firmly on his wife's fealty, yet I cannot put off my opinion fo eafily. She was in his company at Page's houfe; and what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look further into't; and I have a difguife to found Falftaff: if I find her honeft, I lose not my la bour; if he be otherwife, 'tis labour well beftow'd. [Exit.

SCENE VII.

Changes to the Garter-Inn.

Enter Falstaff and Pistol.

Fal. Will not lend thee a penny.

Pist. Why then the world's mine oyster, which I with fword will open.I will retort the fum in Equipage.

Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, Sir, you fhould lay my countenance to pawn; I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you, and your couch-fellow, Nym; or elfe you had look'd through the grate, like a geminy of baboons. I am damn'd in hell for fwearing to gentlemen, my friends, you were good foldiers, and tall fellows. And when Mrs. Bridget loft the handle of her fan, I took't upon mine honour, thou hadst it not.

Pift. Didft thou not fhare? hadft thou not fifteen pence?

Fal. Reafon, you rogue, reason: think'st thou, I'll endanger my foul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me, I am no gibbet for you.-Go.-A fhort knife and a throng-to your manor of ' Pickt-batch.-Go.You'll not bear a letter for me, you rogue!-you stand upon your honour!-why, thou unconfinable bafeness, it is as much as I can do to keep the term of my honour precife. I, I, I myself fometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my neceffity, am fain to fhuffle, to hedge and to lurch; and yet you rogue will enfconce your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red lettice phrafes, and your bold-beating oaths, under the fhelter of honour! You will not do it, you!

your Pift. I do relent: what wouldst thou more of man?

Enter Robin.

Rob. Sir, here's a woman would fpeak with you.
Fal. Let her approach.

SCENE VIII.

Enter Mrs. Quickly.

Quic. Give your worship good-morrow.
Fal. Good morrow, good wife.

Quic. Not fo, and't please your worship.

Fal. Good maid, then.

Quic. I'll be fworn, as my mother was, the firft hour I was born.

Fal. I do believe the fwearer; what with me? Fal. Quic. Shall I vouchfafe your worship a word or two?

Fal. Two thoufand, fair woman, and I'll vouchfafe thee the hearing.

Quic. There is one miftrefs Ford, Sir-I pray, come a little nearer this ways-I myself dwell with Mr. Doctor Caius.

Fal. Well, on: miftrefs Ford, you fay

Quic. Your worship fays very true: I pray your worship, come a little nearer this ways.

Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears-minę own people, mine own people.

Quic. Are they fo? heav'n bless them, and make them his fervants!

Fal. Well: miftrefs Ford,

what of her?

Quic. Why, Sir, fhe's a good creature. Lord, lord, your worship's a wanton: well, heav'n forgive you, and all of us, I pray

Fal. Miftrefs Ford,- -come, miftrefs Ford,

Quic. Marry, this is the fhort and the long of it; you have brought her into fuch a canaries, as 'tis wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windfor, could never have brought her to fuch a canary. Yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift, fmelling fo fweetly; all muk; and fo ruling, I warrant you, in filk and gold, and in fuch alligant terms, and in fuch wine and fugar of the best, and the fairest, that would have won any woman's heart: and, I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myfelf twenty angels given me this morning; but I defy all angels in any fuch fort as they fay, but in the

4 Canary] This is the name in low language for any hurry or of a brifk light dance, and is perturbation.

therefore properly enough ufed

Įi3

way

way of honefty. And I warrant you, they could never get her fo much as fip on a cup with the proudeft of them all. And yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, penfioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

Fal. But what fays the to me? be brief, my good She Mercury.

Quic. Marry, the hath receiv'd your letter, for the which the thanks you a thoufand times; and the gives you to notify, that her husband will be abfence from his house between ten and eleven.

Fal. Ten and eleven.

Quic. Ay, forfooth; and then you may come and fee the picture, the fays, that you wot of-master Ford, her husband, will be from home. Alas! the fweet woman leads an ill life with him, he's a very jealoufy man; he leads a very ' frampold life with him, good

heart.

Fal. Ten and eleven: woman, commend me to her, I will not fail her.

Quic. Why, you fay well. But I have another meffenger to your worship; miftrefs Page has her hearty commendations to you too; and let me tell you in your ear, fhe's as fartuous a civil modeft wife, and one (I tell you) that will not mifs you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windfor, whoe'er be the other; and the bad me tell your worship, that her husband is feldom from home, but, fhe hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a woman fo doat upon a man; furely, I think you have charms, la; yes, in truth. Fal. Not I, I affure thee; fetting the attraction of my good parts afide, I have no other charms. Quic. Bleffing on your heart for't!

Fal. But I pray thee, tell me this; has Ford's wife,

5 Frampold.] This word I have never seen elsewhere except in Dr. Hacket's life of Archbishop

Williams, where a frampul man fignifies a peevish troublesome fellow.

and

and Page's wife, acquainted each other how they love me?

Quic. That were a jeft, indeed; they have not fo little grace, I hope; that were a trick, indeed! but mistress Page would defire you to fend her your little page, of all loves: her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page; and, truly, mafter Page is an honeft man. Never a wife in Windfor leads a better life, than fhe does; do what the will, fay what the will, take all, pay all, go to bed when the lift, rife when the lift, all is as fhe will; and truly fhe deferves it; for if there be a kind woman in Windfor, truly, fhe is one. You must fend her your page; no remedy.

Fal. Why, I will.

Quic. Nay, but do fo then; and look you, he may come and go between you both, and in any cafe have a nay-word, that you may know one another's mind: and the boy never need to understand any thing; for 'tis not good, that children fhould know any wickednefs: old folks, you know, have difcretion, as they fay, and know the world.

Fal. Fare thee well; commend me to them both : there's my purfe, I am yet thy debtor-Boy, go along with this woman.-This news diftracts me!

[Exeunt Quickly and Robin. Pift. This pink is one of Cupid's carriers:

In former editions, This PUNK is one of Cupid's curriers,

Clap en more fails; purfue;

Clap

This PINK is one of Cupid's

carriers,

and then the fenfe is proper, and the metaphor, which is all the up with your fights, way taken from the marine, enGive fire; he is my prize.] tire. A Pink is a veffel of the This punk is one of Cupid's carfmall craft, employed as a carriers, is a plaufible reading, yet rier (and fo called) for merabfurd on examination. For are chants. Fletcher uses the word, not all punks Cupid's carriers? in his Tamer Tamed. Shakespeare certainly wrote, li 4

This