23451397Host. Speake not to me sir, my mind is heauie,

23461398I haue had a great losse.

23471399Fen. Yet heare me, and as I am a gentleman,

23481400Ile giue you a hundred pound toward your losse.

23501401Host. Well sir Ile heare you, and at least keep your

23511402 counsell.

23521403Fen. Thẽ thus my host. Tis not vnknown to you,

G1 The

23531404The feruent loue I beare to young Anne Page,

23541405And mutally her loue againe to mee:

23671406But her father still against her choise,

23681407Doth seeke to marrie her to foolish Slender,

23781408And in a robe of white this night disguised,

23601409Wherein fat Falstaffe had a mightie scare,

23801410Must Slender take her and carrie her to Catlen,

2380.11411And there vnknowne to any, marrie her.

2380.21412Now her mother still against that match,

23821413And firme for Doctor Cayus, in a robe of red

23871414By her deuice, the Doctor must steale her thence,

23881415And she hath giuen consent to goe with him.

23891416Host. Now which means she to deceiue, father or

1417 mother?

23911418Fen. Both my good Host, to go along with me.

23921419 Now here it rests, that you would procure a priest,

23931420And tarrie readie at the appointment place,

23951421To giue our harts vnited matrimonie.

2395.11422Host. But how will you come to steale her from(among thẽ

2395.21423Fen. That hath sweet Nan and I agreed vpon,

2395.31424And by a robe of white, the which she weares,

2395.41425With ribones pendant flaring bout her head,

2395.51426I shalbe sure to know her, and conuey her thence,

2395.61427And bring her where the priest abides our cõming,

2395.71428And by thy furtherance there be married.

23961429Host. Well, husband your deuice, Ile to the Vicar,

23971430Bring you the maide, you shall not lacke a Priest.

23981431Fen. So shall I euermore be bound vnto thee.

23991432Besides Ile alwaies be thy faithfull friend.