Euans. O'man, art thou Lunaties? Haft thou no vnderstandings for thy Cafes, & the numbers of the Genders? Thou art as foolish Chriftian creatures, as I would defires.

Mi.Page. Pre'thee hold thy peace.

Eu. Shew me now (William) fome declenfions of your Pronounes.

Will. Forfooth, I haue forgot.

Eu. It is Qui, que, quod; if you forget your Quies, your Ques, and your Quods, you must be preeches: Goe your waies and play, go.

M.Pag. He is a better fcholler then I thought he was. Eu. He is a good fprag-memory: Farewel Mis. Page. Mif.Page. Adieu good Sir Hugh:

Get you home boy, Come we stay too long.

Scena Secunda.

Exeunt.

Enter Falftoffe, Mift. Ford, Mift. Page, Seruants, Ford, Page, Caius,Euans, Shallow.

Fal. Mi. Ford, Your forrow hath eaten vp my fufferance; I fee you are obfequious in your loue, and I profeffe requitall to a haires bredth, not onely Mift. Ford, in the fimple office of loue, but in all the accuftrement, complement, and ceremony of it: But are you fure of your husband now?

Mif. Ford. Hee's a birding (fweet Sir John.)
Mif.Page. What hoa,goffip Ford: what hoa.
Mif.Ford. Step into th'chamber, Sir John.

Mif. Page. How now (fweete heart) whofe at home befides your felfe?

Mif Ford. Why none but mine owne people.
Mif.Page. Indeed?

Mif. Ford. No certainly: Speake louder.

Mift.Pag. Truly, I am so glad you haue no body here. Mift. Ford. Why?

Mij.Page. Why woman, your husband is in his olde lines againe: he fo takes on yonder with my husband, so railes against all married mankinde; fo curfes all Eues daughters, of what complexion foeuer; and fo buffettes himfelfe on the for-head: crying peere-out, peere-out, that any madneffe I euer yet beheld, feem'd but tameneffe, ciuility, and patience to this his diftemper he is in now I am glad the fat Knight is not here.

Mift. Ford. Why, do's he talke of him?

Mift.Page. Of none but him, and fweares he was caried out the last time hee search'd for him, in a Basket: Protefts to my husband he is now heere, & hath drawne him and the rest of their company from their fport, to make another experiment of his fufpition: But I am glad the Knight is not heere; now he shall fee his owne foolerie.

Mift. Ford. How neere is he Miftris Page? Mift.Pag. Hard by, at ftreet end; he wil be here anon. Mift. Ford. I am vndone, the Knight is heere. Mift.Page. Why then you are vtterly fham'd, & hee's but a dead man. What a woman are you? Away with him, away with him: Better shame, then murther.

Mift. Ford. Which way should he go? How should I bestow him? Shall I put him into the basket againe ? Fal. No, Ile come no more i'th Basket: May I not go out ere he come?

Mift. Ford. If you goe out in your owne semblance, you die Sir John, vnleffe you go out disguis'd.

Mift. Ford. How might we disguise him? Mist.Page. Alas the day I know not, there is no womans gowne bigge enough for him: otherwise he might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchiefe, and so escape. Fal. Good hearts, deuife fomething any extremitie, rather then a mischiefe.

Mift. Ford. My Maids Aunt the fat woman of Brainford, has a gowne aboue.

Mift. Page. On my word it will ferue him: fhee's as big as he is and there's her thrum'd hat, and her muffler too run vp Sir Iobn.

:

Mift.Ford. Go, go, sweet Sir John: Miftriis Page and I will looke fome linnen for your head.

Mift.Page. Quicke, quicke, wee'le come dreffe you ftraight: put on the gowne the while.

Mift.Ford. I would my husband would meete him in this fhape he cannot abide the old woman of Brainford; he fweares fhe's a witch, forbad her my house, and hath threatned to beate her.

