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Fal. Reason, you rogue, reafon: think't thou, I'II endanger my foul gratis ? At a word, hang no more about me, am no gibbet for you: (16) go, a fhore kniwe, and a throng, to your manor of Fickt kaich go, youliksnot bear a letter for me, you rogue! you." ftand upon your honour! why, thou unconfinable bafenefs, it is as much as I can do to keep the term of my bondur precife. I, I, I myfel, fometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding, mine honour in my neceflity, am fain to fhuffle, to bedge and to lurch and yet you rogue will enfconce your rags, your cat a mountain looks, your red-lettice phrafes, and your bold-beating oaths, under the fel ten of your honour! you will not do it, you treb ¿Pist. I do relents what wouldst thou more of man abrod ite *1 1 197 VIENS & Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with young Fal. Let her approach...

Enter Robin.

Enter Miflrejs Quickly.

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Quic. Give your worship good morrow.wd forist Fals Good merrow, good wife.

Quic. Not fo, an't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

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Quic. I'll be worn, as my mother was, the first hour I was born.

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Fal: I do believe the fwearer what with me ? Quic. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two Fal Two thoufand, fair woman, and I'll vouchia e thee the hearing i 1901

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Quic. There is one miftrefs Ford, Sir: I pray, come a little nearer this ways; I myself dwell with Mr. Doctor Caius o nodw

Fal. Well, on miftrefs Ford, you say,

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(16) Go, a fhort knife, and a thong,] All the old copies have it, d tbrong as I believe, the Author defign'd ; i. e.-a afhert knive and a crond, the two equilites for a pick pocket. Fickt-batch, as we may find by many places in Ben Jobu on, was a noted harbour for thieves and foumpukA gined mod ad Honda

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Quic. Your worthip fays very true! I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways.

Fal. I warrant thee, no body hears mine own people, mine own people.

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Quic. Are they fo? heav'n blefs them, and make them his fervants. Joqu bash Fal. Well miftrefs Ford, what of her Pusled Quic. Why, Sir, the's a good creature. Lord, Lord

your worship's a wanton; well, heav'n forgive youg and all of us, I pray

Fal. Miftrefs Ford, come, mistress Ford

Quic. Marry, this is the fhort and the long of it ; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as tis won derful: the best courtier of them all, when the court: lay at Windfor, could never have brought her to fuch a canary. Yet there has been Knights, and Lords, and Gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift, fmelling fo fweetly; all mufk; and fo rufsling, I warrant you, in filk and gold, and in fuch alligant terms, and in fuch wine and fugar of the beft, and the faireft, that would have won any woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myfelf twenty angels given me this morning: but I defy all angels, in any fach fort as they fay, but i in the way of honefty; and I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup the proudeft of them all and yet there has been Earls,

with

may, which is more, Penfioners; but, I warrant you,

with her.

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OAC SA Fal. But what lays he to me? be brief, my good She-Mercury pays the to me? be

Quic. Marry, the hath receiv'd your letter, for thes which the thanks you a thousand times; and the gives you to notify, that her husband will be abfence from his houfe between ten and eleven...

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, the fays, that you wot of: master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the fweet

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woman leads an ill life with him, he's a very jealousy. man; the leads a very frampold life with him, good heart.

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Fal. Ten and eleven: woman, commend me to her, I will not fail her. N

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Quic. Why, you fay well But I have another mef fenger to your worship; miftres Page has her hearty commendat ons to you too; and let me tell you in your ear,' fhe's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one (I tell you, that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windsor, whoe'er be the others and the bade me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home, but the hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman for doat upon a man; furely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth. Fal. Not I, I affure thee; fetting the attraction of my good parts afide, I have no other charms.

Quc. Bleffing on your heart for't.

Fal. But I pray thee, tell me this; has Ford's wife, and Page's wife, acquainted each other how they love

me?

