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
rFord, 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.
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
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 him that was of late an Heretike)As firme as faith.Page.'Tis well, 'tis well, no more:Be not as extreme in submission, as in offence,
[1945]
But let our plot go forward: Let our wiuesYet once againe (to make vs publike sport)Appoint a meeting with this old fat‑fellow,Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.Ford.There is no better way then that they spoke of.Page.
[1950]
How? to send him word they'll meete him in
the Parke
at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll neuer come.
Eu.
You say he has bin throwne in the Riuers: and
has bin
greeuously peaten, as an old o'man: me‑thinkes
there should be terrors in him, that he should not come:
Me‑thinkes his flesh is punish'd, hee
shall haue no de
[1955]
sires
Page.So thinke I too.M.Ford.Deuise but how you'l vse him
whēwhen he comes,
And let vs two deuise to bring him thether.Mis.Page.There is an old tale goes, that
Herne
the
[1960]
Hunter (sometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest)Doth all the winter time, at still midnightWalke round about an Oake, with great
rag'd‑hornes,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,And make milch‑kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaine
[1965]
In a most hideous and dreadfull manner.You haue heard of such a Spirit, and well you knowThe superstitious idle‑headed‑EldReceiu'd, and did deliuer to our ageThis tale of
Herne the Hunter, for a
truth.
Page.
[1970]
Why yet there want not many that do feareIn deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake:But what of this?Mist.Ford.Marry this is our deuise,That
Falstaffe at that Oake
shall meete with vs.
Page.
[1975]
Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether,What shall be done with him? What is your plot?Mist.Pa.That likewise haue we thoght vpon: & thus:Nan Page (my daughter) and my little
sonne,
[1980]
And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresseLike Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,And rattles in their hands; vpon a sodaine,As
Falstaffe, she, and I, are
newly met,
[1985]
Let them from forth a saw‑pit rush at onceWith some diffused song: Vpon their sightWe two, in great amazednesse will flye:Then let them all encircle him about,And Fairy‑like to pinch the vncleane Knight;
[1990]
And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,In their so sacred pathes, he dares to treadIn shape prophane.Ford.And till he tell the truth,Let the supposed Fairies pinch him, sound,
[1995]
And burne him with their Tapers.Mist.Page.The truth being knowne,We'll all present our selues; dis‑horne the
spirit,
And mocke him home to Windsor.Ford.The children must
[2000]
Be practis'd well to this, or they'll
neu'r doo't.
Eua.I will teach the children their behauiours: and I
will be
like a Iackeߛan‑Apes also, to burne the Knight
with my Taber.
Ford.That will be excellent,Ile go buy them vizards.Mist.Page.My Nan shall be the Queene of all the
Fairies, finely attired in a robe of white.
Page.
[2005]
That silke will I go buy, and in that timeShall M.
Slender steale my
Nan away,
And marry her at
Eaton: go, send to
Falstaffe straight.
Ford.Nay, Ile to him againe in name of
Broome,
Hee'l tell me all his purpose: sure hee'l come.Mist.Page.
[2010]
Feare not you that: Go get vs propertiesAnd tricking for our Fayries.Euans.Let vs about it,It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaueries.Mis.Page.Go
Mist.
Ford,
[2015]
Send quickly to Sir
Iohn, to know his
minde:
Ile to the Doctor, he hath my good will,And none but he to marry with
Nan
Page
:
That
Slender (though well landed) is an
Ideot:
And he, my husband best of all affects:
[2020]
The Doctor is well monied, and his friendsPotent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="4">
<head rend="italic center">Scena Quarta.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 3, Scene 4]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Page, Ford, Mistris Page, Mistris
<lb/>Ford, and Euans.</stage>
<sp who="#F-wiv-eva">
<speaker rend="italic">Eua.</speaker>
<l n="1935">'Tis one of the best discretions of a o'man as e
<lb/>uer I did looke vpon.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1936">And did he send you both these Letters at an
<lb/>instant?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Page.</speaker>
<l n="1937">VVithin a quarter of an houre.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1938">Pardon me (wife) henceforth do what y<c rend="superscript">u</c>wilt:</l>
<l n="1939">I rather will suspect the Sunne with gold,</l>
<l n="1940">Then thee with wantonnes: Now doth thy honor stand</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0076-0.jpg" n="56"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="1941">(In him that was of late an Heretike)</l>
<l n="1942">As firme as faith.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1943">'Tis well, 'tis well, no more:</l>
<l n="1944">Be not as extreme in submission, as in offence,</l>
<l n="1945">But let our plot go forward: Let our wiues</l>
<l n="1946">Yet once againe (to make vs publike sport)</l>
<l n="1947">Appoint a meeting with this old fat‑fellow,</l>
<l n="1948">Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1949">There is no better way then that they spoke of.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1950">How? to send him word they'll meete him in
<lb/>the Parke at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll neuer come.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-eva">
<speaker rend="italic">Eu.</speaker>
<p n="1951">You say he has bin throwne in the Riuers: and
<lb n="1952"/>has bin greeuously peaten, as an old o'man: me‑thinkes