Mift.Page. Heauen guide him to thy husbands cudgell and the diuell guide his cudgell afterwards. Mift. Ford. But is my husband comming?

Mift.Page. I in good fadneffe is he, and talkes of the basket too, howfoeuer he hath had intelligence.

Mift. Ford. Wee'l try that: for Ile appoint my men to carry the basket againe, to meete him at the doore with it, as they did last time.

Mift.Page. Nay, but hee'l be heere presently: let's go dreffe him like the witch of Brainford.

Mift. Ford. Ile first direct direct my men, what they fhall doe with the basket: Goe vp, Ile bring linnen for him ftraight.

Mift.Page. Hang him dishonest Varlet,

We cannot misuse enough:

We'll leave a proofe by that which we will doo,

Wiues may be merry, and yet honeft too:

We do not acte that often, ieft, and laugh,

'Tis old, but true, Still Swine eats all the draugh.

Mift.Ford. Go Sirs, take the basket againe on your fhoulders: your Mafter is hard at doore: if hee bid you fet it downe, obey him : quickly, dispatch.

I Ser. Come, come, take it vp.

2 Ser. Pray heauen it be not full of Knight againe. 1 Ser. I hope not, I had liefe as beare fo much lead. Ford. I, but if it proue true (Mr. Page) haue you any way then to vnfoole me againe. Set downe the basket villaine: fome body call my wife: Youth in a basket : Oh you Panderly Rafcals, there's a knot: a gin, a packe, a confpiracie against me: Now fhall the diuel be fham'd. What wife I fay: Come, come forth: behold what honeft

neft cloathes you fend forth to bleaching. Page. Why, this paffes M. Ford: you are not to goe loofe any longer, you must be pinnion'd.

Euans. Why, this is Lunaticks: this is madde, as a mad dogge.

Shall. Indeed M. Ford, thi is not well indeed.

Ford. So fay I too Sir, come hither Miftris Ford, Miftris Ford, the honeft woman, the modeft wife, the vertuous creature, that hath the iealious foole to her husband: I fufpect without cause (Mistris) do I?

Mift. Ford. Heauen be my witneffe you doe, if you fufpect me in any dishonesty.

Ford. Well faid Brazon-face, hold it out: Come forth firrah.

Page. Heer's no man.

Shal. By my fidelity this is not well Mr. Ford: This wrongs you.

Euans. Mr Ford, you must pray, and not follow the imaginations of your owne heart: this is iealoufies.

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

Ford. Helpe to fearch my houfe this one time: if I find not what I seeke, fhew no colour for my extremity: Let me for euer be your Table-fport: Let them fay of me, as iealous as Ford, that fearch'd a hollow Wall-nut for his wiues Lemman. Satisfie me once more, once more ferch with me.

M. Ford. What hoa (Miftris Page,) come you and the old woman downe: my husband will come into the 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 houfe. She comes of errands do's fhe? We are fimple men, wee doe not know what's brought to paffe vnder the profeffion of Fortune-telling. She workes by Charmes, by Spels, by th'Figure, & fuch dawbry as this is, beyond our Element: wee know nothing. Come downe you Witch, you Hagge you, come downe I fay.

Mift. Ford. Nay, good fweet husband, good Gentlemen, let him ftrike the old woman.

Mift.Page. Come mother Prat, Come giue me your

hand.

Eua. By yea, and no, I thinke the o'man is a witch indeede: 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 befeech you follow fee but the iffue of my iealoufie: If I cry out thus vpon no traile, neuer trust me when I open againe. Page. Let's obey his humour a little further: Come Gentlemen.

Mift.Page. Truft me he beate him most pittifully. Mift. Ford. Nay by th'Maffe that he did not: he beate him moft vnpittifully, me thought.

Mift.Page. Ile haue the cudgell hallow'd, and hung ore the Altar, it hath done meritorious feruice.

Mift. Ford. What thinke you? May we with the warrant of woman-hood, and the witneffe of a good confcience, pursue him with any further reuenge?

