The Merry Wives of Windsor

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ACT III SCENE II	A street.
[Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN]
MISTRESS PAGE	Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to
	be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether
	had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels?
ROBIN	I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man
	than follow him like a dwarf.	5
MISTRESS PAGE	O, you are a flattering boy: now I see you'll be a courtier.
[Enter FORD]
FORD	Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?
MISTRESS PAGE	Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
FORD	Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want
	of company. I think, if your husbands were dead,	10
	you two would marry.
MISTRESS PAGE	Be sure of that,--two other husbands.
FORD	Where had you this pretty weather-cock?
MISTRESS PAGE	I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my
	husband had him of. What do you call your knight's	15
	name, sirrah?
ROBIN	Sir John Falstaff.
FORD	Sir John Falstaff!
MISTRESS PAGE	He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such a
	league between my good man and he! Is your wife at	20
	home indeed?
FORD	Indeed she is.
MISTRESS PAGE	By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.
[Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN]
FORD	Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any
	thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them.	25
	Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, as
	easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve
	score. He pieces out his wife's inclination; he
	gives her folly motion and advantage: and now she's
	going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A	30
	man may hear this shower sing in the wind. And
	Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots, they are laid;
	and our revolted wives share damnation together.
	Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck
	the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming	35
	Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and
	wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings all
	my neighbours shall cry aim.
[Clock heard]
	The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me
	search: there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be	40
	rather praised for this than mocked; for it is as
	positive as the earth is firm that Falstaff is
	there: I will go.
[ Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, Host, SIR HUGH EVANS, DOCTOR CAIUS, and RUGBY ]
PAGE	Well met, Master Ford.
	&c.	45
FORD	Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at home;
	and I pray you all go with me.
SHALLOW	I must excuse myself, Master Ford.
SLENDER	And so must I, sir: we have appointed to dine with
	Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for	50
	more money than I'll speak of.
SHALLOW	We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and
	my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.
SLENDER	I hope I have your good will, father Page.
PAGE	You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you:	55
	but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.
DOCTOR CAIUS	Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a
	Quickly tell me so mush.
Host	What say you to young Master Fenton? he capers, he
	dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he	60
	speaks holiday, he smells April and May: he will
	carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons; he
	will carry't.
PAGE	Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is
	of no having: he kept company with the wild prince	65
	and Poins; he is of too high a region; he knows too
	much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes
	with the finger of my substance: if he take her,
	let him take her simply; the wealth I have waits on
	my consent, and my consent goes not that way.	70
FORD	I beseech you heartily, some of you go home with me
	to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have
	sport; I will show you a monster. Master doctor,
	you shall go; so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh.
SHALLOW	Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing	75
	at Master Page's.
[Exeunt SHALLOW, and SLENDER]
DOCTOR CAIUS	Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
[Exit RUGBY]
Host	Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight
	Falstaff, and drink canary with him.
[Exit]
FORD	[Aside] I think I shall drink in pipe wine first	80
	with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?
All	Have with you to see this monster.
[Exeunt]