Scœna Quarta.
[Act 1, Scene 4]
Enter Mistris Quickly,
Simple, Iohn Rugby, Doctor,
Caius, Fenton.
Qu.
What,
Iohn Rugby, I pray thee goe to the
Case
ment, and see if you can see my Master,
Master Docter
Caius
comming: if he doe (I'faith) and finde any body
in the house; here will be an old abusing of Gods
pati
[390]
ence, and the Kings English.
Ru.
Ile goe watch.
Qu.
Goe, and we'll haue a posset for't soone at night,
(in faith) at the latter end of a
Sea‑cole‑fire: An honest,
willing, kinde fellow, as euer seruant shall come in house
[395]
withall: and I warrant you, no tel‑tale, nor no
breede‑
bate: his worst fault is, that he is
giuen to prayer; hee is
something peeuish that way: but no
body but has his
fault: but let that passe.
Peter Simple, you say your
name is?
Si.
[400]
I: for fault of a better.
Qu.
And Master
Slender's your
Master?
Si.
I forsooth.
Qu.
Do's he not weare a great round Beard, like a
Glouers pairing‑knife?
Si.
[405]
No forsooth: he hath but a little weeߛface;
with a
little yellow Beard: a Caine colourd Beard.
Qu.
A softly‑sprighted man, is he not?
Si.
I forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands, as
any is
betweene this and his head: he hath fought with
[410]
a
Warrener.
Qu.
How say you: oh, I should remember him: do's
he not
hold vp his head (as it were?) and strut in his gate?
Si.
Yes indeede do's he.
Qu.
Well, heauen send
Anne Page, no worse
fortune:
[415]
Tell Master Parson
Euans, I will doe
what I can for your
Master:
Anne is a good girle, and I
wish—
Ru.
Out alas: here comes my Master.
Qu.
We shall all be shent: Run in here, good young
man: goe
into this Closset: he will not stay long: what
[420]
Iohn Rugby?
Iohn: what
Iohn I say? goe
Iohn, goe en
quire for my Master, I
doubt he be not well, that hee
comes not home: (
and downe, downe, adowne'a.
&c.
Ca.
Vat is you sing? I doe not like des‑toyes: pray
you
goe and vetch me in my Closset, vnboyteene verd;
[425]
a Box, a
greene‑a‑Box: do intend vat I speake? a
greene‑
a‑Box.
Qu.
I forsooth ile fetch it you:
I am glad hee went not in himselfe: if he had found the
yong man he would haue bin horne‑mad.
Ca.
Fe, fe, fe, fe, mai foy, il fait for ehando, Ie
man voi a le
[430]
Court la grand affaires.
Qu.
Is it this Sir?
Ca.
Ouy mette le au mon pocket, de‑peech
quickly:
Vere is dat knaue
Rugby?
Qu.
What
Iohn Rugby, Iohn?
Ru.
[435]
Here Sir.
Ca.
You are
Iohn Rugby, and you are
Iacke Rugby:
Come, take‑a‑your Rapier, and come after my heele
to
the Court.
Ru.
'Tis ready Sir, here in the Porch.
Ca.
By my trot: I tarry too long: od's‑me:
que ay ie
oublie
: dere is some Simples in my Closset, dat I vill not
for the varld I shall leaue behinde.
Qu.
Ay‑me, he'll finde the yong man there, & be
mad.
Ca.
O
Diable, Diable: vat is in my
Closset?
Villanie, La‑roone:
Rugby, my
Rapier.
Qu.
[445]
Good Master be content.
Ca.
Wherefore shall I be content‑a?
Qu.
The yong man is an honest man.
Ca.
What shall de honest man do in my Closset: dere
is no
honest man dat shall come in my Closset.
Qu.
[450]
I beseech you be not so flegmaticke: heare the
truth
of it. He came of an errand to mee, from Parson
Hugh.
Ca.
Vell.
Si.
I forsooth: to desire her to—
Qu.
[455]
Peace, I pray you.
Ca.
Peace‑a‑your tongue: speake‑a‑your
Tale.
Si.
To desire this honest Gentlewoman (your Maid)
to
speake a good word to Mistris
Anne
Page
, for my Ma
ster in the way of
Marriage.
