The Bodleian First Folio

Reference: E4r - Comedies, p. 55

Left Column

The Merry Wiues of Windsor. nest cloathes you send forth to bleaching. Page. Why, this passes M. Ford: you are not to goe loose any longer, you must be pinnion'd. Euans.

[1840]

Why, this is Lunaticks: this is madde, as a mad dogge. Shall. Indeed M. Ford, this is not well indeed. Ford.

So say I too Sir, come hither Mistris Ford, Mi

stris Ford, the honest woman, the modest wife, the vertu

ous creature, that hath the iealious foole to her husband:

[1845]

I suspect without cause (Mistris) do I?

Mist.Ford.

Heauen be my witnesse you doe, if you

suspect me in any dishonesty.

Ford.

Well said Brazon‑face, hold it out: Come forth

sirrah.

Page.

[1850]

This passes. Mist.Ford. Are you not asham'd, let the cloths alone. Ford. I shall finde you anon. Eua. 'Tis vnreasonable; will you take vp your wiues cloathes? Come, away. Ford. Empty the basket I say. M.Ford.

[1855]

Why man, why? Ford.

Master Page, as I am a man, there was one con

uay'd out of my house yesterday in this basket: why

may not he be there againe, in my house I am sure he is:

my Intelligence is true, my iealousie is reasonable, pluck

[1860]

me out all the linnen.

Mist.Ford. If you find a man there, he shall dye a Fleas death. Page. Heer's no man. Shal. By my fidelity this is not well M r. Ford: This wrongs you. Euans. M r Ford, you must pray, and not follow the imaginations of your owne heart: this is iealousies. Ford.

[1865]

Well, hee's not heere I seeke for. Page. No, nor no where else but in your braine. Ford.

Helpe to search my house this one time: if I find

not what I seeke, shew no colour for my extremity: Let

me for euer be your Tableߛsport: Let them say of me, as

[1870]

iealous as Ford, that search'd a hollow Wall‑nut for his

wiues Lemman. Satisfie me once more, once more serch

with me.

M.Ford.

What hoa (Mistris Page,) come you and

the old woman downe: my husband will come into the

[1875]

Chamber.

Ford. Old woman? what old womans that? M.Ford. Why it is my maids Aunt of Brainford. Ford.

A witch, a Queane, an olde couzening queane:

Haue I not forbid her my house. She comes of errands

[1880]

do's she? We are simple men, wee doe not know what's

brought to passe vnder the profession of Fortune‑telling.

She workes by Charmes, by Spels, by th'Figure, & such

dawbry as this is, beyond our Element: wee know no

thing. Come downe you Witch, you Hagge you, come

[1885]

downe I say.

Mist.Ford. Nay, good sweet husband, good Gentle men, let him strike the old woman. Mist.Page. Come mother Prat, Come giue me your hand. Ford.

Ile Prat‑her: Out of my doore, you Witch,

you Ragge, you Baggage, you Poulcat, you Runnion,

[1890]

out, out: Ile coniure you, Ile fortune‑tell you.

Mist.Page. Are you not asham'd? I thinke you haue kill'd the poore woman. Mist.Ford. Nay he will do it, 'tis a goodly credite for you. Ford. Hang her witch.

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Eua.

[1895]

By yea, and no, I thinke the o'man is a witch in

deede: I like not when a o'man has a great peard; I spie

a great peard vnder his muffler.

Ford.

Will you follow Gentlemen, I beseech you fol

low: see but the issue of my iealousie: If I cry out thus

[1900]

vpon no traile, neuer trust me when I open againe.

Page. Let's obey his humour a little further: Come Gentlemen. Mist.Page. Trust me he beate him most pittifully. Mist.Ford. Nay by th'Masse that he did not: he beate him most vnpittifully, me thought. Mist.Page.

[1905]

Ile haue the cudgell hallow'd, and hung ore the Altar, it hath done meritorious seruice. Mist.Ford.

What thinke you? May we with the war

rant of woman‑hood, and the witnesse of a good consci

ence, pursue him with any further reuenge?

M.Page.

The spirit of wantonnesse is sure scar'd out

[1910]

of him, if the diuell haue him not in fee‑simple, with

fine and recouery, he will neuer (I thinke) in the way of

waste, attempt vs againe.

Mist.Ford.

Shall we tell our husbands how wee haue

seru'd him?

Mist.Page.

[1915]

Yes, by all meanes: if it be but to scrape

the figures out of your husbands braines: if they can find

in their hearts, the poore vnuertuous fat Knight shall be

any further afflicted, wee two will still bee the mini

sters.

Mist.Ford.

[1920]

Ile warrant, they'l haue him publiquely

sham'd, and me thinkes there would be no period to the

iest, should he not be publikely sham'd.

Mist.Page. Come, to the Forge with it, then shape it: I would not haue things coole. Exeunt

Scena Tertia. [Act 4, Scene 3] Enter Host and Bardolfe. Bar.

Sir, the Germane desires to haue three of your

[1925]

horses: the Duke himselfe will be to morrow at Court,

and they are going to meet him.

Host.

What Duke should that be comes so secretly?

I heare not of him in the Court: let mee speake with the

Gentlemen, they speake English?

Bar.

[1930]

I Sir? Ile call him to you. Host.

They shall haue my horses, but Ile make them

pay: Ile sauce them, they haue had my houses a week at

commaund: I haue turn'd away my other guests, they

must come off, Ile sawce them, come.

Exeunt

Scena Quarta. [Act 3, Scene 4] Enter Page, Ford, Mistris Page, Mistris Ford, and Euans. Eua.

[1935]

'Tis one of the best discretions of a o'man as e uer I did looke vpon. Page. And did he send you both these Letters at an instant? Mist.Page. VVithin a quarter of an houre. Ford. Pardon me (wife) henceforth do what y u wilt: I rather will suspect the Sunne with gold,

[1940]

Then thee with wantonnes: Now doth thy honor stand (In

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Scena Tertia. [Act 4, Scene 3] Enter Host and Bardolfe. Bar.

Sir, the Germane desires to haue three of your

[1925]

horses: the Duke himselfe will be to morrow at Court,

and they are going to meet him.

Host.

What Duke should that be comes so secretly?

I heare not of him in the Court: let mee speake with the

Gentlemen, they speake English?

Bar.

[1930]

I Sir? Ile call him to you. Host.

They shall haue my horses, but Ile make them

pay: Ile sauce them, they haue had my houses a week at

commaund: I haue turn'd away my other guests, they

must come off, Ile sawce them, come.

Exeunt

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      <p n="1931">They shall haue my horses, but Ile make them
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   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt</stage>
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The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.

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Reference: E4r - Comedies, p. 55