came beyond Eaton, they threw me off from behind one of them in a flough of mire, and fet fpurs, and away; like three German devils, three Doctor Fauftus's.

Hoft. They are gone but to meet the Duke; villain, do not say they be fled; Germans are honest men.

Enter Evans.

Eva. Where is mine hoft?

Hoft. What is the matter, Sir?

Eva. Have a care of your entertainments; there is a friend of mine come to town tells me there is three cozenjermans that has cozen'd all the hofts of Reading, of Maidenbead, of Colebrook, of horfes and money. I tell you for good will, look you; you are wife, and full of gibes and vlouting-stocks, and 'tis not convenient you should be cozened; fare you well. [Exit.

Enter Caius.

Caius. Ver is mine hoft de Jartere?

Hoft. Here, mafter Doctor, in perplexity and doubtful dilemma.

Caius. I cannot tell vat is dat ; but it is tell-a me, dat you make a grand preparation for a Duke de Jamany; by my trot, dere is no Duke, dat de court is know, to come: I tell you for good will; adieu.

[Exit.

Hoft. Hue and cry, villain, go; affift me, Knight, I am undone; fly, run, hue and cry! villain, I am undone.

[Exit.

Fal. I would all the world might be cozen'd, for I have been cozened and beaten too. If it should come to the ear of the court how I have been transformed, and how my transformation hath been wash'd and cudgel'd, they would melt me out of my fat, drop by drop, and liquor fishermens boots with me. I warrant they would whip me with their fine wits, 'till I were as creft-faln as a dry'd pear. I never profper'd fince I forfwore myself at Primero. Well, if my wind were but long enough to fay my prayers, I would repent. Now, whence come you? SCENE

SCENE X.

Enter Mistress Quickly.

Quic. From the two parties, forfooth.

Fal. The devil take one party, and his dam the other, and fo they shall be both bestow'd. I have fuffer'd more for their fakes, more than the villainous inconftancy of man's difpofition is able to bear.

Quic. And have not they fuffer'd? yes, I warrant, fpeciously one of them; miftrefs Ford, good heart, is beaten black and blue, that you cannot fee a white spot about her.

Fal. What tell'ft thou me of black and blue? I was beaten my self into all the colours of the rain-bow; and I was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brainford; but that my admirable dexterity of wit, counterfeiting the action of 'a wode woman, deliver'd me, the knave conftable had fet me i' th' ftocks, i' th' common stocks, for a witch.

Quic. Sir, let me fpeak with you in your chamber, you fhall hear how things go, and, I warrant, to your content. Here is a letter will fay fomewhat. Good hearts, what ado is here to bring you together! fure one of you does not ferve heav'n well, that you are fo cross'd. Fal. Come up into my

chamber.

[Exeunt.

Hoft. Mafter Fenton, talk not to me, my mind is heavy,

I will give over all.

Fent. Yet hear me fpeak; affift me in my purpose, And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee

A hundred pound in gold more than your lofs.

Hoft. I will hear you, mafter Fenton; and I will, at

the least, keep your counsel.

Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you

With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page,

9 an old ... old edit. Theob, emend.

Who,

Who, mutually, hath anfwer'd my affection,
(So far forth as her felf might be her chufer)
Ev'n to my wish. I have a letter from her
Of fuch contents, as you will wonder at ;
The mirth whereof's fo larded with my matter,
That neither fingly can be manifefted,

Without the fhew of both. Fat Sir John Falstaff
Hath a great scene; the image of the jest

I'll fhew you here at large. Hark, good mine hoft;
To-night at Herne's oak, juft 'twixt twelve and one,
Must my
fweet Nan present the fairy Queen;

The purpose why, is here; in which difguife,
While other jefts are fomething rank on foot,
Her father hath commanded her to flip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eaton

Immediately to marry; fhe hath confented. --- Now, Sir,
Her mother, ever strong against that match,
And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he fhall likewife fhuffle her away,
While other sports are tasking of their minds,
And at the Deanry, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her; To this her mother's plot
She, feemingly obedient, likewife hath

Made promise to the Doctor. --- Now, thus it rests;
Her father means fhe fhall be all in white,

And in that drefs when Slender fees his time

To take her by the hand, and bid her

go,

She fhall go with him. --- Her mother hath intended,
The better to devote her to the Doctor,

(For they must all be mask'd and vizarded)
That, quaint in green, fhe fhall be loose enrob'd,
With ribbands-pendant, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the Doctor fpies his vantage ripe
To pinch her by the hand, 'upon that token`
The maid hath giv'n confent to go with him.
Hoft. Which means fhe to deceive? father or mother?
Fent. Both, my good hoft, to go along with me;

I and on that token

And

And here it rests, that you'll procure the vicar
To stay for me at church, 'twixt twelve and one,
And in the lawful name of marrying,

To give our hearts united ceremony.

Hoft. Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar. Bring you the maid, you fhall not lack a priest. Fent. So fhall I evermore be bound to thee; Befide, I'll make a prefent recompence.

SCEN NE XII.

Re-enter Falstaff and Miftrefs Quickly.

[Exeunt.

Fal. Pr'ythee, no more pratling; go, I'll hold. This is the third time; I hope good luck lyes in odd numbers; away, go; they say there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death; away.

Quic. I'll provide you a chain, and I'll do what I can to get you a pair of horns. [Exit Mrs. Quickly. Fal. Away, I fay, time wears: hold up your head and

mince.

Enter Ford.

How now, mafter Brook? mafter Brook, the matter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the park about mid-night at Herne's oak, and you shall fee wonders.

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday, Sir, as you told me you had appointed?

Fal. I went to her, master Brook, as you fee, like a poor old man; but I came from her, mafter Brook, like a poor old woman. That fame knave, Ford her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealoufie in him, mafter Brook, that ever govern'd frenzy. I will tell you, he beat me grievously in the shape of a woman, for in the fhape of a man, mafter Brook, I fear not Goliah with a weaver's beam; because I know alfo life is a fhuttle; I am in hafte; go along with me, I'll tell you all, mafter Brook. Since I pluckt geefe, play'd truant, and whipt top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, 'till lately. Follow me, I'll tell

you

you strange things of this knave Ford, on whom to-night I will be reveng'd, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow; ftrange things in hand, mafter Brook follow. [Exeunt.

A CT V. SCENE I.

COM

Windfor-Park.

Enter Page, Shallow and Slender.

PAGE.

COME, come; we'll couch i' th' caftle-ditch, 'till we fee the light of our fairies. Remember, fon Slender, my daughter.

Slen. Ay forfooth, I have spoke with her, and we have a nay-word how to know one another. I come to her in white and cry mum, fhe cries budget, and by that we know one another.

Shal. That's good too; but what needs either your mum, or her budget? the white will decipher her well enough. It hath ftruck ten a-clock.

Page. The night is dark, light and fpirits will become it well; heav'n profper our fport! No one means evil but the devil, and we fhall know him by his horns. Let's away; follow me. [Exeunt.

Enter Miftrefs Page, Mistress Ford and Caius:

Mrs. Page. Mr. Doctor, my daughter is in green, when you fee your time, take her by the hand, away with her to the Deanry, and dispatch it quickly; go before into the park; we two must go together.

Caius.