The Merry Wives of Windsor Part 41

_Exit omnes._

_Enter Mistresse Ford, with two of her men, and a great buck busket._ [SC. X.]

_Mis. For._ Sirrha, if your M. aske you whither You carry this basket, say to the Launderers, I hope you know how to bestow it?

_Ser._ I warrant you misteris. _Exit seruant._

_Mis. For._ Go get you in. Well sir _Iohn_, 5 I beleeue I shall serue you such a trick, You shall haue little mind to come againe.

_Enter Sir Iohn._

_Fal._ Haue I caught my heauenlie Iewel?

Why now let me die. _I_ haue liued long inough.

This is the happie houre _I_ haue desired to see, 10 Now shall I sin in my wish, I would thy husband were dead.

_Mis. For._ Why how then sir _Iohn?_

_Fal._ By the Lord, Ide make thee my Ladie.

_Mis. For._ Alas sir _Iohn_, _I_ should be a verie simple Ladie. 15

_Fal._ Goe too, I see how thy eie doth emulate the Diamond.

And how the arched bent of thy brow Would become the s.h.i.+p tire, the tire vellet, Or anie Venetian attire, I see it.

_Mis. For._ A plaine kercher sir _Iohn_, would fit me better. 20

_Fal._ By the Lord thou art a traitor to saie so: What made me loue thee? Let that perswade thee Ther's somewhat extraordinarie in thee: Goe too _I_ loue thee: Mistris _Ford_, _I_ cannot cog, _I_ cannot prate, like one Of these fellowes that smels like Bucklers-berie, 25 In simple time, but _I_ loue thee, And none but thee.

_Mis. For._ Sir _Iohn_, I am afraid you loue misteris _Page_.

_Fal._ I thou mightest as well saie I loue to walke by the Counter gate, 30 Which is as hatefull to me As the reake of a lime kill.

_Enter Mistresse Page._

_Mis. Pa._ Mistresse Ford, Mis. _Ford_, where are you?

_Mis. For._ O Lord step aside good sir _Iohn_.

_Falstaffe stands behind the aras._ How now Misteris _Page_, what's the matter? 35

_Mis. Pa._ Why your husband woman is comming, With halfe _Windsor_ at his heeles, To looke for a gentleman, that he ses Is hid in his house: his wifes sweet hart.

_Mis. For._ Speak louder. But _I_ hope tis not true Misteris _Page_. 40

_Mis. Pa._ Tis too true woman. Therefore if you Haue any here, away with him, or your vndone for euer.

_Mis. For._ Alas mistresse _Page_, what shall _I_ do?

Here is a gentleman my friend, how shall I do?

_Mis. Pa._ G.o.de body woman, do not stand what shal I do, and 45 what shall _I_ do. Better any s.h.i.+ft, rather then you shamed. Looke heere, here's a buck-basket, if hee be a man of any reasonable sise, heele in here.

_Mis. For._ Alas I feare he is too big.

_Fal._ Let me see, let me see, Ile in, Ile in, 50 Follow your friends counsell.

_Mis. Pa._ Fie sir _Iohn_, is this your loue? Go too. (_Aside._

_Fal._ I loue thee, and none but thee: Helpe me to conuey me hence, Ile neuer come here more. 55

_Sir Iohn goes into the basket, they put cloathes ouer him, the two men carries it away: Foord meetes it, and all the rest, Page, Doctor, Priest, Slender, Shallow._

_Ford._ Come pray along, you shall see all.

How now who goes heare? whither goes this?

Whither goes it? set it downe.

_Mis. For._ Now let it go, you had best meddle with buck-was.h.i.+ng. 60

_Ford._ Buck, good buck, pray come along, Master _Page_ take my keyes: helpe to search. Good Sir _Hugh_ pray come along, helpe a little, a little, He shew you all.

_Sir Hu._ By Ieshu these are iealosies and distemperes. 65

_Exit omnes._

_Mis. Pa._ He is in a pittifull taking.

_Mis._ I wonder what he thought When my husband bad them set downe the basket.

_Mis. Pa._ Hang him dishonest slaue, we cannot vse Him bad inough. This is excellent for your Husbands iealousie.

_Mi. For._ Alas poore soule it grieues me at the hart, But this will be a meanes to make him cease His iealous fits, if _Falstaffes_ love increase.

_Mis. Pa._ Nay we wil send to _Falstaffe_ once again, 75 Tis great pittie we should leaue him: What wiues may be merry, and yet honest too.

_Mi. For._ Shall we be condemnd because we laugh?

Tis old, but true: still sowes eate all the draffe.

_Enter all._

_Mis. Pa._ Here comes your husband, stand aside. 80

_For._ _I_ can find no body within, it may be he lied.

_Mis. Pa._ Did you heare that?

_Mis. For._ I, I, peace.

_For._ Well, Ile not let it go so, yet Ile trie further.