ACT III SCENE 2.
The street in Windsor
Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN
| MRS.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?
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| ROBIN. | I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than
follow him like a dwarf.
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| MRS.PAGE. | O, you are a flattering boy; now I see you'll be a
courtier.
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Enter FORD
| FORD. | Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?
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| MRS.PAGE. | Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
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| FORD. | Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want of
company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two
would marry.
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| MRS.PAGE. | write_ads(1,1)> Be sure of that-two other husbands.
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| FORD. | Where had you this pretty weathercock?
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| MRS.PAGE. | I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my
husband had him of. What do you call your knight's
name, sirrah?
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| ROBIN. | Sir John Falstaff.
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| FORD. | Sir John Falstaff!
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| MRS.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
home indeed?
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| FORD. | Indeed she is.
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| MRS.PAGE. | By your leave, sir. I am sick till I see her.
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Exeunt MRS. PAGE and ROBIN
| FORD. | write_ads(1,1)> Has Page any brains? Hath he any eyes? Hath he any
thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why,
this boy will carry a letter twenty mile as easy as a cannon
will shoot pointblank 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
man may hear this show'r 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 Mistress Page, divulge Page himself
for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings
all my neighbours shall cry aim. [Clock strikes]
The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me
search; there I shall find Falstaff. I shall be rather prais'd
for this than mock'd; for it is as positive as the earth is firm
that Falstaff is there. I will go.
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Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS,
CAIUS, and RUGBY
| SHALLOW, PAGE, &C. | Well met, Master Ford.
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| FORD. | Trust me, a good knot; I have good cheer at home,
and I pray you all go with me.
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| SHALLOW. | I must excuse myself, Master Ford.
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| SLENDER. | And so must I, sir; we have appointed to dine with
Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more
money than I'll speak of.
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| SHALLOW. | We have linger'd about a match between Anne
Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have
our answer.
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| SLENDER. | I hope I have your good will, father Page.
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| PAGE. | You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you. But
my wife, Master Doctor, is for you altogether.
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| CAIUS. | Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me; my nursh-a
Quickly tell me so mush.
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| HOST. | What say you to young Master Fenton? He capers,
he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks
holiday, he smells April and May; he will carry 't, he will
carry 't; 'tis in his buttons; he will carry 't.
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| PAGE. | Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is
of no having: he kept company with the wild Prince 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.
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| 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.
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| SHALLOW. | Well, fare you well; we shall have the freer
wooing at Master Page's
Exeunt SHALLOW and SLENDER
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| CAIUS. | Go home, John Rugby; I come anon
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Exit RUGBY
| HOST. | Farewell, my hearts; I will to my honest knight
Falstaff, and drink canary with him
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Exit HOST
| FORD. | [Aside] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with
him. I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?
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| ALL. | Have with you to see this monster
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Exeunt
Next
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