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: E5v - Comedies, p. 58

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The Merry Wiues of Windsor. That quaint in greene, she shall be loose en‑roab'd,
[2180]
With Ribonds‑pendant, flaring 'bout her head; And when the Doctor spies his vantage ripe, To pinch her by the hand, and on that token, The maid hath giuen consent to go with him. Host. Which meanes she to deceiue? Father, or Mo­ ther. Fen.
[2185]
Both (my good Host) to go along with me: And heere it rests, that you'l procure the Vicar To stay for me at Church, 'twixt twelue, and one, And in the lawfull name of marrying, To giue our hearts vnited ceremony. Host.
[2190]
Well, husband your deuice; Ile to the Vicar, Bring you the Maid, you shall not lacke a Priest. Fen. So shall I euermore be bound to thee; Besides, Ile make a present recompence. Exeunt
Actus Quintus. Scœna Prima. [Act 5, Scene 1] Enter Falstoffe, Quickly, and Ford. Fal. Pre'thee no more pratling: go, Ile hold, this is the third time: I hope good lucke lies in odde numbers:
[2195]
Away, go, they say there is Diuinity in odde Numbers, either in natiuity, chance, or death: away. Qui.

Ile prouide you a chaine, and Ile do what I can

to get you a paire of hornes.

Fall.

Away I say, time weares, hold vp your head &

mince. How now M Broome? Master Broome, the mat­

[2200]

ter will be knowne to night, or neuer. Bee you in the

Parke about midnight, at Hernes‑Oake, and you shall

see wonders.

Ford.

Went you not to her yesterday (Sir) as you told

me you had appointed?

Fal.
[2205]

I went to her (Master Broome) as you see, like a

poore‑old‑man, but I came from her (Master Broome)

like a poore‑old‑woman; that same knaue ( Ford hir hus­

band) hath the finest mad diuell of iealousie in him (Ma­

ster Broome) that euer gouern'd Frensie. I will tell you,

[2210]

he beate me greeuously, in the shape of a woman: (for in

the shape of Man (Master Broome) I feare not Goliah

with a Weauers beame, because I know also, life is a

Shuttle) I am in hast, go along with mee, Ile tell you all

(Master Broome:) since I pluckt Geese, plaide Trewant,

[2215]

and whipt Top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, till

lately. Follow mee, Ile tell you strange things of this

knaue Ford, on whom to night I will be reuenged, and I

will deliuer his wife into your hand. Follow, straunge

things in hand (M. Broome) follow.

Exeunt.
Scena Secunda. [Act 5, Scene 2] Enter Page, Shallow, Slender. Page.
[2220]

Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Castle‑ditch,

till we see the light of our Fairies. Remember son Slen­ der , my

Slen.

I forsooth, I haue spoke with her, & we haue

a nay‑word, how to know one another. I come to her

[2225]

in white, and cry Mum; she cries Budget, and by that

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we know one another.

 Shal.

That's good too: But what needes either your

Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well

enough. It hath strooke ten a'clocke.

Page.
[2230]

The night is darke, Light and Spirits will be­

come it wel: Heauen prosper our sport. No man means

euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes.

Lets away: follow me.

Exeunt.
Scena Tertia. [Act 5, Scene 3] Enter Mist.Page, Mist.Ford, Caius. Mist.Page.

M r Doctor, my daughter is in green, when

[2235]

you see your time, take her by the hand, away with her

to the Deanerie, and dispatch it quickly: go before into

the Parke: we two must go together.

Cai. I know vat I haue to do, adieu. Mist.Page.

Fare you well (Sir:) my husband will not

[2240]

reioyce so much at the abuse of Falstaffe, as he will chafe

at the Doctors marrying my daughter: But 'tis no mat­

ter; better a little chiding, then a great deale of heart­

breake.

 Mist.Ford.

Where is Nan now? and her troop of Fai­

[2245]

ries? and the Welch‑deuill Herne?

 Mist.Page.

They are all couch'd in a pit hard by Hernes

Oake, with obscur'd Lights; which at the very instant

of Falstaffes and our meeting, they will at once display to

the night.

 Mist.Ford.
[2250]
That cannot choose but amaze him. Mist.Page. If he be not amaz'd he will be mock'd: If he be amaz'd, he will euery way be mock'd. Mist.Ford. Wee'll betray him finely. Mist.Page. Against such Lewdsters, and their lechery, Those that betray them, do no treachery. Mist.Ford.
[2255]
The houre drawes‑on: to the Oake, to the Oake. Exeunt.
Scena Quarta. [Act 5, Scene 4] Enter Euans and Fairies. Euans.

Trib, trib Fairies: Co me, and remember your

parts: be pold (I pray you) follow me into the pit, and

when I giue the watch‑'ords, do as I pid you: Come,

come, trib, trib.

Exeunt
Scena Quinta. [Act 5, Scene 5] Enter Falstaffe, Mistris Page, Mistris Ford, Euans, Anne Page, Fairies, Page, Ford, Quickly, Slender, Fenton, Caius, Pistoll. Fal.
[2260]

The Windsor‑bell hath stroke twelue: the Mi­

nute drawesߛon: Now the hot‑bloodied‑Gods assist me:

Remember Ioue, thou was't a Bull for thy Europa, Loue

set on thy hornes. O powerfull Loue, that in some re­

spects makes a Beast a Man: in som other, a Man a beast.

[2265]

You were also (Iupiter) a Swan, for the loue of Leda: O omnipotent

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Scena Secunda. [Act 5, Scene 2] Enter Page, Shallow, Slender. Page.
[2220]

Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Castle‑ditch,

till we see the light of our Fairies. Remember son Slen­ der , my

Slen.

I forsooth, I haue spoke with her, & we haue

a nay‑word, how to know one another. I come to her

[2225]

in white, and cry Mum; she cries Budget, and by that

we know one another.

 Shal.

That's good too: But what needes either your

Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well

enough. It hath strooke ten a'clocke.

Page.
[2230]

The night is darke, Light and Spirits will be­

come it wel: Heauen prosper our sport. No man means

euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes.

Lets away: follow me.

Exeunt.
 

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   <head rend="italic center">Scena Secunda.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 5, Scene 2]</head>
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      <p n="2220">Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Castle‑ditch,
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      <speaker rend="italic">Slen.</speaker>
      <p n="2223">I forsooth, I haue spoke with her, &amp; we haue
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      <lb n="2226"/>we know one another.</p>
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      <speaker rend="italic">Shal.</speaker>
      <p n="2227">That's good too: But what needes either your
      <lb n="2228"/>Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well
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   <sp who="#F-wiv-pag">
      <speaker rend="italic">Page.</speaker>
      <p n="2230">The night is darke, Light and Spirits will be­
      <lb n="2231"/>come it wel: Heauen prosper our sport. No man means
      <lb n="2232"/>euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes.
      <lb n="2233"/>Lets away: follow me.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
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