M.Page. The fpirit of wantonneffe is fure fcar'd out of him, if the diuell haue him not in fee-fimple, with fine and recouery, he will neuer (I thinke) in the way of wafte, attempt vs againe.

Mift. Ford. Shall we tell our husbands how wee haue feru'd him.

Mift. Page. Yes, by all meanes: if it be but to fcrape 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 ftill bee the minifters.

Mift. Ford. Ile warrant, they'l haue him publiquely fham'd, and me thinkes there would be no period to the ieft, fhould he not be publikely fham'd.

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

Scena Tertia.

Enter Hoft and Bardolfe.

Bar. Sir, the Germane defires to haue three of your horfes: the Duke himselfe will be to morrow at Court, and they are going to meet him.

Hoft. What Duke should that be comes fo fecretly? I heare not of him in the Court: let mee fpeake with the Gentlemen, they speake English?

Bar. I Sir? Ile call him to you.

Hoft. They fhall haue my horfes, but Ile make them pay: Ile fauce them, they haue had my houses a week at commaund: I haue turn'd away my other guests, they must come off, Ile fawce them, come.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Page, Ford, Miftris Page, Miftris Ford, and Euans.

Exeunt

Ɛua. 'Tis one of the best difcretions of a o'man as euer I did looke vpon.

Page. And did he fend you both these Letters at an inftant?

Mift. Page. VVithin a quarter of an houre.

Ford. Pardon me (wife) henceforth do what y wilt:

I rather will fufpect the Sunne with gold,

Then thee with wantonnes: Now doth thy honor stand

(In

(In him that was of late an Heretike) As firme as faith.

Page. 'Tis well, 'tis well, no more:
Be not as extreme in fubmiffion, as in offence,
But let our plot go forward: Let our wiues
Yet 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. How to fend him word they'll meete him in the Parke at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll neuer come.

and

Eu. You fay he has bin throwne in the Riuers 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 defires.

Page. So thinke I too.

M.Ford. Deuife but how you'l vse him whẽ he comes, And let vs two deuise to bring him thether.

Mif.Page. There is an old tale goes, that Herne the Hunter (fometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest) Doth all the winter time, at ftill midnight

Walke round about an Oake, with great rag'd-hornes,
And there he blafts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And make milch-kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaine
In a moft hideous and dreadfull manner.

You haue heard of fuch a Spirit, and well you know
The fuperftitious idle-headed-Eld

Receiu'd, and did deliuer to our age

This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth.

Page. Why yet there want not many that do feare In deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake: But what of this?

Mift.Ford. Marry this is our deuife,

That Falstaffe at that Oake shall meete with vs.

Page. Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come, And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether, What fhall be done with him? What is your plot?

Mift. Pa. That likewife haue we thoght vpon : & thus :
Nan Page (my daughter) and my little fonne,
And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresse
Like Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,
With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,
And rattles in their hands; vpon a fodaine,

As Falftaffe, the, and I, are newly met,
Let them from forth a faw-pit rush at once
With fome diffused fong: Vpon their fight
We two, in great amazedneffe will flye:
Then let them all encircle him about,
And Fairy-like to pinch the vncleane Knight;
And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,
In their fo facred pathes, he dares to tread

In fhape prophane.

Ford. And till he tell the truth,

Let the fuppofed Fairies pinch him, found,
And burne him with their Tapers.

Mift.Page. The truth being knowne,

We'll all present our felues; dif-horne the spirit,
And mocke him home to Windfor.

Ford. The children muft

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 lacke-an-Apes also, to burne the Knight with my Taber.

Ford. That will be excellent,

Ile go buy them vizards.

Mift.Page. My Nan fhall be the Queene of all the Fairies, finely attired in a robe of white.

Page. That filke will I go buy, and in that time
Shall M.Slender steale my Nan away,

And marry her at Eaton: go, fend to Falstaffe ftraight.
Ford. Nay, Ile to him againe in name of Broome,
Hee'l tell me all his purpose: fure hee'l come.

