I celestial; 30. — Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places: your hearts are mighty, your skins are whole, and let. burnt sack be the issue. Come, lay their swords Follow me, lad of peace; follow,

to pawn: follow, follow.

Shal. Trust me, a mad host:

tlemen, follow.

Slen. O, sweet Anne Page!

[Exeunt SHALLOW, SLENDER, PAGE, and Host. Caius. Ha! do I perceive dat? have you makea de sot of us? ha, ha!

Eva. This is well; he has made us his vlouting stog. I desire you, that we may be friends; and let is knog our prains together, to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, cogging companion, the host of the Garter.

Caius. By gar, vit all my heart; he promise to bring me vere is Anne Page: by gar, he deceive

me too.

Eva. Well, I will smite his noddles: you follow.

Pray [Exeunt.

Mrs. Page. Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader: Whether had you rather, lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels?

Kob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man, than follow him like a dwarf.

Mrs. Page. O, you are a flattering boy; now, I see, you'll be à courtier.

Enter FORD.

Ford. Well met, Mistress Page: Whither go you?

Mrs. Page. Truly, Sir, to see your wife: Is she at home?

Ford. Ay; and as idle as she may hang toge ther, for want of company: I think, if your hus bands were dead, you two would marry.

Mrs. Page: Be sure of that, husbands.

two other

Ford. Where had you this pretty weather cock. Mrs. Page. I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of: What do you call, your knight's name, sirrah?

Rob. Sir John Falstaff.

Ford. Sir Jolin Falstaff!

Mrs. Page. He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such a league between my good man and he! Is your wife at home, indeed?

Ford. Indeed, she is.

Mrs. Page. By your leave, Sir; I am fick, 'till I see her.

[Exeunt Mrs. PAGE and ROBIN. Ford. Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any thinking? Sure they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot point blank twelve score. He pieces out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion, and advantage and now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind! ---- and Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots! they are laid; and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I will take him, then torture my wife,

pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Actacon; and to these violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. [Clock strikes.] The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me search; there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be rather praised for this, than mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm, that Falstaff is there: I will go.

Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, Host, Sir HUGH EVANS, CAIUS and RUGEY.

Shal. Page, etc. Well met, Master Ford. Ford. Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at home; and, I pray you, all go with me. Shal. I must excuse myself, Master Ford.

Slen. And so must 1, Sir; we have appointed to dine with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more money, than I'll speak of.

Shal. We have linger'd about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.

Slen. I hope, I have your good will, father Page.

Page. You have, Master Slender; I stand whol ly for you: but my wife, Master Doctor, is for you altogether.

Caius. Ay, by gar; and de maid is love-a me; my nursh a Quickly tell me so mush.

Host, What say you to young Master Fenton ? he capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks holiday, he smells April and May he will carry't, he will caray't;, 'tis in, his buttons; he will carry't f

Page. Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is of no having: be kept company with the wild prince and Poins; he is of too high a region, he knows too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance; if he take her, let him take her simply; the wealth I have waits on my consent, and my consent goes not that way.

Ford. I beseech you, heartily, some of you go home with me to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport; I will show you a monster. Master Doctor, you shall go; so shall you,

Master Page.;~ and you, Sir Hugh.
Shal. Well, fare you well:

the freer wooing at Master Page's.

we shall have

[Exeunt SHALLOW and SLENDER. Caius. Go home, John Rugby; I come anen.

(Exit RUGBY. Host. Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight Falstaff, and drink canary with him.

[Exit HOST. Ford. [Aside.] I think, I shall drink in pipewine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?

All. Have with you, to see this monster.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 111.

A Room in Ford's House.

Enter Mrs. FORD and Mrs. Page.

Mrs. Ford. What, John! what, Robert! Mrs. Page. Quickly, quickly: Is the `buck basket

Mrs Ford. I warrant: What, Robin, I say.

Enter

Enter Servants with a Basket.

Mrs. Page. Come, come, come.
Mrs. Ford. Here, set it down.

Mrs. Page. Give your men the charge; must be brief.

We

Mrs. Ford. Marry, as I fold you before, John, and Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew. house; and when I suddenly call you, come forth, and (without any pause, or staggering,) take this basket on your shoulders: that done,

trudge with it in all haste`, and carry it among the whitsters in Datchet mead, and there empty.it in the muddy ditch, close by the Thames' side.

Mrs. Page. You will do it?

Mrs. Ford. I have told them over and over; they lack no direction: Be gone, and come when you are called. [Exeunt Servants. Mrs. Page. Here comes little Robin.

Enter ROBIN.

Mrs. Ford. How now, my eyas - musket? what news with you?

Rob. My master Sir John is come in at your back door, Mistress Ford; and requests your

company.

Mrs. Page. You little Jack-a-lent, have you been true to us?

Rob. Ay, I'll be sworn: My master knows not of your being here; and hath threaten'd to put me into everlasting liberty, if I tell you of it; for, he swears, he'll turn me away.

Mrs. Page. Thou'rt a good boy; this secrecy of thine shall be a tailor to. thee, and shall make thee a new doublet and hose. I'll go hide me.

VOL. I.

15