The Merry Wives of Windsor Part 16

_Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS, CAIUS, and RUGBY._

_Shal., Page, &c._ 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. 45

_Slen._ And so must I, 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 lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have 50 our answer.

_Slen._ I hope I have your good will, father Page.

_Page._ You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you:--but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.

_Caius._ Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my 55 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 carry't; 'tis in his b.u.t.tons; he will carry't. 60

_Page._ Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is of no having: he 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 65 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; 70 so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh.

_Shal._ Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing at Master Page's. [_Exeunt Shal. and Slen._

_Caius._ Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.

[_Exit Rugby._

_Host._ Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight 75 Falstaff, and drink canary with him. [_Exit._

_Ford._ [_Aside_] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?

_All._ Have with you to see this monster. [_Exeunt._

NOTES: III, 2

SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

11: _company_] _your company_ Collier MS.

19: Ford. _Sir John Falstaff!_] omitted in F3 F4 and Rowe.

20: _on's_] _on his_ Rowe.

25: SCENE V. Pope.

37: [Clock heard] Capell.

39: _search: there_] _search where_ Collier MS.

42: SCENE VI. Pope.

46-48: Printed as verse in Ff Q3 and Rowe.

47: _her_] _here_ F2.

59: _April_] _all April_ (Q1 Q2).

60: _b.u.t.tons_] _betmes_ (Q1 Q2). _destiny_ Anon. conj.

63: _Poins_] _Poyntz_ F1 Q3 F2. _Poinz_ F3 F4.

SCENE III. _A room in FORD'S house._

_Enter MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE._

_Mrs Ford._ What, John! What, Robert!

_Mrs Page._ Quickly, quickly!--is the buck-basket--

_Mrs Ford._ I warrant. What, Robin, I say!

_Enter _Servants_ with a basket._

_Mrs Page._ Come, come, come.

_Mrs Ford._ Here, set it down. 5

_Mrs Page._ Give your men the charge; we must be brief.

_Mrs Ford._ Marry, as I told 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: 10 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 ha' told them over and over; they lack 15 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, 20 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 threatened to put me into everlasting 25 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.

_Mrs Ford._ Do so. Go tell thy master I am alone. 30 [_Exit Robin._] Mistress Page, remember you your cue.

_Mrs Page._ I warrant thee; if I do not act it, hiss me.

[_Exit._