The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _The street, in Windsor._
_Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN._ _Mrs 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? _Rob._ I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than follow him like a dwarf. 5 _Mrs 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? _Mrs Page._ Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home? _Ford._ Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for 10 want of company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry. _Mrs Page._ Be sure of that,--two other husbands. _Ford._ Where had you this pretty weathercock? _Mrs Page._ I cannot tell what the dickens his name is 15 husband had him of. --What do you call your knight’s name, sirrah? _Rob._ Sir John Falstaff. _Ford._ Sir John Falstaff! _Mrs Page._ He, he; I can never hit on’s name. There 20 is such a league between my good man and he!--Is your wife at home indeed? _Ford._ Indeed she is. _Mrs Page._ By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her. [_Exeunt Mrs Page and Robin._
_Ford._ Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath 25 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 30 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 35 Page himself for a secure and wilful Actæon; 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 40 earth is firm that Falstaff is there: I will go. _Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS, CAIUS, and RUGBY._ _Shal., 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.
_Shal._ I must excuse myself, Master Ford. 45 _Slen._ 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. _Shal._ We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have 50 our answer. _Slen._ 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. _Caius._ Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my 55 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. 60 _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 65 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; 70 so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh. _Shal._ Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing at Master Page’s. [_Exeunt Shal. and Slen._ _Caius._ Go home, John Rugby; I come anon. [_Exit Rugby._ _Host._ Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight 75 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._ SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope. 11: _company_] _your company_ Collier MS. 19: Ford. _Sir John Falstaff!_] omitted in F3 F4 and Rowe. 20: _on’s_] _on his_ Rowe. 25: SCENE V. Pope. 37: [Clock heard] Capell. 39: _search: there_] _search where_ Collier MS. 42: SCENE VI. Pope. 46-48: Printed as verse in Ff Q3 and Rowe. 47: _her_] _here_ F2. 59: _April_] _all April_ (Q1 Q2). 60: _buttons_] _betmes_ (Q1 Q2). _destiny_ Anon. conj. 63: _Poins_] _Poyntz_ F1 Q3 F2. _Poinz_ F3 F4.
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