Quic. Sir, let me fpeak with you in your Chamber, you fhall hear how things go, and, I warrant, to your Content. Here is a Letter will fay fomewhat. Good Hearts, what ado is here to bring you together? Sure one of you does not erve Heav'n well, that you are fo cross'd.

Fal. Come up into my Chamber.

SCENE VI.

Enter Fenton and Hoft.

[Exeunt.

Hoft. Mafter Fenton, talk not to me, my Mind is heavy, I will give over all.

Fent. Yet hear me fpeak; affift me in my Purpose, And, as I am a Gentleman, I'll give thee

A hundred Pound in Gold, more than your Lofs.
Hoft. I will hear you, Mafter Fenton; and I will, at the
leaft, keep your Counsel.

Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear Love I bear to fair Anne Page,
Who, mutually, hath anfwer'd my Affection,
(So far forth as her felf might be her Chufer)
Even to my With; I have a Letter from her
Of fuch Contents, as you will wonder at;
Thy Mirth whereof, fo larded with my Matter,
That neither fingly can be manifefted,
Without the fhew of both. Fat Sir John Falstaff
Hath' a great Scene; the Image of the Jeft
I'll fhew you here at large. Hark good mine Hoft;
To Night at Herne's Oak, juft 'twixt twelve and one,
Muft my fweet Nan prefent the Fairy Queen,
The Purpose why is here; in which Difguif,
While other Jefts are fomething rank on Foot,
Her Father hath commanded her to flip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eaton
Immediately to marry; fhe hath confented. Now Sir,
Her Mother, even ftrong against that Match,
And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he hall likewife fhuffle her away,
While other Sports are tasking of their Minds,
And at the Deanry, where a Prielt attends,
Straight marry her; to this her Mother's Plot

She,

She, feemingly obedient, likewife hath

Made Promife to the Doctor: Now thus it refts;
Her Father means the fhall be all in White,
And in that Habit, when Slender fees his time
To take her by the Hand, and bid her go,
She fhall go with him. Her Mother hath intended,
The better to devote her to the Doctor,
(For they must all be mask'd and vizarded)
That quaint in Green, the fhall be loose enrob'd,
With Ribbands-Pendant, flaring 'bout her Head;
And when the Doctor fpies his Vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the Hand, and on that Token,
The Maid hath given Confent to go with him.

Hoft. Which means fhe to deceive? Father or Mother? Fent. Both, my good Hoft, to go along with me, And here it refts, that you'll procure the Vicar To stay for me at Church, 'twixt twelve and on, And in the lawful Name of marrying,

To give our Hearts united Ceremony.

Hoft. Husband your Device; I'll to the Vicar. Bring you the Maid, you fhall not lack a Prieft. Fent. So fhall I evermore be bound to thee; Befide, I'll make a prefent Recompence.

Fal.

A CT V.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

Enter Falstaff and Mistress Quickly.

PRithee no more pratling; go, I'll hold. This is the

time; I hope good Luck lyes in odd Numbers; away, go, they fay there is Divinity in odd Numbers, either in Nativity, Chance or Death; away.

Quic. I'll provide you a Chain, and I'll do what I can. to get you a Pair of Horns. [Exit Mrs. Quickly. Fal. Away, I fay, time wears; hold up your Head, and mince. Enter Ford.

How now, Mr. Broom? Mr. Broom, the Matter will be known to Night, or never. Be you in the Park about MidNight, at Herne's Oak, and you fhall fee Wonders.

Ford. Went you not to her Yefterday, Sir, as you told me you had appointed?

Fal.

Fal. I went to her, Mafter Broom, as you fee, like a poor old Man; but I came from her, Mafter Broom, like a poor old Woman. That fame Knave, Ford her Husband, hath the finest mad Devil of Jealoufie in him, Mafter Broom, that ever govern'd Frenzy. I will tell you, he beat me grievously, in the shape of a Woman; for in the shape of a Man, Mafter Broom, I fear not Goliah with a Weaver's Beam, because I know alfo Life is a Shuttle. I am in hafte, go along with me, I'll tell you all, Mafter Broom. Since I pluckt Geefe, play'd Truant, and whipt Top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, 'till lately. Follow me, I'll tell you ftrange things of this Knave Ford, on whom to Night I will be reveng'd, and I will deliver his Wife into your Hand. Follow, ftrange things in hand. Mafter Broom, follow. [Exeunt.

Enter Page, Shallow and Slender.

Page. Come, come; we'll couch i'th' Castle-ditch, 'till we fee the light of our Fairies. Remember, Son Slender, my Daughter.

