| [Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN] | |
| MISTRESS PAGE | Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels? |
| ROBIN | I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than follow him like a dwarf. |
| MISTRESS PAGE | O, you are a flattering boy: now I see you'll be a courtier. |
| [Enter FORD] | |
| FORD | Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you? |
| MISTRESS PAGE | Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home? |
| FORD | Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want of company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry. |
| MISTRESS PAGE | Be sure of that,--two other husbands. |
| FORD | Where had you this pretty weather-cock? |
| MISTRESS PAGE | I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of. What do you call your knight's name, sirrah? |
| ROBIN | Sir John Falstaff. |
| FORD | Sir John Falstaff! |
| MISTRESS PAGE | He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such a league between my good man and he! Is your wife at home indeed? |
| FORD | Indeed she is. |
| MISTRESS PAGE | By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her. |
| [Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN] | |
| FORD | Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, as easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion and advantage: and now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind. And Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots, they are laid; and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. |
| [Clock heard] | |
| The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me search: there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be rather praised for this than mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm that Falstaff is there: I will go. |
|
| [Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, Host, SIR HUGH EVANS, DOCTOR CAIUS, and RUGBY] |
|
| SHALLOW PAGE &C |
| | | Well met, Master Ford. | | |
| FORD | Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at home; and I pray you all go with me. |
| SHALLOW | I must excuse myself, Master Ford. |
| SLENDER | And so must I, sir: we have appointed to dine with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more money than I'll speak of. |
| SHALLOW | We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer. |
| SLENDER | I hope I have your good will, father Page. |
| PAGE | You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you: but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether. |
| DOCTOR CAIUS | Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush. |
| Host | What say you to young Master Fenton? he capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks holiday, he smells April and May: he will carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons; he will carry't. |
| PAGE | Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is of no having: he kept company with the wild prince and Poins; he is of too high a region; he knows too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him take her simply; the wealth I have waits on my consent, and my consent goes not that way. |
| FORD | I beseech you heartily, some of you go home with me to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport; I will show you a monster. Master doctor, you shall go; so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh. |
| SHALLOW | Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing at Master Page's. |
| [Exeunt SHALLOW, and SLENDER] | |
| DOCTOR CAIUS | Go home, John Rugby; I come anon. |
| [Exit RUGBY] | |
| Host | Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight Falstaff, and drink canary with him. |
| [Exit] | |
| FORD | [Aside] I think I shall drink in pipe wine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles? |
| All | Have with you to see this monster. |
| [Exeunt] |