<lb n="1953"/>there should be terrors in him, that he should not come:
<lb n="1954"/>Me‑thinkes his flesh is punish'd, hee shall haue no de
<lb n="1955"/>sires</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1956">So thinke I too.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mfo">
<speaker rend="italic">M.Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1957">Deuise but how you'l vse him<choice>
<abbr>whē</abbr>
<expan>when</expan>
</choice>he comes,</l>
<l n="1958">And let vs two deuise to bring him thether.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mis.Page.</speaker>
<l n="1959">There is an old tale goes, that<hi rend="italic">Herne</hi>the</l>
<l n="1960">Hunter (sometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest)</l>
<l n="1961">Doth all the winter time, at still midnight</l>
<l n="1962">Walke round about an Oake, with great rag'd‑hornes,</l>
<l n="1963">And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,</l>
<l n="1964">And make milch‑kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaine</l>
<l n="1965">In a most hideous and dreadfull manner.</l>
<l n="1966">You haue heard of such a Spirit, and well you know</l>
<l n="1967">The superstitious idle‑headed‑Eld</l>
<l n="1968">Receiu'd, and did deliuer to our age</l>
<l n="1969">This tale of<hi rend="italic">Herne</hi>the Hunter, for a truth.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1970">Why yet there want not many that do feare</l>
<l n="1971">In deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake:</l>
<l n="1972">But what of this?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mfo">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1973">Marry this is our deuise,</l>
<l n="1974">That<hi rend="italic">Falstaffe</hi>at that Oake shall meete with vs.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="1975">Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,</l>
<l n="1976">And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether,</l>
<l n="1977">What shall be done with him? What is your plot?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Pa.</speaker>
<l n="1978">That likewise haue we thoght vpon: & thus:</l>
<l n="1979">
<hi rend="italic">Nan Page</hi>(my daughter) and my little sonne,</l>
<l n="1980">And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresse</l>
<l n="1981">Like Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,</l>
<l n="1982">With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,</l>
<l n="1983">And rattles in their hands; vpon a sodaine,</l>
<l n="1984">As<hi rend="italic">Falstaffe</hi>, she, and I, are newly met,</l>
<l n="1985">Let them from forth a saw‑pit rush at once</l>
<l n="1986">With some diffused song: Vpon their sight</l>
<l n="1987">We two, in great amazednesse will flye:</l>
<l n="1988">Then let them all encircle him about,</l>
<l n="1989">And Fairy‑like to pinch the vncleane Knight;</l>
<l n="1990">And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,</l>
<l n="1991">In their so sacred pathes, he dares to tread</l>
<l n="1992">In shape prophane.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1993">And till he tell the truth,</l>
<l n="1994">Let the supposed Fairies pinch him, sound,</l>
<l n="1995">And burne him with their Tapers.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Page.</speaker>
<l n="1996">The truth being knowne,</l>
<l n="1997">We'll all present our selues; dis‑horne the spirit,</l>
<l n="1998">And mocke him home to Windsor.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="1999">The children must</l>
<l n="2000">Be practis'd well to this, or they'll neu'r doo't.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-eva">
<speaker rend="italic">Eua.</speaker>
<l n="2001">I will teach the children their behauiours: and I
<lb/>will be like a Iackeߛan‑Apes also, to burne the Knight
<lb/>with my Taber.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="2002">That will be excellent,</l>
<l n="2003">Ile go buy them vizards.</l>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Page.</speaker>
<l n="2004">My Nan shall be the Queene of all the
<lb/>Fairies, finely attired in a robe of white.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
<speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
<l n="2005">That silke will I go buy, and in that time</l>
<l n="2006">Shall M.<hi rend="italic">Slender</hi>steale my<hi rend="italic">Nan</hi>away,</l>
<l n="2007">And marry her at<hi rend="italic">Eaton</hi>: go, send to<hi rend="italic">Falstaffe</hi>straight.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-for">
<speaker rend="italic">Ford.</speaker>
<l n="2008">Nay, Ile to him againe in name of<hi rend="italic">Broome</hi>,</l>
<l n="2009">Hee'l tell me all his purpose: sure hee'l come.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mist.Page.</speaker>
<l n="2010">Feare not you that: Go get vs properties</l>
<l n="2011">And tricking for our Fayries.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-eva">
<speaker rend="italic">Euans.</speaker>
<l n="2012">Let vs about it,</l>
<l n="2013">It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaueries.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-wiv-mpa">
<speaker rend="italic">Mis.Page.</speaker>
<l n="2014">Go<hi rend="italic">Mist</hi>.<hi rend="italic">Ford</hi>,</l>
<l n="2015">Send quickly to Sir<hi rend="italic">Iohn</hi>, to know his minde:</l>
<l n="2016">Ile to the Doctor, he hath my good will,</l>
<l n="2017">And none but he to marry with<hi rend="italic">Nan Page</hi>:</l>
<l n="2018">That<hi rend="italic">Slender</hi>(though well landed) is an Ideot:</l>
<l n="2019">And he, my husband best of all affects:</l>
<l n="2020">The Doctor is well monied, and his friends</l>
<l n="2021">Potent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,</l>
<l n="2022">Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.</l>
</sp>
</div>