The Merry Wives of Windsor

Yet once againe (to make vs publike sport)

Appoint a meeting with this old fat-fellow,

Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it

Ford. There is no better way then that they spoke of

Page. How? to send him word they'll meete him in the Parke at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll neuer come

Eu. You say he has bin throwne in the Riuers: and has bin greeuously peaten, as an old o'man: me-thinkes there should be terrors in him, that he should not come: Me-thinkes his flesh is punish'd, hee shall haue no desires

Page. So thinke I too

M.Ford. Deuise but how you'l vse him whe[n] he comes,

And let vs two deuise to bring him thether

Mis.Page. There is an old tale goes, that Herne the

Hunter (sometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest)

Doth all the winter time, at still midnight

Walke round about an Oake, with great rag'd-hornes,

And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,

And make milch-kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaine

In a most hideous and dreadfull manner.

You haue heard of such a Spirit, and well you know

The superstitious idle-headed-Eld

Receiu'd, and did deliuer to our age

This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth

Page. Why yet there want not many that do feare

In deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake:

But what of this?

Mist.Ford. Marry this is our deuise,

That Falstaffe at that Oake shall meete with vs

Page. Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,

And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether,

What shall be done with him? What is your plot?

Mist.Pa. That likewise haue we thoght vpon: & thus:

Nan Page (my daughter) and my little sonne,

And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresse

Like Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,

With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,

And rattles in their hands; vpon a sodaine,

As Falstaffe, she, and I, are newly met,

Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at once

With some diffused song: Vpon their sight

We two, in great amazednesse will flye:

Then let them all encircle him about,

And Fairy-like to pinch the vncleane Knight;

And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,

In their so sacred pathes, he dares to tread

In shape prophane

Ford. And till he tell the truth,

Let the supposed Fairies pinch him, sound,

And burne him with their Tapers

Mist.Page. The truth being knowne,

We'll all present our selues; dis-horne the spirit,

And mocke him home to Windsor

Ford. The children must

Be practis'd well to this, or they'll neu'r doo't

Eua. I will teach the children their behauiours: and I will be like a Iacke-an-Apes also, to burne the Knight with my Taber

Ford. That will be excellent,

Ile go buy them vizards

Mist.Page. My Nan shall be the Queene of all the

Fairies, finely attired in a robe of white

Page. That silke will I go buy, and in that time

Shall M[aster]. Slender steale my Nan away,

And marry her at Eaton: go, send to Falstaffe straight

Ford. Nay, Ile to him againe in name of Broome,

Hee'l tell me all his purpose: sure hee'l come

Mist.Page. Feare not you that: Go get vs properties

And tricking for our Fayries

Euans. Let vs about it,

It is admirable pleasures, and ferry honest knaueries

Mis.Page. Go Mist[ris]. Ford,

Send quickly to Sir Iohn, to know his minde:

Ile to the Doctor, he hath my good will,

And none but he to marry with Nan Page:

That Slender (though well landed) is an Ideot:

And he, my husband best of all affects:

The Doctor is well monied, and his friends

Potent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,

Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.

Scena Quinta

Enter Host, Simple, Falstaffe, Bardolfe, Euans, Caius, Quickly.

Host. What wouldst thou haue? (Boore) what? (thick skin) speake, breathe, discusse: breefe, short, quicke, snap

Simp. Marry Sir, I come to speake with Sir Iohn Falstaffe from M[aster]. Slender

Host. There's his Chamber, his House, his Castle, his standing-bed and truckle-bed: 'tis painted about with the story of the Prodigall, fresh and new: go, knock and call: hee'l speake like an Anthropophaginian vnto thee: Knocke I say

Simp. There's an olde woman, a fat woman gone vp into his chamber: Ile be so bold as stay Sir till she come downe: I come to speake with her indeed

Host. Ha? A fat woman? The Knight may be robb'd:

Ile call. Bully-Knight, Bully Sir Iohn: speake from thy

Lungs Military: Art thou there? It is thine Host, thine

Ephesian cals

Fal. How now, mine Host? Host. Here's a Bohemian-Tartar taries the comming downe of thy fat-woman: Let her descend (Bully) let her descend: my Chambers are honourable: Fie, priuacy? Fie

Fal. There was (mine Host) an old-fat-woman euen now with me, but she's gone

Simp. Pray you Sir, was't not the Wise-woman of Brainford? Fal. I marry was it (Mussel-shell) what would you with her? Simp. My Master (Sir) my master Slender, sent to her seeing her go thorough the streets, to know (Sir) whether one Nim (Sir) that beguil'd him of a chaine, had the chaine, or no

Fal. I spake with the old woman about it

Sim. And what sayes she, I pray Sir?

