THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

9

V.

The emptying of the buck-basket "in the muddy ditch, close by the Thames' side."

ACT III. S. 3.

"FAL. Have I lived to be carried in a basket, like a barrow of butcher's offal; and to be thrown into the Thames?

The rogues slighted me into the river with as little remorse as they would have drowned a bitch's blind puppies, fifteen i' the litter."

ACT III. S. 5.

VI.

MASTER SLENDER courting ANNE PAGE.

"ANNE.

This is my father's choice.

O, what a world of vile, ill-favour'd faults

Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year! (Aside.) Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.

SHAL. Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz: I'll leave you. ANNE. Now, master Slender.

SLEN. Now, good mistress Anne.

ANNE. What is your will?

SLEN. My will?-ods heartlings, that's a pretty jest, indeed; I ne'er made my will yet, I thank Heaven.

ANNE. I mean, master Slender, what would you with me?

SLEN. Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing with you your father and my uncle have made motions: If it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his dole! (PAGE and MRS. PAGE meeting MASTER FENTON at the door.)

You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house;

I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.

FENT. Nay, master Page, be not impatient.

MRS. PAGE. Good master Fenton, come not to my

child."

ACT III. S. 4.