Slen. Ay Forfooth, I have fpoke with her, and we have a Nay-word how to know one another. I come to her in white and cry Mum, fhe cries Budget, and by that we know one another.

Shal. That's good too; but what needs either your Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well enough. It hath ftruck ten a Clock.

Page. The Night is dark, Light and Spirits will become it well; Heav'n profper our Sport. No Man means evil but the Devil, and we fhall know him by his Horns. Let's away; follow me.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

when

Enter Mistress Page, Miftrefs Ford and Caius. Mrs. Page. Mr. Doctor, my Daughter is in green; you fee your time, take her by the Hand, away with her to the Deanry, and difpatch it quickly; go before into the Park; we two must go together.

Caius. I know vat I have to do; adieu.

[Exit.

Mrs. Page. Fare you well, Sir. My Husband will not rejoice fo much at the Abuse of Falstaff, as he will chafe at the Doctor's marrying my Daughter: But 'tis no matter; better a little chiding, than a great deal of heart-break.

Mrs. Ford. Where is Nan now, and her Troop of Fairies, and the Welch Devil Herne?

Mrs. Page. They are all couch'd in a Pit hard by Herne's Oak, with obfcur'd Lights; which at the very inftant of Falstaff's and our meeting they will at once display to the Night.

Mrs. Ford. That cannot chufe but amaze him.

Mrs. Page. If he be not amaz'd he will be mock'd; if he be amaz'd he will be mock'd.

Mrs. Ford. We'll betray him finely.

Mrs. Page. Againft fuch Leudfters, and their Lechery, Thofe that betray them do no Treachery

Mrs. Ford. The Hour draws on; to the Oak, to the Oak. [Exeunt

SCENE IV.

Enter Evans and Fairies.

Eva. Trib, trib, Fairies; come, and remember your Parts: Be bold, I pray you, follow me into the Pit, and when I give the Watch-'ords do as I bid you : Come, come, rib, trib. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Enter Falftaff.

Fal. The Windfor Bell hath ftruck twelve, the Minute draws on; now the hot-blooded God affift me. Remember, Jove, thou waft a Bull for thy Europa; Love fet on thy Horns. Oh powerful Love! that in fome refpe&s makes a Beaft a Man; in fome other, a Man a Beaft. You were alfo, Jupiter, a Swan, for the love of Leda: O omnipotent Love! how near the God drew to the Complexion of a Goose; a Fault done firft in the form of a Beast, O Jove, a beaftly Fault; and then another Fault in the femblance of a Fowl; think on't, Jove, a foul Fault. When

Gods

Gods have hot Backs, what shall poor Men do? For me, I am here a Windfor Stag, and the fatteft I think, i'th' Forreft. Send me a cool Rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to pifs my Tallow? Who comes here? my Dove? Enter Miftrefs Ford and Mistress Page.

Mrs. Ford. Sir John? Art thou there, my Deer? My Male-Deer?

Fal. My Doe with the black Scut? Let the Sky rain Potatoes, let it thunder to the Tune of Green-Sleeves, hail kiffing-Comfits, and fnow Eringoes, let there come a Tempeft of Provocation, I will fhelter me here.

Mrs. Ford. Miftrefs Page is come with me, fweet Heart. Fal. Divide me like a brib'd Buck, each a Haunch, I will keep my Sides to my felf, my Shoulders for the Fellow of this Walk, and my Horns I bequeath your Husbands. Am I a Woodman, ha? Speak I like Herne the Hunter? Why, now is Cupid a Child of Confcience, he makes Refitution. As I am a true Spirit, welcome. [Noife within. Mrs. Page. Alas! what Noife?

Mrs. Ford. Heav'n forgive our Sins.

Fal. What fhould this be?

Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Page. Away, away. [The Women run out, Fal. I think the Devil will not have me damn'd, Left the Oil that is in me fhould fet Hell on Fire; He would never elfe croís me thus.

Enter Fairies.

Quic. Fairies, black, gray, green, and white, You Moon-fhine Revellers, and Shades of Night, You Orphan-Heirs of fixed Destiny,

Attend your Office, and your Quality.

Crier Hobgoblin, make the Fairy O-yes

Pift. Elves, lift your Names; filence, you airy Toys.

Cricket, to Windfor Chimneys fhalt thou leap:

Where Fires thou find'ft unrak'd, and Hearths unfwept, There pinch the Maids as blew as Bilbery.

Our radiant Queen hates Sluts and Sluttery.

Fal. They are Fairies, he that speaks to them fhall die. I'll wink and couch; no Man their Works must eye.

[Lyes down upon his Face. Eva. Where's Bede? Go you, and where you find a Maid Than e'er the fleep has thrice her Prayers faid,