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.

SCENE

Enter Miftrefs Quickly.

Now, whence come you?

Quic. From the two parties, forfooth.

X.

Fal. The devil take one party, and his dam the other, and so they fhall 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; mistress Ford, good heart, is beaten black and blue, that you cannot fee a white fpot about her.

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

Quic. Sir, let me speak with you in your chamber; you shall hear how things go, and, I warrant, to your

content,

content. Here is a letter will fay fomewhat. Good hearts, what ado is here to bring you together? fure, one of you does not serve heav'n well, that you are fo crofs'd.

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

I will give over all.

Fen. 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.

Fen. From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page;
Who, mutually, hath anfwer'd my affection,
(So far forth as herself 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,
Muft my fweet Nan present the Fairy Queen;
The purpose why, is here; in which disguise,
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.

Sir,

Her mother, ever strong against that match,

Now,

And

And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he fhall likewise 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, likewise hath

Made promise to the Doctor.Now, thus it refts;
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, the fhall be loose enrob'd,
With ribbands-pendent, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the Doctor fpies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and on that token,
The maid hath given confent to go with him.
Hoft. Which means the to deceive? father or mo
ther?

Fen. Both, my good Hoft, to go along with me;
And here it refts, 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. Fen. So fhall I evermore be bound to thee; Befide, I'll make a prefent recompence.

[Exeunt.

Re-enter Falstaff and Miftrefs Quickly.

Fal. Pr'ythee, no more pratling; go, I'll hold. This is the third time; I hope, good luck lyes in odd VOL. I.

Ꮓ

numbers;

numbers; away, go; they fay, 4 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 midnight, at Herne's Oak, and you shall see

wonders.

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

Fal. I went to her, mafter 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 also, life is a shuttle; 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 ftrange 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.

4 There is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death;] i. . being born in an odd year, having an odd number in a lottery, and the climacteric years of 7 and 63.

ACT

A C T V. SCENE I.

CO

Windfor Park.

Enter Page, Shallow, and Slender.

PAGE.

OME, come; we'll couch i'th' castle-ditch, 'till
welee the light of our fairies.
we fee the light of our fairies.

Slender, my daughter.

Remember, fon

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 o'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, Miftrefs 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.

1

[Exit.

Caius. I know vat I have to do; adieu. Mrs. Page. Fare you well, Sir. My husband will not rejoice fo much at the abuse of Falstaff, as he will chafe at the Doctor's marrying my daughter; but 'tis

1 No MAN means evil but the devil.] This is a double blunder; for fome, of whom this was fpoke, were women. We should read then, no ONE means.