firmly on his wife's fealty, yet I cannot put off my opinion fo eafily. She was in his company at Page's house; and what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look further into't; and I have a difguife to found Falstaff: if I find her honeft, I lofe not my labour; if fhe be otherwife, 'tis labour well beftow'd. [Exit.

Fal.

I

Will not lend thee a penny.

Pift. Why then the world's mine oyster, which I with fword will open. I will retort the fum in Equipage.

8

Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, Sir, you fhould lay my countenance to pawn; I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you, and your couch-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 Mrs. Bridget loft the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadft it not.

Pift. Didft thou not fhare? hadft thou not fifteen pence?

Fal. Reason, you rogue, reafon: think'st thou, I'll endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you..-Go.--A9 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 term of my honour precife. I, I, I myself fometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceffity, am fain to fhuffle, to hedge and to lurch; and yet you rogue will enfconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red lettice phrafes, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour! You will not do it, you!

2

Pit. I do relent: what wouldft thou more of man?

Enter Robin.

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

SCENE VIII.

Enter Mrs. Quickly.

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

Quic. Not fo, and't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

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

9 a fhort knife and a throng,] So Lear, When Cutpurfes come not to throngs. WARBURTON.

A noted place for thieves and pickpockets. THEOBALD. 2 Red lettice phrafes.] Your ale-house converfation.

3 your bold BEATING oaths;]

We should read bold-BEARING oaths, i. e. out-facing.

WARBURTON.

A beating cath, is, I think, right, fo we now fay, in low language, a thwacking or swinging thing.

Fal.

Fal. I do believe the fwearer; what with me? Quic. Shall I vouchfafe your worship a word or two?

Fal. Two thousand, fair woman, and I'll vouchfafe thee the hearing.

Quic. There is one miftrefs Ford, Sir-I pray, come a little nearer this ways-I myself dwell with Mr.Doctor Caius.

Fal. Well, on: miftrefs Ford, you say

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

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

Quic. Are they fo? heav'n blefs them, and make them his fervants!

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

Quic. Why, Sir, fhe's a good creature, Lord, lord, your worship's a wanton: well, heav'n forgive you, and all of us, I pray

Fal. Miftrefs Ford,- -come, mistress Ford,

Quic. Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, 4 as 'tis wonderful. The beft courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windsor, could never have brought her to fuch 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, finelling fo fweetly; all mufk; and fo rufling, I warrant you, in filk and gold, and in fuch alligant terms, and in fuch wine and fugar of the best, 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 defie all angels in any fuch fort as they say, but in the

4 Canary. This is the name of a brifk light dance, and is therefore properly enough ufed

in low language for any hurry or perturbation.

Ii 3

way

way of honefty.And I warrant you, they could never get her so much as fip on a cup with the proudest of them all. And yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, penfioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with

her.

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

Quic. Marry, fhe 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 house between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, fhe fays, that you wot of-master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the sweet woman leads an ill life with him, he's a very jealousy man; fhe leads a very 5 frampold life with him, good heart.

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

;

Quic. Why, you fay well. But I have another mesfenger to your worship; miftrefs Page has her hearty commendations to your 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 bad me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home, but, fhe hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman fo doat 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. Quic. Bleffing on your heart for't!

Fal. But I pray thee, tell me this; has Ford's wife,

and Page's wife, acquainted each other how they love

me?

Quic. That were a jeft, indeed; they have not fo little grace, I hope; that were a trick, indeed! but mistress 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 honest man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life, than fhe does; do what fhe will, fay what fhe will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she lift, rife when she list, all is as fhe will; and truly she deferves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windfor, truly, fhe is one. You must fend her your page; no remedy.

Fal. Why, I will.

Quic. Nay, but do fo then; and look you, he may come and go between you both, and in any cafe 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 should know any wicked- · nefs: old folks, you know, have difcretion, 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 pink is one of Cupid's carriers:

6

Clap