Will not lend thee a penny.

Fal. I Pist. Why then the world's mine oyfter,

which I with fword will open-I will retort the fum in Equipage.

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 elfe 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 miftrefs 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 no gibbet for you: go, a short knife and a throng, to your manour of Pickthatch; go, you'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue! you ftand upon your honour! why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as I can do to keep the term of mine honour precise. I, I, I myself sometimes, 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 enfconfe your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lettice phrafes, and your bold-bearing oaths, under the shelter of your honour! you will not do it, you!

Pift. I do relent; what wouldft thou more of me?

Enter

Enter Robin.

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

Quic.

G

Enter Mistress Quickly.

IVE 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.

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

Quic. Shall I vouchfafe your worship a word or two? Fal. Two thoufand, fair woman, and I'll vouchfafe thee the hearing.

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

Fal. Well, on: miftrefs Ford, you fay

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

Fal. I warrant thee, no body hears: mine own people, mine own people.

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

Fal. Well: miftrefs 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 praypray

Fal. Miftrefs Ford,

-come, miftrefs Ford

Quic. Marry, this is the fhort and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as 'tis wonderful: the beft courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windfor, 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, fmelling 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 beft, and the faircft, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eyewink of her. I had myfelf twenty angels given me this morning; but I defy all angels, in any fuch fort as they say, but in the way of honefty; and I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup with the proudeft 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, he hath receiv'd your letter, for the which fhe thanks you a thoufand times; and fhe gives you to notify, that her husband will be absence from his houfe between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. 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 her, I will not fail her.

Quic. Why, you fay well: But I have another mellenger to your worship; mistress Page has her hearty commendations to you too; and let me tell you in your ear, she's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one (I tell you) that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windfor, whoe'er be the other; and the 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.

Fai.

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 send 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 fhe does; do what fhe will, fay what fhe will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she list, rise when she lift, all is as fhe will; and, truly, she deserves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windfor, truly, fhe is one. You must send 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 fhould know any wickednefs: 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 purfe, 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: Clap on more fails; purfue; up with your fights, Give fire; fhe is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! Exit Piftol.

Fal. Say't 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

M 5

body,

body, I thank thee; let them fay, 'tis grofly done; fo it be fairly done, no matter.

Enter Bardolph.

Bard.

Swould speak with you, and be acquainted

IR John, there's one mafter Brook below

with you; and hath fent your worship a morning's draught of fack.

Fal. Brook, is his name?

Bard. Ay, Sir,

Fal. Call him in; [ Exit Bardolph] fuch Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erflow with fuch liquor. Ah! ah! mistress Ford and miftrefs Page, have I encompafs'd you? go to, via!

Re-enter Bardolph, with Ford difguis'd.

Ford. Blefs you, Sir.

Fal. And you, Sir; would you speak with me?
Ford. I make bold to prefs with fo little prepara-

tion 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 mafter Brook, I defire more acquaintance of you.

Ford. Good Sir 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 intrufion; for they fay, if money go before, all ways do lie open.

Fal. Money is a good foldier, Sir, and will on. Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here trou- · bles me; if you will help me to bear it, Sir John, take all, or half, for eafing me of the carriage.

Fal.