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  • Title: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Quarto 1, 1602)

  • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Merry Wives of Windsor (Quarto 1, 1602)

    A pleasant Comedie, of
    And sweare to mend her sluttish huswiferie.
    Fai. I warrant you I will performe your will.
    Hu. Where is Pead? go you & see where Brokers(sleep,
    2531.1And Foxe-eyed Seriants with their mase,
    Goe laie the Proctors in the street,
    And pinch the lowsie Seriants face:
    Spare none of these when they are a bed,
    2531.5But such whose nose lookes plew and red.
    Quic. Away begon, his mind fulfill,
    And looke that none of you stand still.
    Some do that thing, some do this,
    All do something, none amis.
    Hir Hu. I smell a man of middle earth.
    Fal. God blesse me from that wealch Fairie.
    2563.1Quic. Looke euery one about this round,
    And if that any here be found,
    For his presumption in this place,
    Spare neither legge, arme, head, nor face.
    2563.5Sir Hu. See I haue spied one by good luck,
    His bodie man, his head a buck.
    Fal. God send me good fortune now, and I care(not.
    Quic. Go strait, and do as I commaund,
    And take a Taper in your hand,
    And set it to his fingers endes,
    2567.1And if you see it him offends,
    And that he starteth at the flame,
    2568.1Then is he mortall, know his name:
    If with an F. it doth begin,
    2570Why then be shure he is full of sin.
    2570.1About it then, and know the truth,
    Of this same metamorphised youth.
    Sir Hu. Giue me the Tapers, I will try
    And if that he loue venery.
    They