Qu.
[460]
This is all indeed‑la: but ile nere put my finger
in the fire, and neede not.
Ca.
Sir
Hugh send‑a you?
Rugby, ballow
mee some
paper: tarry you a
littell‑a‑while.
Qui.
I am glad he is so quiet: if he had bin through
[465]
ly
moued, you should haue heard him so loud, and so
me
lancholly: but notwithstanding man, Ile
doe yoe your
Master what good I can: and the very
yea, & the no is, yͤ
French Doctor my
Master, (I may call him my Master,
looke you,
for I keepe his house; and I wash, ring, brew,
[470]
bake,
scowre, dresse meat and drinke, make the beds, and
doe all
my selfe.)
Simp.
'Tis a great charge to come vnder one bodies
hand.
Qui.
Are you a‑uis'd o'that? you shall finde it a
great
[475]
charge: and to be vp early, and down late: but
notwith
standing, (to tell you in your eare,
I wold haue no words
of it) my Master himselfe is in
loue with Mistris
Anne
Page
:
but notwithstanding that I know
Ans
mind, that's
neither heere nor there.
Caius.
[480]
You, Iack'Nape: giue‑'a this Letter to
Sir
Hugh, by gar it is a shallenge: I will cut
his troat in de
Parke, and I will teach a scuruy Iack‑a‑nape Priest to
meddle, or make: — you may be gon: it is not good
you
tarry here: by gar I will cut all his two stones: by
[485]
gar, he shall not haue a stone to throw at his
dogge.
Qui.
Alas: he speakes but for his friend.
Caius.
It is no matter 'a ver dat: do not you tell‑a‑me
dat I shall haue
Anne Page for my
selfe? by gar, I vill
kill de Iack‑Priest:
and I haue appointed mine Host of
[490]
de Iarteer to
measure our weapon: by gar, I wil my selfe
haue
Anne Page.
Qui.
Sir, the maid loues you, and all shall bee well:
We must giue folkes leaue to prate: what the
good‑ier.
Caius.
Rugby, come to the Court with me: by gar,
if
I haue not
Anne Page, I shall turne your
head out of my
dore: follow my heeles,
Rugby.
Qui.
[495]
You shall haue
An‑fooles head of
your owne:
No, I know
Ans mind for
that: neuer a woman in
Wind
sor
knowes more of
Ans minde then I doe, nor can doe
more then I doe
with her, I thanke heauen.
Fenton.
Who's with in there, hoa?
Qui.
[500]
Who's there, I troa? Come neere the house I
pray
you.
Fen.
How now (good woman) how dost thou?
Qui.
The better that it pleases your good Worship
to aske?
Fen.
What newes? how do's pretty Mistris
Anne?
Qui.
In truth Sir, and shee is pretty, and honest, and
[505]
gentle, and one that is your friend, I can tell you that
by
the way, I praise heauen for it.
Fen.
Shall I doe any good thinkst thou? shall I not
loose
my suit?
Qui.
Troth Sir, all is in his hands aboue: but
not
withstanding (Master
Fenton) Ile be
sworne on a booke
[510]
shee loues you: haue not your Worship a
wart aboue
your eye?
Fen.
Yes marry haue I, what of that?
Qui.
Wel, thereby hangs a tale: good faith, it is such
another
Nan; (but (I detest) an honest maid as euer
[515]
broke
bread: wee had an howres talke of that wart; I
shall neuer
laugh but in that maids company: but (in
deed) shee
is giuen too much to Allicholy and musing:
but for you—
well— goe too⸺
Fen.
Well: I shall see her to day: hold, there's mo
[520]
ney
for thee: Let mee haue thy voice in my behalfe: if
thou seest her before me, commend me.⸺
Qui.
Will I? I faith that wee will: And I will tell
your Worship
more of the Wart, the next time we haue
confidence,
and of other wooers.
Fen.
[525]
Well, fare‑well, I am in great haste now.
Qui.
Fare‑well to your Worship: truely an honest
Gentleman: but
Anne loues hiim not: for I
know
Ans
minde as well as another
do's: out vpon't: what haue I
forgot.
Exit.
