Not Peer Reviewed
- Edition: The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Modern, Quarto)
- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
What would thou have, boor, what, thickskin?22211301 Speak, breathe, discuss -- short, quick, brief, snap!
Sir, I am sent from my master to Sir John Falstaff.
Sir John, there's his castle, his standing bed,22261304 his trundle bed. His chamber is painted about with22271305 the story of the prodigal, fresh and new. Go, knock.22281306 He'll speak like an Anthropophaginian to thee.22291307 Knock, I say.!
Sir, I should speak with an old woman that1309 went up into his chamber.
An old woman? The knight may be robbed.22341311 I'll call. -- Bully knight, bully Sir John! Speak from thy22351312 lungs military. It is thine host, thy Ephesian, calls.
[Voice from above] Now, mine host.
Here is a Bohemian Tartar, bully, tarries the1315 coming down of the fat woman. Let her descend,22401316 bully, let her descend! My chambers are honorable --1317 pah, privacy, fie!
Marry, was it, mussel shell? What would you?
Marry, sir, my Master Slender sent me to her,22491325 to know whether one Nym, that hath his chain,1326 cozened him of it or no.
I talked with the woman about it.
And I pray, sir, what says she?
Marry, she says the very same man that22551330 beguiled Master Slender of his chain1331 cozened him of it.
May I be bold to tell my master so, sir?
Ay, tyke, who more bold?
I thank you, sir. I shall make my master a22731335 glad man at these tidings. God be with you, sir. [Exit.]
Marry, was there, mine host, one that taught22771339 me more wit than I learned this seven year,22781340 and I paid nothing for it,1341 but was paid for my learning.
Oh, lord, sir, cozenage, plain cozenage!
Rid away with your horses.22841347 After I came beyond Maidenhead,1348 they flung me in a slough of mire, and away they ran.
Where be my Host de Garteer?
Oh, here, sir, in perplexity.
16.26 I cannot tell vad be dad,1353 but, begar, I will tell you van ting:23031354 Dere be a Garmaine duke come to de court,2303.11355 has cozened all de host of Bren'ford2203.21356 and Reading! Begar, I tell you for good will!2303.31357 Ha, ha, mine host, am I even met you?
16.26.1 Exit.
16.28 Where is mine Host of the Garter?22921360 Now, my Host, I would desire you, look you now,2292.11361 to have a care of your entertainments,22931362 for there is three sorts of cozen-garmombles22941363 is cozen all the host of Maidenhead and Readings.22951364 Now you are an honest man, and a scurvy2295.11365 beggarly lousy knave beside,2295.21366 and can point wrong places.2295.31367 I tell you for good will, and grate why, mine host.
16.28.1 Exit.
16.30 I am cozened -- hue and cry, Bardolph! [Exit Bardolph.]1369 Sweet knight, assist me, I am cozened!
16.30.1 Exit.
Would all the worl' were cozened for me,23101371 for I am cozened and beaten too.23161372 Well, I never prospered since I forswore23171373 myself at primero. An my wind1374 were but long enough to say my prayers,23181375 I'd repent.
Now, from whence come you?
From the two parties, forsooth.
The devil take the one party,1379 and his dam the other,23221380 and they'll be both bestowed.1381 I have endured more for their sakes23231382 than man is able to endure.
Oh, lord, sir, they are the sorrowful'st creatures23261384 that ever lived, specially Mistress Ford.1385 Her husband hath beaten her that she is all23271386 black and blue, poor soul.
What, tellest me of black and blue?1388 I have been beaten all the colors in the rainbow,23311389 and in my escape like to ha' been apprehended1390 for a witch of Brentford, and set in the stocks.
Well sir, she is a sorrowful woman,23371392 and I hope when you hear my errand,1393 you'll be persuaded to the contrary.
16.38.1 Exeunt.