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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter M. Foord.
    1268.1For. The time drawes on he shuld come to my(house,
    Well wife, you had best worke closely,
    Or I am like to goe beyond your cunning:
    I now wil seek my guesse that comes to dinner,
    1268.5And in good time see where they all are come.
    Enter Shallow, Page, host, Slender, Doctor,
    and sir Hugh.
    By my faith a knot well met: your welcome all.
    Pa. I thanke you good M. Ford.
    1268.10For. Welcome good M. Page,
    I would your daughter were here.
    Pa. I thank you sir, she is very well at home.
    Slen. Father Page I hope I haue your consent
    For Misteris Anne?
    Pa.
    the merry wives of windsor.
    Pa. You haue sonne Slender, but my wife here,
    Is altogether for maister Doctor.
    1325Doc. Begar I tanck her hartily:
    Host. But what say you to yong Maister Fenton?
    He capers, he daunces, he writes verses, he smelles
    All April and May: he wil cary it, he wil carit,
    1330Tis in his betmes he wil carite.
    Pa. My host not with my cõsent: the gentleman is
    Wilde, he knowes too much: If he take her,
    1335Let him take her simply: for my goods goes
    With my liking, and my liking goes not that way.
    For. Well I pray go home with me to dinner:
    Besides your cheare Ile shew you wonders: Ile
    1340Shew you a monster. You shall go with me
    M. Page, and so shall you sir Hugh, and you Maister
    Doctor.
    1341.1S Hu If there be one in the company, I shal make(two:
    Doc. And dere be ven to, I sall make de tird:
    Sir Hu, In your teeth for shame,
    Shal: wel, wel, God be with you, we shall haue the (fairer
    1341.5Wooing at Maister Pages:
    Exit Shallow and Slender,
    1345Host Ile to my honest knight sir Iohn Falstaffe,
    And drinke Canary with him. Exit host.
    Ford. I may chance to make him drinke in pipe (wine,
    First come gentlemen. Exit omnes.