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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
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The Merry Wives of Windsor (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Scena Secunda.
Mist. Page, Robin, Ford, Page, Shallow, Slender, Host,
1270Euans, Caius.
Mist. Page. Nay keepe 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 ma-
sters heeles?
1275Rob. I had rather (forsooth) go before you like a man,
then follow him like a dwarfe.
M. Pa. O you are a flattering boy, now I see you'l be a
Ford. Well met mistris Page, whether go you.
1280M. Pa. Truly Sir, to see your wife, is she at home?
Ford. I, and as idle as she may hang together for want
of company: I thinke if your husbands were dead, you
two would marry.
M. Pa. Be sure of that, two other husbands.
1285Ford. Where had you this pretty weather-cocke?
M. Pa. I cannot tell what (the dickens) his name is my
husband had him of, what do you cal your Knights name
Rob. Sir Iohn Falstaffe.
Ford. Sir Iohn Falstaffe.
1290M. Pa. He, he, I can neuer hit on's name; there is such a
league betweene my goodman, and he: is your Wife at
Ford. Indeed she is.
M. Pa. By your leaue sir, I am sicke till I see her.
Ford. Has Page any braines? Hath he any eies? Hath he
1295any thinking? Sure they sleepe, he hath no vse of them:
why this boy will carrie a letter twentie mile as easie, as
a Canon will shoot point-blanke twelue score: hee pee-
ces out his wiues inclination: he giues her folly motion
and aduantage: and now she's going to my wife, & Fal-
1300staffes boy with her: A man may heare this showre sing
in the winde; and Falstaffes boy with her: good plots,
they are laide, and our reuolted wiues share damnation
together. Well, I will take him, then torture my wife,
plucke the borrowed vaile of modestie from the so-see-
1305ming Mist. Page, divulge Page himselfe for a secure and
wilfull Acteon, and to these violent proceedings all my
neighbors shall cry aime. The clocke giues me my Qu,
and my assurance bids me search, there I shall finde Fal-
staffe: I shall be rather praisd for this, then mock'd, for
1310it is as possitiue, as the earth is firme, that Falstaffe is
there: I will go.
Shal. Page, &c. Well met Mr Ford.
Ford. Trust me, a good knotte; I haue good cheere at
home, and I pray you all go with me.
1315Shal. I must excuse my selfe Mr Ford.
Slen. And so must I Sir,
We haue appointed to dine with Mistris Anne,
And I would not breake with her for more mony
Then Ile speake of.
1320Shal. We haue linger'd about a match betweene An
Page, and my cozen Slender, and this day wee shall haue
our answer.
Slen. I hope I haue your good will Father Page.
Pag. You haue Mr Slender, I stand wholly for you,
1325But my wife (Mr Doctor) is for you altogether.
Cai. I be-gar, and de Maid is loue-a-me: my nursh-a-Quickly
tell me so mush.
Host. What say you to yong Mr Fenton? He capers,
he dances, he has eies of youth: he writes verses, hee
1330speakes holliday, he smels April and May, he wil carry't,
he will carry't, 'tis in his buttons, he will carry't.
Page. Not by my consent I promise you. The Gentle-
man is of no hauing, hee kept companie with the wilde
Prince, and Pointz: he is of too high a Region, he knows
1335too much: no, hee shall not knit a knot in his fortunes,
with the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him
take her simply: the wealth I haue waits on my consent,
and my consent goes not that way.
Ford. I beseech you heartily, some of you goe home
1340with me to dinner: besides your cheere you shall haue
sport, I will shew you a monster: Mr Doctor, you shal
go, so shall you Mr Page, and you Sir Hugh.
Shal. Well, fare you well:
We shall haue the freer woing at Mr Pages.
1345Cai. Go home Iohn Rugby, I come anon.
Host. Farewell my hearts, I will to my honest Knight
Falstaffe, and drinke Canarie with him.
Ford. I thinke I shall drinke in Pipe-wine first with
him, Ile make him dance. Will you go, Gentles?
1350All. Haue with you, to see this Monster.
Exeunt