Fal. Marry shee sayes, that the very same man that beguil'd Master Slender of his Chaine, cozon'd him of it

Simp. I would I could haue spoken with the Woman her selfe, I had other things to haue spoken with her too, from him

Fal. What are they? let vs know

Host. I: come: quicke

Fal. I may not conceale them (Sir.)

Host. Conceale them, or thou di'st

Sim. Why sir, they were nothing but about Mistris Anne Page, to know if it were my Masters fortune to haue her, or no

Fal. 'Tis, 'tis his fortune

Sim. What Sir?

Fal. To haue her, or no: goe; say the woman told me so

Sim. May I be bold to say so Sir?

Fal. I Sir: like who more bold

Sim. I thanke your worship: I shall make my Master

glad with these tydings

Host. Thou art clearkly: thou art clearkly (Sir Iohn) was there a wise woman with thee? Fal. I that there was (mine Host) one that hath taught me more wit, then euer I learn'd before in my life: and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for my learning

Bar. Out alas (Sir) cozonage: meere cozonage

Host. Where be my horses? speake well of them varletto

Bar. Run away with the cozoners: for so soone as I came beyond Eaton, they threw me off, from behinde one of them, in a slough of myre; and set spurres, and away; like three Germane-diuels; three Doctor Faustasses

Host. They are gone but to meete the Duke (villaine) doe not say they be fled: Germanes are honest men

Euan. Where is mine Host? Host. What is the matter Sir? Euan. Haue a care of your entertainments: there is a friend of mine come to Towne, tels mee there is three Cozen-Iermans, that has cozend all the Hosts of Reading, of Maidenhead; of Cole-brooke, of horses and money: I tell you for good will (looke you) you are wise, and full of gibes, and vlouting-stocks: and 'tis not conuenient you should be cozoned. Fare you well

Cai. Ver' is mine Host de Iarteere?

Host. Here (Master Doctor) in perplexitie, and doubtfull delemma

Cai. I cannot tell vat is dat: but it is tell-a-me, dat you make grand preparation for a Duke de Iamanie: by my trot: der is no Duke that the Court is know, to come: I tell you for good will: adieu

Host. Huy and cry, (villaine) goe: assist me Knight, I am vndone: fly, run: huy, and cry (villaine) I am vndone

Fal. I would all the world might be cozond, for I haue beene cozond and beaten too: if it should come to the eare of the Court, how I haue beene transformed; and how my transformation hath beene washd, and cudgeld, they would melt mee out of my fat drop by drop, and liquor Fishermens-boots with me: I warrant they would whip me with their fine wits, till I were as crest-falne as a dride-peare: I neuer prosper'd, since I forswore my selfe at Primero: well, if my winde were but long enough; I would repent: Now? Whence come you? Qui. From the two parties forsooth

Fal. The Diuell take one partie, and his Dam the other: and so they shall be both bestowed; I haue suffer'd more for their sakes; more then the villanous inconstancy of mans disposition is able to beare

Qui. And haue not they suffer'd? Yes, I warrant; speciously one of them; Mistris Ford (good heart) is beaten blacke and blew, that you cannot see a white spot about her

Fal. What tell'st thou mee of blacke, and blew? I was beaten my selfe into all the colours of the Rainebow: and I was like to be apprehended for the Witch of Braineford, but that my admirable dexteritie of wit, my counterfeiting the action of an old woman deliuer'd me, the knaue Constable had set me ith' Stocks, ith' common Stocks, for a Witch

Qu, Sir: let me speake with you in your Chamber, you shall heare how things goe, and (I warrant) to your content: here is a Letter will say somewhat: (good-hearts) what adoe here is to bring you together? Sure, one of you do's not serue heauen well, that you are so cross'd

Fal. Come vp into my Chamber.