Quic. That were à jeft, indeed; they have not fo le grace, I hope, that were a trick, indeed! but mikreis Page would defire you to fend her y your little page, of all loves her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page; and, truly, mafter Page is an honeft man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life, than fhe does; do what the will, fay what the will, take all, pay all go to bed when the lift, rise when the lift, all is as the will; and, truly, the deferves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windfor, truly, the is one. You must fend her your page; no remedy?

Fal. Why, I will.

Quic. Nay, but do fo then; and, look you, he may come and go between you both, and in any cafe have a nay-v -word, that you may know one another's mind: and the boy never need to understand any thing; for 'tis not good, that children fhould know any wickednefs old folks, you know, have difcretion, as they 29. fom. I tol; ang fay, and know the world. 43 vol vol 3 vel ilgiiq nor Fal.

Fal. Fare thee well; commend me to them both: there's my purfe, I am yet thy debtor. Boy, go along with this woman. This news diftracts me.

More [Exe. Quick, and Robin.

Pift. This punk is one of Cupid's carriers: Clap on more fails; pursue; up with your fights; Give fired the is my prize, or ocean whelm them all!

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[Exit Piftol 5 Fal. Say't thou fo, old Jack? go thy ways; l'u make more of thy old body, than I have done; will they yet look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expence of fo much money, be now a gainer? good body, I than thee; let them fay, tis grofsky done; fo be it fairly done, no matter.

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Bard. Sir John, there's one mafter Brook below would fain fpeak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath fent your worship a morning's draught of fack.

Fa. Brook, is his name ?

Bard. Ay, Sir,

Fals Call him in [Exit Bardolph, such Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erflow with fuch liquor. Ah! ah! mistress Ford and mistress Page, have I encomepais'd you go to, via!

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Re-enter Bardolph, with Ford difguis'd.

Ford. Blefs you, Sir.

Fal. And you, Sir, would you fpeak with me? o Ford. I make bold to prefs with fo little preparation

upon you, on

Fal. You're welcome; what's your will? give us leave, drawerooliss [Exit Bardolph. Ford Sir, I am a gentleman that have fpent much;

my name is Brookno won

Fal. Good malter Break, I defire more acquaintance of you. van woud bloodt not

Ford. Good Sir John. I fue for yours; not to charge

you; for I must let you understand, he which hath

I think myfelf in better plight for a lender than you are, M 5

fomething

fomething embolden'dome to this anfeason'd intrusion; for they lay, if money go before, all ways do lie open. Fal. Money is a good foldier, Sir, and will on.

Forde Troth, and I have a bag of money, here,, troubles me if you will help me to bear it, Sir John, take all, or half, for eafing me of the carriage.

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Fal: Sir, I know not how I may deferve to be your porter.imovd brooss Ford. I will tell you, Sir, if you will give me the hearing.!

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Fall Speak, good mafter Brook, I fhall be glad to be. your fervant.ish

Fords Sir, hear, you are a fcholar; (I will be brief with you;) and you have been a man long known to me, tho' i had never to good means, as defire, to make myfelf acquainted with you shall discover a thing to you, wherein I mut very much lay open mine own imperfections; but good Sir John, cass you have one eye upon my follies, as you hear them unfolded, turn another into the register of your own, that I may puts with a reproof the cafier; fith you yourself know, howoeafy it is to be such an offender. but basq Fal. Very well Sry proceeds to dous of smar Ford. There dista gentlewoman in this town, sher hulband's name is Ford.

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Ford. I have long lov'd her; and, I proteft to you, bestow'd much on her; follow'd her with a doating obfervance; ingrofs'd opportunities to meet thenp feed every light occafion, that could but niggardly. give me fight of her; not only bought many prefents to give her, but have given largely to many, to know! what The would have given: briefly, I have purfued Eer, as love hath purfu'd me, which hath been on the wing of all occafions. But whatfoever I have merited, either in my mind, or in my means; meed, Iram fore, I have received, none; unless experience be a jewel that I have parchas'd at an infinite rate, and that hath taught me to fay this;

Love like a fhadow flies, when fubftance love purfues; Purfuing that that flies, and Eying what purfues."

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