend.

DOCTOR CAIUSIt is no matter-a ver dat: do not you tell-a medat I shall have Anne Page for myself? By gar, Ivill kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed minehost of de Jarteer to measure our weapon. By gar, Iwill myself have Anne Page.

MISTRESS QUICKLYSir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. Wemust give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!

DOCTOR CAIUSRugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if I havenot Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of mydoor. Follow my heels, Rugby.

Exeunt DOCTOR CAIUS and RUGBY

MISTRESS QUICKLYYou shall have An fool’s-head of your own. No, Iknow Anne’s mind for that: never a woman in Windsorknows more of Anne’s mind than I do; nor can do morethan I do with her, I thank heaven.

FENTON[Within] Who’s within there? ho!

MISTRESS QUICKLYWho’s there, I trow! Come near the house, I pray you.




Enter FENTON

FENTONHow now, good woman? how dost thou?

MISTRESS QUICKLYThe better that it pleases your good worship to ask.

FENTONWhat news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?

MISTRESS QUICKLYIn truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, andgentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell youthat by the way; I praise heaven for it.

FENTONShall I do any good, thinkest thou? shall I not lose my suit?

MISTRESS QUICKLYTroth, sir, all is in his hands above: butnotwithstanding, Master Fenton, I’ll be sworn on abook, she loves you. Have not your worship a wartabove your eye?

FENTONYes, marry, have I; what of that?

MISTRESS QUICKLYWell, thereby hangs a tale: good faith, it is suchanother Nan; but, I detest, an honest maid as everbroke bread: we had an hour’s talk of that wart. Ishall never laugh but in that maid’s company! Butindeed she is given too much to allicholy andmusing: but for you–well, go to.

FENTONWell, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there’s moneyfor thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: ifthou seest her before me, commend me.

MISTRESS QUICKLYWill I? i’faith, that we will; and I will tell yourworship more of the wart the next time we haveconfidence; and of other wooers.




FENTONWell, farewell; I am in great haste now.

MISTRESS QUICKLYFarewell 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. Outupon’t! what have I forgot?

Exit

[The Merry Wives of Windsor – Act II]




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