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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    Enter Syr Hugh and Simple.
    Sir Hu. I pray you do so much as see if you can (espie
    Doctor Cayus comming, and giue me intelligence,
    1161.1Or bring me vrde if you please now.
    Sim. I will Sir.
    Sir Hu. Ieshu ples mee, how my hart trobes, and(trobes,
    And then she made him bedes of Roses,
    1175And a thousand fragrant poses,
    To shallow riueres.
    Now so kad vdge me, my hart
    Swelles more and more. Mee thinkes I can cry
    1176.1Verie well.
    There dwelt a man in Babylon,
    1180To shallow riuers and to falles,
    Melodious birds sing Madrigalles.
    Sim. Sir here is M. Page, and M. Shallow,
    Comming hither as fast as they can.
    1185Sir Hu. Then it is verie necessary I put vp my (sword,
    Pray giue me my cowne too, marke you.
    1185.1Enter Page, shallow, and Slender.
    Pa. God saue you Sir Hugh.
    1191.1Shal. God saue you M. parson
    Sir Hu. God plesse you all from his mercies sake(now.
    Pa. What the word and the sword, doth that a-
    1193.1 gree well?
    Sir Hu. There is reasons and causes in all things,
    1197.1I warrant you now.
    Pa. Well Sir Hugh, we are come to craue
    Your helpe and furtherance in a matter.
    1200Sir Hu. What is I pray you?
    Pa. Ifaith tis this sir Hugh. There is an auncient
    friend of ours, a man of verie good sort, so at oddes
    with
    the merry wives of windsor.
    with one patience, that I am sure you would hartily
    grieue to see him. Now Sir Hugh, you are a scholler
    1203.1well red, and verie perswasiue, we would intreate
    you to see if you could intreat him to patience.
    Sir Hu. I pray you who is it? Let vs know that.
    Pa. I am shure you know him, tis Doctor Cayus.
    Sir Hu. I had as leeue you should tel me of a messe(of poredge,
    1215He is an arant lowsie beggerly knaue:
    And he is a coward beside.
    Pa. Why Ile laie my life tis the man
    That he should fight withall.
    1217.1Enter Doctor and the Host, they
    offer to fight.
    1220Shal. Keep them asunder, take away their wea-(pons.
    Host. Disarme, let them question.
    Shal. Let them keep their limbs hole, and hack
    1225 our English.
    Doc. Hark van vrd in your eare. You be vn daga
    And de Iack, coward preest.
    Sir Hu. Harke you, let vs not be laughing stockes
    to other mens humors. By Ieshu I will knock your
    vrinalls about your knaues cockcomes, for missing
    1233.1your meetings and appointments.
    1235Doc. O Ieshu mine host of de garter, Iohn Rogoby,
    Haue I not met him at de place he make apoint,
    1236.1Haue I not?
    Sir Hu. So kad vdge me, this is the pointment (place,
    Witnes by my Host of the garter.
    Host. Peace I say gawle and gawlia, French and(Wealch,
    Soule curer, and bodie curer.
    Doc. This is verie braue, excellent.
    Host. Peace I say, heare mine host of the garter,
    D3 Am
    A pleasant Comedie, of
    1245Am I wise? am I polliticke? am I Matchauil?
    Shall I lose my doctor? No, he giues me the motiõs
    And the potions. Shall I lose my parson, my sir Hu?
    No, he giues me the prouerbes, and the nouerbes:
    Giue me thy hand terestiall,
    1249.1So giue me thy hand celestiall:
    So boyes of art I haue deceiued you both,
    1250I haue directed you to wrong places,
    Your hearts are mightie, you skins are whole,
    Bardolfe laie their swords to pawne. Follow me lads
    Of peace, follow me. Ha, ra, la. Follow. Exit Host.
    1255Shal. Afore God a mad host, come let vs goe.
    Doc. I begar haue you mocka may thus?
    I will be euen met you my Iack Host.
    1258.1Sir Hu. Giue me your hand Doctor Cayus,
    We be all friends:
    1261.1But for mine hosts foolish knauery, let me alone.
    1260Doc. I dat be vell begar I be friends. (Exit omnes
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