Page. Look, where my ranting host of the Garter comes: there is either liquor in his pate, or money in his purse, when he looks fo merrily.-How, now, mine hoft?

Enter Hoft, and Shallow.

Hoft. How, now, bully-rook? thou'rt a gentleman: cavalero-juftice, I fay.

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

S

Hoft. Tell him, cavalero-juftice; tell him, bully-rook? Shal. Sir, there is a fray to be fought, between fir Hugh the Welch prieft, and Caius the French doctor. Ford. Good mine host o' the Garter, a word with you. Hoft. What fay'ft thou, bully-rook?

[They go a little afide.

Shal. [To Page.] Will you go with us to behold it? My merry hoft hath had the measuring of their weapons; and, I think, he hath appointed them contrary places: for, believe me, I hear the parfon is no jefter. Hark, I will tell you what our fport fhall be.

Hoft. Haft thou no fuit against my knight, my gueft

cavalier?

Ford. None, I proteft: but I'll give you a pottle of burnt fack to give me recourfe to him, and tell him, my name is Brook, only for a jeft.

Hoft. My hand, bully: thou fhalt have egress and regrefs; faid I well? and thy name fhall be Brook: It is a merry knight.-Will you go an-heirs?

t

"Ford. Have with you, mine hoft.

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

Shal.]

go mynbeers; on heerer; hearts, or heroes; go on here, or, and hear us?

Shal.

Shal. Tut, fir, I could have told you more: In these times you ftand on distance, your paffes, ftoccado's, and I know not what: 'tis the heart, master Page; 'tis here, 'tis here. I have seen the time, with my long fword, I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats.

W

Hoft. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? Page. Have with you:-I had rather hear them fcold than fight. [Exeunt Hoft, Shallow, and Page, Ford. Though Page be a fecure fool, and ftand fo firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion fo eafily: She was in his company at Page's houfe; and, what they * made there, I know not. Well, I will look further into't: and I have a difguife to found Falstaff: If I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if the be otherwife, 'tis labour well beftow'd. [Exit.

SCENE II.

The Garter Inn..

Enter Falstaff and Piftol.

Fel. I will not lend thee a penny.

Pist. Why, then the world's mine oyfter, which I with fword will open. I will retort the fum in equipage.

b

Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, fir, you should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coachfellow, Nym; or elfe you had look'd through the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am damn'd in hell, for

" and ftand fo firmly on his wife's frailty,]-place fo much confidence in his frail wife.

* made]-did.

" I will retort the fum in equipage.]—repay the fum you shall advance me in attendance upon your perfon; in plunder.

countenance]-credit.

a grated upon]-haraffed with my repeated importunity.
coach-fellow,]-accomplice, brother rascal.
O 2

fwearing

с

fwearing to gentlemen my friends, you were good foldiers, and tall fellows: and when miftrefs Bridget loft the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadft it not.

с

Pift. Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence? Fal. Reason, you rogue, reason: Think'ft thou, I'll endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you :-go.- A fhort knife and a thong, to your manor of ' Pickt-hatch, go.-You'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue !-you ftand upon your honour !-Why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as I can do, to keep the terms of my honour precife. I, I, I myself sometimes leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceffity, am fain to fhuffle, 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 fhelter of your honour! You will not do it, you?

h

k

Pift. 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.

tall]-ftout.

the handle of her fan,]—then made of gold, filver, or other costly materials.

" I could brain him with his lady's fan.”

HENRY IV, Part I, A&t II, S. 3. Hot.

A fhort knife and a thong,]-the one, to cut purfes, formerly worn at the girdle; the other, to be used at the game of fast and loose, or pricking at the belt.

f Pickt-batch,]-a half door with spikes on it-a noted rendezvous

for thieves and ftrumpets.

& enfconce]-cover.

i red-lattice]-ale-house.

h cat-a-mountain]-fierce.
bold-beating]-fwinging, tremendous.

Enter

Enter Mistress Quickly.

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

Quic. Not fo, an't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

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

Fal. I do believe the fwearer: What with me?

Quic. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Fal. Two thoufand, fair woman; and I'll vouchfafe thee the hearing.

Quic. There is one mistress Ford, fir;-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 fays very true: I pray your worfhip, come a little nearer this

ways.

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

Quic. Are they fo? Heaven blefs them, and make them his fervants!

Fal. Well: miftrefs Ford ;--what of her?

Quic. Why, fir, fhe's a good creature. Lord, lord! your worship's a wanton: Well, heaven forgive you, and all of us, I pray!

Fal. Miftrefs Ford;-come, miftrefs Ford,

Quic. Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windfor, could never have brought her to fuch a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach,

1 a canaries,]-fuch a quandary, a scene of perplexity.

O 3

letter

letter after letter, gift after gift; fmelling fo fweetly, (all musk) and fo rufling, I warrant you, in filk and gold; and in fuch alligant terms; and in fuch wine and fugar of the best, and the faireft, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eyewink of her. I had myfelf twenty angels given me this morning but I defy all angels, (in any fuch fort as they fay) but in the way of honesty:—and, I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup with the proudest of them all and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, "penfioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

Fal. But what fays fhe to me? be brief, my good she Mercury.

Quic. Marry, fhe hath receiv'd your letter; for the which the thanks you a thousand times: and fhe gives you to notify, that her husband will be abfence from his house between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, fhe fays, that you "wot of;-master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the fweet woman leads an ill life with him; he's a very jealousy man; she leads a very frampold life with him, good heart.

Fal. Ten and eleven: Woman, commend me to her; I will not fail her.

Quic. Why, you fay well: But I have another mefsenger to your worship: Mistress Page has her hearty commendations to you too;-and let me tell you in your car, fhe's as fartuous a civil modeft wife, and one (I tell

m penfioners ;]-gentlemen of that band; certain military courtiers, favourites of Queen Elizabeth, whofe fplendour in drefs, and other extravagancies, beyond the ability of Earls, were fupplied from the royal purse. frampold-wearifome.

n

wot of;]-know of.

you)