Enter Mistress Quickly.

Now! whence come you?

Quic. From the two parties, forfooth.

Fal. The devil take one party, and his dam the other, and fo they shall be both bestow'd! I have fuffer'd more for their fakes, more, than the villainous inconftancy of man's difpofition is able to bear.

Quic. And have not they fuffer'd? yes, I warrant; speciously one of them; miftrefs Ford, good heart, is beaten black and blue, that you cannot fee a white spot about her.

Fal. What tell'ft thou me of black and blue? I was beaten myself into all the colours of the rainbow; and I was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brentford; but that my admirable dexterity of wit, counterfeiting the action of an old woman, deliver'd me, the knave conftable had fet me i' the ftocks, i' the common stocks, for a witch.

f

Quic. Sir, let me speak with you in your chamber: you fhall hear how things go; and, I warrant, to your content. Here is a letter will fay fomewhat. Good hearts, what ado is here to bring you together! fure, one of you does not ferve heaven well, that you are so cross'd.

Fal. Come up

into my

chamber.

[Exeunt.

Hoft. Mafter Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is heavy,. & I will give over all.

Fent. Yet hear me fpeak: Affift me in my purpose, And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee.

f

an old woman,―wode—wild, crazy.

I will give over all. ]-I will have no further concern in this bufi

nefs.

A hun

A hundred pound in gold, more than your lofs.

Hoft. I will hear you, mafter Fenton; and I will, at the leaft, keep your counsel.

Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page;
Who, mutually, hath anfwer'd my affection
(So far forth as herself might be her chufer)
Even to my wifh: I have a letter from her
Of fuch contents as you will wonder at ;
The mirth whereof's fo larded with my matter,
That neither, fingly, can be manifefted,

Without the fhew of both: Fat fir John Falstaff
Hath a great scene; the image of the jeft

h

[Shewing a letter. I'll fhew you here at large. Hark, good mine host : To-night at Herne's oak, juft 'twixt twelve and one, Muft my sweet Nan prefent the fairy queen;

k

The purpose why, is here; in which disguise,
While other jests are something rank on foot,
Her father hath commanded her to flip

Away with Slender, and with him at Eaton
Immediately to marry: fhe hath confented: now, fir,
Her mother, 'even ftrong against that match,
And firm for doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he fhall likewife fhuffle her away,

m

While other sports are " tafking of their minds,
And at the deanery, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot

Hath a great fcene; the image of the jeft]-bears a confiderable part in this piece of droilery; the fcheme whereof.

is here ;]-in this letter.

* rank on foot,]-hotly pursued.

I even strong againft]-equally averse from.

talking of their minds,]-occupying their whole attention,-taking off.

"fome things of weight,

"That task our thoughts."

HENRY V, A&t I, S. 2. K. Henry.

She,

She, feemingly obedient, likewise hath

Made promise to the doctor :-Now, thus it refts;

Her father means fhe fhall be all in white;

And in that habit, when Slender fees his time
To take her by the hand, and bid her go,

She fhall go with him :-her mother hath intended,
The better to denote her to the doctor,

n

(For they must all be mafk'd and vizarded)

P

That, quaint in green, fhe fhall be loose enrob'd,
With ribbands pendant, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the doctor fpies his vantage ripe,

To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
The maid hath given confent to go with him.

Hoft. Which means fhe to deceive? father or mother?
Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me:
And here it refts,-that you'll procure the vicar
To stay for me at church, 'twixt twelve and one,
And, in the lawful name of marrying,

To give our hearts united ceremony.

Hoft. Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar: Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest.

Fent. So fhall I evermore be bound to thee;

Befides, I'll make a prefent recompence.

[Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I.

Enter Falstaff and Mrs. Quickly.

Fal. Pr'ythee, no more pratling;-go.-'I'll hold : This is the third time, I hope, good luck lies in odd numbers.

• quaint]-trimly, fantaftically clad.

n devote.

P flaring]-ftreaming, fluttering.

I'll hold ]-I'll not fail.

Away,

Away, go; they fay, there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death.—Away.

Quic. I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do what I can to get you a pair of horns. [Exit Mrs. Quickly. Fal. Away, I fay; time wears: hold up your head, and r mince.

Enter Ford.

How now, master Brook? Mafter Brook, the matter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, and you fhall fee wonders.

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday, fir, as you told me you had appointed?

Fal. I went to her, mafter Brook, as you fee, like a poor old man but I came from her, mafter Brook, like a poor old woman. That fame knave, Ford her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealoufy in him, mafter Brook, that ever govern'd frenzy. I will tell you. -He beat me grievously, in the fhape of a woman; for in the fhape of man, mafter Brook, I fear not Goliah with a weaver's beam; because I know alfo, life is a fhuttle. I am in hafte; go along with me, I'll tell you all, master Brook. Since I pluck'd geefe, play'd truant, and whipp'd top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, till lately. Follow me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave Ford; on whom to night I will be reveng'd, and I will deliver his wife into your hand.-Follow: Strange things in hand, mafter Brook! follow. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Windfor Park.

Enter Page, Shallow, and Slender.

Page. Come, come; we'll couch i' the castle-ditch, till we fee the light of our fairies.-Remember, fon Slender,

my daughter.

Slen. Ay, forfooth; I have spoke with her, and we have a 'nay-word how to know one another. I come to her in white, and cry, mum; fhe cries, budget; and by that we know one another.

Shal. That's good too; But what needs either your mum, or her budget? the white will decipher her well enough.It hath ftruck ten o'clock.

t

Page. The night is dark; light and fpirits will become it well. Heaven profper our sport! No man means evil but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns. Let's follow me.

away;

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

Enter Miftrefs Page, Miftrefs Ford, and Dr. Caius.

Mrs. Page. Malter doctor, my daughter is in green : when fee time, take her by the hand, away with your you

her to the deanery, and dispatch it quickly: Go before into the park; we two must go together.

Caius. I know vat I have to do; Adieu. [Exit. Mrs. Page. Fare you well, fir. My husband will not rejoice fo much at the abuse of Falstaff, as he will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter: but 'tis no matter; better a little chiding, than a great deal of heart-break.

Mrs. Ford. Where is Nan now, and her troop of fairies? and the Welch devil " Hugh.

Mrs. Page. They are all couch'd in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obfcur'd lights; which, at the very instant of Falstaff's and our meeting, they will at once display to the night.

W

Mrs. Ford. That cannot chufe but amaze him.
Mrs. Page. If he be not amaz'd, he will be mock'd;
No man-None-no being.
w be mock'd ;]-cheated, disappointed.

nay-word]-a watch ward. "Evans.

t