Which I with fword will open.~ I will retort the fum in equipage. Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, fir, you should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow, Nym; or else you had look'd through the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am damn'd in hell, for fwearing to gentlemen my friends, you were good foldiers and tall fellows: and when mistress Bridget loft the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour thou hadst it

not.

Pift. Didft thou not share? hadft thou not fifteen pence? Fal. Reason, you rogue, reafon: Think'ft thou, I'll endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me; I am ne gibbet for you:-go.-A fhort knife and a throng;-to your manor of Pickt-hatch, go.-You'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue!-you stand upon your honour! Why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as I can do, to keep the terms of my honour precife. I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceflity, am fain to fhuffle, to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will enfconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice phrafes, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you? Pift. I do relent: What would'st thou more of man?

Enter ROBIN.

Rob. Sir, here's a woman would fpeak with you.
Fal. Let her approach.

Enter Mrs. QUICKLY.

Quick. Give your worship good-morrow.
Fal. Good-morrow, good wife.

Quick. Not fo, an't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

Quick. I'll be fworn; as my mother was, the first hour I was born.

Fal. I do believe the fwearer: What with me?

Quick. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Fal. Two thousand, fair woman; and I'll vouchsafe thee the hearing.

Quick. There is one mistress Ford, fir;-I pray, come a little nearer this ways:-I myself dwell with master doctor Caius.

Fal. Well, on: Miftrefs Ford, you fay

Quick. Your worship says very true: I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways.

Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears ;-mine own people, mine own people.

Quick. Are they fo? Heaven bless them, and make them his fervants!

Fal. Well: mistress Ford;-what of her?

Quick. Why, fir, fhe's a good creature. Lord, lord! your worship's a wanton: Well, heaven forgive you, and all of us, I pray!

Fal. Miftrefs Ford;-come, miftrefs Ford,

Quick. Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windfor, could never have brought her to such a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; fmelling fo fweetly (all musk) and fo rufhling, I warrant you, in filk and gold; and in fuch alligant terms; and in fuch wine and fugar of the beft, and the faireft, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye

wink of her.—I had myself twenty angels given me this morning: but I defy all angels (in any such fort, as they fay) but in the way of honesty:—and, I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup with the proudest of them all: and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pensioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

Fal. But what fays fhe to me? be brief, my good fhe Mercury.

Quick. Marry, the hath receiv'd your letter; for the which the thanks you a thousand times: and the gives you to notify, that her husband will be abfence from his houfe between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven?

Quick. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, she says, that you wot of;-master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the fweet woman leads an ill life with him; he's a very jealoufy man; fhe leads a very frampold life with him, good heart.

Fal. Ten and eleven: Woman, commend me to hers I will not fail her.

Quick. Why you fay well: But I have another messenger to your worship: Mistress Page hath her hearty commendations to you too;--and let me tell you in your ear, fhe's as fartuous a civil modeft wife, and one (I tell you) that will not mifs you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windfor, whoe'er be the other: and fhe bade me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home; but, the hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman fo dote upon a man: furely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth.

Fal. Not I, I affure thee; fetting the attraction of my good parts afide, I have no other charms.

Quick. Blefling on your heart for't!

-Fal

Fal. But, I pray thee, tell me this: has Ford's wife, and Page's wife, acquainted each other how they love me? Quick. That were a jeft, indeed!-they have not fo little grace, I hope :-that were a trick, indeed! But miftrefs Page would defire you to fend her your little page, of all loves; her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page: and, truly, mafter Page is an honeft man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life than she does; do what she will, fay what the will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she lift, rife when the lift, all is as the will; and, truly, the deserves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windsor, she is one. You must fend her your page;

no remedy.

Fal. Why, I will.

Quick. Nay, but do fo then: and, look you, he may come and go between you both; and, in any case, have a nay-word, that you may know one another's mind, and the boy never need to understand any thing: for 'tis not good that children fhould know any wickedness: old folks, you know, have discretion, as they fay, and know the world.

Fal. Fare thee well: commend me to them both: there's my purse; I am yet thy debtor.-Boy, go along with this woman.-This news diftracts me!

[Exeunt QUICKLY and ROBIN.

Pift. This punk is one of Cupid's carriers :Clap on more fails; purfue, up with your fights; Give fire; the is my prize, or ocean whelm them allt [Exit PISTOL

Eal. Say ft thou fo, old Jack? go thy ways; I'll make more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet Look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expence of fo much money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank thee: let them fay, 'tis grofsly done: fo it be fairly done, no

matter.

Enter

Enter BARDOLPH.

Bar. Sir John, there's one mafter Brook below would fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath fent your worship a morning's draught of sack.

Fal. Brook, is his name?

Bard. Ay, fir.

Fal. Call him in. [Exit BARDOLPH.] Such Brooksare welcome to me, that o'erflow fuch liquor.. Ah! ha! miftrefs Ford and mistress Page, have I encompass'd you?. go to! via!

Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised.

Ford. Blefs you, fir.

Fal. And you fir: Would you speak with me?

Ford. I make bold, to press with so little preparation

upon you.

Fal. You're welcome. What's your will? Give us leave, drawer. [Exit BARDOLPH. Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook.

Fal. Good master Brook, I defire more acquaintance of you.

Ford. Good fir John, I fue for yours: not to charge you; for I must let you understand,. I think myself in better plight for a lender than you are: the which hath fomething embolden'd me to this unfeafon'd intru fion; for they say, if money go before, all ways do lie open.

Fal. Money is a good foldier, fir, and will on.

Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles me: if you will help me to bear it, fir John, take all, or half, for eafing me of the carriage.

Fal. Sir, I know not how I may deserve to be your porteri

Ford.