Mift.Page. Feare not you that: Go get vs properties And tricking for our Fayries.

Euans. Let vs about it,

It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaueries.
Mif.Page.Go Mift.Ford,

Send quickly to Sir Iobn, 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:
The Doctor is well monied, and his friends
Potent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Hoft, Simple, Falstaffe, Bardolfe, Euans,
Caius, Quickly.

Hoft.What wouldst thou haue? (Boore) what? (thick skin) fpeake, breathe, discusse: breefe, fhort, quicke, fnap.

Simp. Marry Sir, I come to fpeake with Sir Iobn FalStaffe from M. Slender.

Hoft. There's his Chamber, his House, his Caftle, his ftanding-bed and truckle-bed: 'tis painted about with the story of the Prodigall, fresh and new: go, knock and call hee'l fpeake like an Anthropophaginian vnto thee: Knocke I say.

Simp. There's an olde woman, a fat woman gone vp into his chamber: Ile be fo bold as ftay Sir till she come downe: I come to speake with her indeed.

Hoft. Ha? A fat woman? The Knight may be robb'd: Ile call. Bully-Knight, Bully Sir Iohn: fpeake from thy Lungs Military: Art thou there? It is thine Hoft, thine Ephefian cals.

Fal. How now, mine Hoft?

Host. Here's a Bohemian-Tartar taries the comming downe of thy fat-woman: Let her defcend (Bully) let her defcend my Chambers are honourable: Fie, priuacy? Fie.

Fal. There was (mine Hoft) an old-fat-woman euen now with me, but she's gone.

Simp. Pray you Sir, was't not the Wife-woman of Brainford?

Fal. I marry was it (Muffel-fhell) what would you with her?

Simp. My Mafter (Sir) my mafter Slender, fent to her feeing her go thorough the streets, to know (Sir) whether one Nim (Sir) that beguil'd him of a chaine, had the chaine, or no.

Fal. I fpake with the old woman about it.
Sim. And what fayes fhe, I pray Sir?

Fal. Marry thee fayes, that the very fame man that beguil'd Master Slender of his Chaine, cozon'd him of it.

Simp. I would I could haue spoken with the Woman

her

her felfe, I had other things to haue fpoken with her too, from him.

Fal. What are they? let vs know.
Hoft. I come quicke.

Fal. I may not conceale them (Sir.)
Hoft. Conceale them, or thou di'st.

Sim. Why fir, they were nothing but about Miftris

Anne Page, to know if it were my Masters fortune to haue her, or no.

Fal. "Tis,'tis his fortune.

Sim. What Sir?

Fal. To haue her, or no: goe; fay the woman told me fo.

Sim. May I be bold to fay fo Sir?

Fal. I Sir: like who more bold.

Sim. I thanke your worship: I fhall make my Master glad with these tydings.

Heft. Thou are clearkly: thou art clearkly (Sir Iobn) was there a wife woman with thee?

Fal. I that there was (mine Hoft) one that hath taught me more wit, then euer I learn'd before in my life and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for my learning.

Bar. Out alas (Sir) cozonage : meere cozonage.

Hoft. Where be my horfes? fpeake well of them var

letto.

Bar. Run away with the cozoners: for fo foone as I came beyond Eaton, they threw me off, from behinde one of them, in a flough of myre; and fet fpurres, and away; like three Germane-diuels; three Doctor Faufaffes.

Heft. They are gone but to meete the Duke (villaine) doe not fay they be fled : Germanes are honeft men. Euan. Where is mine Hoft?

Heft. What is the matter Sir?

Euan. Haue a care of your entertainments: there is a friend of mine come to Towne, tels mee there is three Cozen-Iermans, that has cozend all the Hofts of Readins, of Maidenhead; of Cole-brooke, of horses and money: I tell you for good will (looke you) you are wife, and full of gibes, and vlouting-ftocks: and 'tis not conuenient you fhould be cozoned. Fare you well.

