Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

The Merry Wives of Windsor (Quarto 1, 1602)

the merry wives of windsor.
2570.5They put the Tapers to his fingers, and he starts.
Sir Hu. It is right indeed, he is full of lecheries
2574.1 and iniquitie.
Quic. A little distant from him stand,
And euery one take hand in hand,
And compasse him within a ring,
2574.5First pinch him well, and after sing.

Here they pinch him, and sing about him, & the Doc-
tor comes one way & steales away a boy in red. And
Slender another way he takes a boy in greene: And
Fenton steales misteris Anne, being in white. And
2574.10a noyse of hunting is made within: and all the Fai-
ries runne away. Falstaffe pulles of his bucks head,
and rises vp. And enters M. Page, M. Ford, and
their wiues, M. Shallow, Sir Hugh.

Fal. Horne the hunter quoth you: am I a ghost?
2574.15Sblood the Fairies hath made a ghost of me:
What hunting at this time at night?
Ile lay my life the mad Prince of Wales
Is stealing his fathers Deare.
How now who haue
we here, what is all Windsor stirring? Are you there?
2574.20Shal. God saue you sir Iohn Falstaffe.
Sir Hu. God plesse you sir Iohn, God plesse you.
Pa. Why how now sir Iohn, what a pair of horns
in your hand?
Ford. Those hornes he ment to place vpon my(head,
2595And M. Brooke and he should be the men:
2595.1Why how now sir Iohn, why are you thus amazed?
We know the Fairies man that pinched you so,
Your throwing in the Thames, your beating well,
G3 And