Quic. I beseech you, be not so flegmatic; hear the truth of it. He came of an errand to me from

parson Hugh.

Caius. Vell.

·Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her toQuic. Peace, I pray you.

500

Caius. Peace-a your tongue :-Speak-a your tale. Sim. 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 never put my finger in the fire, and need not.

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

510

Quic. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been tho roughly moved, you should have heard him so loud, and so melancholy;-But notwithstanding, man, I'll do for 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.

520

Quic. Are you avis'd o' that? you shall find it a great charge: And to be up early, and down laté ;— 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,

that,

-I know Anne's mind, that's neither here

nor there.

535

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 will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit SIMPLE. Quic. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. Caius. It is no matter-a for dat do you not tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself?by gar, I vill kill de jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our weapon:—by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page. 540 Quic. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well: we must give folks leave to prate: What, the goujere!

:-

Caius. Rugby, come to the court vit me ;-By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of door :- -Follow my heels, Rugby. [Ex. CAIUS and RUGBY. Quic. 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.

551

Fent. [Within.] Who's within there, ho?
Quic. Who's there, I trow? come near the house,

I

pray you.

Ciij

Enter

Enter Mr. FENTON.

Fent. 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 gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way, I praise heaven for it.

561 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 about your eye?

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that? 568 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 allicolly 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 ay, 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, farewel; I am in great haste now.

580

[Exit.

Quic. Farewel to your worship.-Truly, an honest gentleman; but Anne loves him not; I know Anne's mind as well as another does :-Out upon't! what have I forgot? [Exit.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Before PAGE's House.

Enter Mistress PAGE with a Letter.

Mrs. Page.

WHAT, have I 'scap'd love-letters in the holy-daytime of my beauty, and am I now a subject for them? Let me see:

Ask me no reason why I love you; for though love use · reason for his precision, 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,

12

John Falstaff..

What a Herod of Jewry is this?-O wicked, wicked world!-one that is well nigh worn to pieces with. age, to shew himself a young gallant! What an unweigh'd behaviour has this Flemish drunkard pick'd (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 reveng'd on him? for reveng'd I will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.

Enter Mistress FORD.

29

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 shew to the contrary.

Mrs. Page. 'Faith, but you do, in my mind.

Mrs. Ford. Well, I do then; yet, I say, I could shew you to the contrary: O, mistress Page, give me some counsel !

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

40

Mrs. Ford. O woman, if it were not for one trifling respect, I could come to such honour

Mrs. Page. Hang the trifle, woman; take the honour: What is it?-dispense with trifles;-what is it?

Mrs.