Cai. Ver'is mine Hoft de Iarteere?

Hoft. Here (Mafter Doctor) in perplexitie, and doubtfull delemma.

Cai. I cannot tell vat is dat: but it is tell-a-me, dat you make grand preparation for a Duke de Iamanie: by my trot der is no Duke that the Court is know, to come: I tell you for good will: adieu.

Hoft. Huy and cry, (villaine) goe: affift me Knight, I am vndone: fly, run: huy, and cry (villaine) I am vndone.

Fal. I would all the world might be cozond, for I haue beene cozond and beaten too: if it fhould come to the eare of the Court, how I haue beene transformed; and how my transformation hath beene wafhd, and cudgeld, they would melt mee out of my fat drop by drop, and liquor Fishermens-boots with me: I warrant they would whip me with their fine wits, till I were as creft-falne as a dride-peare: I neuer profper'd, fince I forfwore my felfe at Primero: well, if my winde were but long enough'; I would repent: Now? Whence come you?

Qui. From the two parties forfooth.

Fal. The Diuell take one partie, and his Dam the other and fo they fhall be both bestowed; I haue fuf

:

fer'd more for their fakes; more then the villanous in. conftancy of mans difpofition is able to beare.

Qui. And haue not they fuffer'd? Yes, I warrant; fpeciously one of them; Miftris Ford (good heart) is beaten blacke and blew, that you cannot fee a white spot about her.

:

Fal. What tell'ft thou mee of blacke, and blew? I was beaten my felfe into all the colours of the Rainebow and I was like to be apprehended for the Witch of Braineford, but that my admirable dexteritie of wit, my counterfeiting the action of an old woman deliuer'd me, the knaue Conftable had fet me ith'Stocks, ith' common Stocks, for a Witch.

Qu, Sir: let me fpeake with you in your Chamber, you fhall heare how things goe, and (I warrant) to your content here is a Letter will fay fomewhat: (goodhearts) what a-doe here is to bring you together? Sure, one of you do's not ferue heauen well, that you are fo croft'd. Fal. Come vp into Exeunt.

my Chamber.

Scena Sexta.

Enter Fenton, Hoft.

Hoft. Mafter Fenton, talke not to mee, my minde is heauy I will giue ouer all.

Fen. Yet heare me fpeake: affift me in my purpose, And (as I am a gentleman) ile giue thee

A hundred pound in gold, more then your loffe. Hoft. I will heare you (Master Fenton) and I will (at the leaft) keepe your counfell.

Fen. From time to time, I haue acquainted you With the deare loue I beare to faire Anne Page, Who, mutually, hath answer'd my affection, (So farre forth, as her felfe might be her choofer) Euen to my wish; I haue a letter from her Of fuch contents, as you will wonder at; The mirth whereof, fo larded with my matter, That neither (fingly) can be manifested Without the fhew of both: fat Falstaffe Hath a great Scene; the image of the ieft Ile show you here at large (harke good mine Hoft :) To night at Hernes-Oke, iuft 'twixt twelue and one, Muft my sweet Nan prefent the Faerie-Queene: The purpose why, is here: in which disguise VVhile other lefts are fomething ranke on foote, Her father hath commanded her to flip Away with Slender, and with him, at Eaton Immediately to Marry: She hath confented: Now Sir, Her Mother, (euen ftrong against that match And firme for Doctor Caius) hath appointed That he fhall likewife fhuffle her away, While other sports are tasking of their mindes, And at the Deanry, where a Prieft attends Strait marry her: to this her Mothers plot She feemingly obedient) likewife hath Made promise to the Doctor: Now, thus it refts, Her Father meanes fhe fhall be all in white; And in that habit, when Slender fees his time To take her by the hand, and bid her goe, She fhall goe with him her Mother hath intended (The better to deuote her to the Doctor; For they must all be mask'd, and vizarded)

That

That quaint in greene, the fhall be loose en-roab'd,
With Ribonds-pendant, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the Doctor fpies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and on that token,
The maid hath giuen confent to go with him.

