Not Peer Reviewed
- Edition: The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Modern, Quarto)
- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
I pray you do so much as see if you can espy1161707 Doctor Caius coming, and give me intelligence,1161.1708 or bring me 'ord if you please now.
I will, sir. [Exit.]
And then she made him beds of roses
There dwelt a man in Babylon,
[Re-enter Simple.]
Sir, here is Master Page and Master Shallow719 coming hither as fast as they can.
Then it is very necessary I put up my sword.721 Pray give me my cown too, mark you.
[He sheathes his sword, puts on his gown, and opens his bible.]
God save you, Sir Hugh.
God save you, Master Parson.
God pless you all from his mercy's sake now.
Well, Sir Hugh, we are come to crave731 your help and furtherance in a matter.
What is, I pray you?
I'faith, 'tis this, Sir Hugh. There is an ancient734 friend of ours, a man of very good sort, so at odds1203735 with his patience, that I am sure you would heartily736 grieve to see him. Now, Sir Hugh, you are a scholar1203.1737 well read and very persuasive; we would entreat1203.2738 you to see if you could entreat him to patience.
I pray you, who is it? Let us know that.
I am sure you know him: 'tis Doctor Caius.
I had as lief you should tell me of a mess of porridge.1215742 He is an arrant lousy beggarly knave,743 and he is a coward beside.
[To Shallow] Why, I'll lay my life 'tis the man745 that he should fight withal.
8.22.11217.1746 Enter Doctor and the Host [with Bardolph]. The [Doctor and the Parson]1217.2747 offer to fight.
Keep them asunder, take away their weapons!
Disarm! Let them question.
[Page and the Host take away the weapons and give them to Bardolph.]
[Aside to Caius] Hark you, let us not be laughingstocks755 to other men's humors. [Aloud to Caius] By Jeshu, I will knock your1233756 urinals about your knave's coxcombs for missing1233.1757 your meetings and appointments.
[Aloud to the others] Oh, Jesu, mine host of de garter, John Rogoby,1236759 have I not met him at de place he make appoint,1236.1760 have I not?
This is very brave, excellent!
Peace, I say, hear mine host of the Garter!1245767 Am I wise? Am I politic? Am I Machiavel?1246768 Shall I lose my doctor? No, he gives me the motions1247769 and the potions. Shall I lose my parson, my Sir Hugh?1248770 No, he gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs:1249771 [To Caius] Give me thy hand terrestrial.1249.1772 So. [To Evans] Give me thy hand celestial.773 So. Boys of art, I have deceived you both:1250774 I have directed you to wrong places.1251775 Your hearts are mighty, your skins are whole.1252776 -- Bardolph, lay their swords to pawn. Follow me, lads1253777 of peace, follow me. Ha, ra, la! Follow!
8.32.1 Exit Host [with Bardolph].
Afore God, a mad host! Come, let us go.
[Exeunt Shallow, Slender, and Page.]
Give me your hand, Doctor Caius.1261782 We be all friends,1261.1783 but for mine host's foolish knavery, let me alone.
Ay, dat be vell, begar! I be friends.
8.36.1 [They shake hands and] exeunt [with Rugby.]