The Merry Wives of Windsor
The full text of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor : Act 3 Scene 2| << The Merry Wives of Windsor - Act 3 Scene 1 | The Merry Wives of Windsor - Act 3 Scene 3 >> |
A 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? |
| Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than follow him like a dwarf. |
| Mrs. 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? |
| Mrs. 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, you two would marry. |
| Mrs. Page. Be sure of that,—two other husbands. |
| Ford. Where had you this pretty weather-cock? |
| 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? |
| Rob. Sir John Falstaff. |
| Ford. Sir John Falstaff! |
| 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? |
| Ford. Indeed she is. |
| Mrs. 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. 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 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 Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Actæon; 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 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, CAIUS, and RUGBY. |
| Page, Shal., &c. Well met, Master Ford. |
| Ford. Trust me, a good knot. I have good cheer at home; and I pray you all go with me. |
| Shal. I must excuse myself, Master Ford. |
| Slen. 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. |
| Shal. We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer. |
| Slen. I hope I have your good will, father Page. |
| Page. You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you: but my wife, Master doctor, is for you altogether. |
| Caius. Ay, by 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 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 and Pointz; 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. |
| 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. |
| Shal. Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing at Master Page's. [Exeunt SHALLOW and SLENDER. |
| 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 Host. |
| Ford. [Aside.] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles? |
| All.Have with you to see this monster. [Exeunt. |
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