Hoft. Which meanes fhe to deceiue? Father, or Mother.

Fen. Both (my good Hoft) to go along with me:
And heere it refts, 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.

Hoft. Well, husband your deuice; Ile to the Vicar,
Bring you the Maid, you shall not lacke a Prieft.
Fen. So fhall I euermore be bound to thee;
Befides, Ile make a prefent recompence.

Exeunt

Actus Quintus. Scana Prima.

Enter Falftoffe, 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: Away, go, they fay there is Diuinity in odde Numbers, either in natiuity, chance, or death: away.

Qai. Ile prouide you a chaine, and Ile do what I can to get you a paire of hornes.

Fall. Away I fay, time weares, hold vp your head & mince. How now M. Broome? Master Broome, the matter will be knowne to night, or neuer. Bee you in the Parke about midnight, at Hernes-Oake, and you shall fee wonders.

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday (Sir) as you told me you had appointed?

Fal. I went to her (Mafter Brocmc) as you fee, like a poore-old-man, but I came from her (Mafter Broome) like a poore-old-woman; that fame knaue (Ford hir hufband) hath the fineft mad diuell of iealoufie in him (Mafter Broome) that euer gouern'd Frenfie. I will tell you, he beate me greeuoufly, 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 alfo, life is a Shuttle) I am in haft, go along with mee, Ile tell you all (Mafter Broome:) fince I pluckt Geefe, plaide Trewant, 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, ftraunge things in hand (M. Broome) follow. Exennt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Page, Shallow, Slender.

Page. Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Caftle-ditch, till we fee the light of our Fairies. Remember fon Slender, my

Slen. I forfooth, I haue fpoke with her, & we haue a nay-word, how to know one another. I come to her in white, and cry Mum; fhe 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 ftrooke ten a'clocke.

Page. The night is darke, Light and Spirits will become it wel: Heauen profper our sport. No man means euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes. Lets away follow me. Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Mift. Page, Mift. Ford, Caius.

Mift.Page. Mr Doctor, my daughter is in green, when you fee your time, take her by the hand, away with her to the Deanerie, and difpatch it quickly go before into the Parke: we two must go together.

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

Mift.Page. Fare you well (Sir:) my husband will not reioyce fo much at the abuse of Falstaffe, as he will chafe at the Doctors marrying my daughter: But 'tis no matter; better a little chiding, then a great deale of heartbreake.

Mift. Ford. Where is Nan now? and her troop of Fairies? and the Welch-deuill Herne?

Mift.Page. They are all couch'd in a pit hard by Hernes Oake, with obfcur'd Lights; which at the very instant of Falstaffes and our meeting, they will at once display to the night.

Mift. Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him. Mift. Page. If he be not amaz'd he will be mock'd: If he be amaz'd, he will euery way be mock'd. Mift. Ford. Wee'll betray him finely. Mift.Page. Against fuch Lewdfters, and their lechery, Thofe that betray them, do no treachery.

Mift. Ford. The houre drawes-on to the Oake, to the Oake. Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Euter Euans and Fairies.

Euans. Trib, trib Fairies: Cowe, 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.

Enter Falstaffe, Miftris Page, Mistris Ford, Euans, Anne Page, Fairies, Page, Ford, Quickly,

Slender, Fenton, Caius, Pistoll.

Fal. The Windfor-bell hath ftroke twelue: the Minute drawes-on: Now the hot-bloodied-Gods affift me: Remember Ioue, thou was't a Bull for thy Europa, Loue fet on thy hornes. O powerfull Loue, that in fome respects makes a Beaft a Man : in fom other, a Man a beast. You were alfo (Iupiter) a Swan, for the loue of Leda : O omnipotent