1271Mist. Page. Nay keepe your way (little Gallant) you

1272were wont to be a follower, but now you are a Leader:

1273whether had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your ma-

1274sters heeles?

1275Rob. I had rather (forsooth) go before you like a man,

1276then follow him like a dwarfe.

1277M. Pa. O you are a flattering boy, now I see you'l be a (Courtier.

1279Ford. Well met mistris Page, whether go you.

1280M. Pa. Truly Sir, to see your wife, is she at home?

1281Ford. I, and as idle as she may hang together for want

1282of company: I thinke if your husbands were dead, you

1283two would marry.

1284M. Pa. Be sure of that, two other husbands.

1285Ford. Where had you this pretty weather-cocke?

1286M. Pa. I cannot tell what (the dickens) his name is my

1287husband had him of, what do you cal your Knights name (sirrah?

1288Rob. Sir Iohn Falstaffe.

1289Ford. Sir Iohn Falstaffe.

1290M. Pa. He, he, I can neuer hit on's name; there is such a

1291league betweene my goodman, and he: is your Wife at (home indeed?

1292Ford. Indeed she is.

1293M. Pa. By your leaue sir, I am sicke till I see her.

1294Ford. Has Page any braines? Hath he any eies? Hath he

1295any thinking? Sure they sleepe, he hath no vse of them:

1296why this boy will carrie a letter twentie mile as easie, as

1297a Canon will shoot point-blanke twelue score: hee pee-

1298ces out his wiues inclination: he giues her folly motion

1299and aduantage: and now she's going to my wife, & Fal-

1300staffes boy with her: A man may heare this showre sing

1301in the winde; and Falstaffes boy with her: good plots,

1302they are laide, and our reuolted wiues share damnation

1303together. Well, I will take him, then torture my wife,

1304plucke the borrowed vaile of modestie from the so-see-

1305ming Mist. Page, divulge Page himselfe for a secure and

1306wilfull Acteon, and to these violent proceedings all my

1307neighbors shall cry aime. The clocke giues me my Qu,

1308and my assurance bids me search, there I shall finde Fal-

1309staffe: I shall be rather praisd for this, then mock'd, for

1310it is as possitiue, as the earth is firme, that Falstaffe is

1311there: I will go.

1312Shal. Page, &c. Well met M^r Ford.

1313Ford. Trust me, a good knotte; I haue good cheere at

1314home, and I pray you all go with me.

1315Shal. I must excuse my selfe M^r Ford.

1316Slen. And so must I Sir,

1317We haue appointed to dine with Mistris Anne,

1318And I would not breake with her for more mony

1319Then Ile speake of.

1320Shal. We haue linger'd about a match betweene An

1321Page, and my cozen Slender, and this day wee shall haue

1322our answer.

1323Slen. I hope I haue your good will Father Page.

1324Pag. You haue M^r Slender, I stand wholly for you,

1325But my wife (M^r Doctor) is for you altogether.

1326Cai. I be-gar, and de Maid is loue-a-me: my nursh-a-Quickly

1327tell me so mush.

1328Host. What say you to yong M^r Fenton? He capers,

1329he dances, he has eies of youth: he writes verses, hee

1330speakes holliday, he smels April and May, he wil carry't,

1331he will carry't, 'tis in his buttons, he will carry't.

1332Page. Not by my consent I promise you. The Gentle-

1333man is of no hauing, hee kept companie with the wilde

1334Prince, and Pointz: he is of too high a Region, he knows

1335too much: no, hee shall not knit a knot in his fortunes,

1336with the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him

1337take her simply: the wealth I haue waits on my consent,

1338and my consent goes not that way.

1339Ford. I beseech you heartily, some of you goe home

1340with me to dinner: besides your cheere you shall haue

1341sport, I will shew you a monster: M^r Doctor, you shal

1342go, so shall you M^r Page, and you Sir Hugh.

1343Shal. Well, fare you well:

1344We shall haue the freer woing at M^r Pages.

1345Cai. Go home Iohn Rugby, I come anon.

1346Host. Farewell my hearts, I will to my honest Knight

1347Falstaffe, and drinke Canarie with him.

1348Ford. I thinke I shall drinke in Pipe-wine first with

1349him, Ile make him dance. Will you go, Gentles?

1350All. Haue with you, to see this Monster. Exeunt