Exeunt

Scena Sexta

Enter Fenton, Host.

Host. Master Fenton, talke not to mee, my minde is

heauy: I will giue ouer all

Fen. Yet heare me speake: assist me in my purpose,

And (as I am a gentleman) ile giue thee

A hundred pound in gold, more then your losse

Host. I will heare you (Master Fenton) and I will (at

the least) keepe your counsell

Fen. From time to time, I haue acquainted you

With the deare loue I beare to faire Anne Page,

Who, mutually, hath answer'd my affection,

(So farre forth, as her selfe might be her chooser)

Euen to my wish; I haue a letter from her

Of such contents, as you will wonder at;

The mirth whereof, so larded with my matter,

That neither (singly) can be manifested

Without the shew of both: fat Falstaffe

Hath a great Scene; the image of the iest

Ile show you here at large (harke good mine Host:)

To night at Hernes-Oke, iust 'twixt twelue and one,

Must my sweet Nan present the Faerie-Queene:

The purpose why, is here: in which disguise

While other Iests are something ranke on foote,

Her father hath commanded her to slip

Away with Slender, and with him, at Eaton

Immediately to Marry: She hath consented: Now Sir,

Her Mother, (euen strong against that match

And firme for Doctor Caius) hath appointed

That he shall likewise shuffle her away,

While other sports are tasking of their mindes,

And at the Deanry, where a Priest attends

Strait marry her: to this her Mothers plot

She seemingly obedient) likewise hath

Made promise to the Doctor: Now, thus it rests,

Her Father meanes she shall be all in white;

And in that habit, when Slender sees his time

To take her by the hand, and bid her goe,

She shall goe with him: her Mother hath intended

(The better to deuote her to the Doctor;

For they must all be mask'd, and vizarded)

That quaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab'd,

With Ribonds-pendant, flaring 'bout her head;

And when the Doctor spies his vantage ripe,

To pinch her by the hand, and on that token,

The maid hath giuen consent to go with him

Host. Which meanes she to deceiue? Father, or Mother

Fen. Both (my good Host) to go along with me:

And heere it rests, that you'l procure the Vicar

To stay for me at Church, 'twixt twelue, and one,

And in the lawfull name of marrying,

To giue our hearts vnited ceremony

Host. Well, husband your deuice; Ile to the Vicar,

Bring you the Maid, you shall not lacke a Priest

Fen. So shall I euermore be bound to thee;

Besides, Ile make a present recompence.

Exeunt

Actus Quintus

Scoena Prima

Enter Falstoffe, Quickly, and Ford.

Fal. Pre'thee no more pratling: go, Ile hold, this is the third time: I hope good lucke lies in odde numbers: Away, go, they say there is Diuinity in odde Numbers, either in natiuity, chance, or death: away

Qui. Ile prouide you a chaine, and Ile do what I can to get you a paire of hornes

Fall. Away I say, time weares, hold vp your head & mince. How now M[aster]. Broome? Master Broome, the matter will be knowne to night, or neuer. Bee you in the Parke about midnight, at Hernes-Oake, and you shall see wonders

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday (Sir) as you told me you had appointed? Fal. I went to her (Master Broome) as you see, like a poore-old-man, but I came from her (Master Broome) like a poore-old-woman; that same knaue (Ford hir husband) hath the finest mad diuell of iealousie in him (Master Broome) that euer gouern'd Frensie. I will tell you, he beate me greeuously, in the shape of a woman: (for in the shape of Man (Master Broome) I feare not Goliath with a Weauers beame, because I know also, life is a Shuttle) I am in hast, go along with mee, Ile tell you all (Master Broome:) since I pluckt Geese, plaide Trewant, and whipt Top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, till lately. Follow mee, Ile tell you strange things of this knaue Ford, on whom to night I will be reuenged, and I will deliuer his wife into your hand. Follow, straunge things in hand (M[aster]. Broome) follow.

Exeunt

Scena Secunda

Enter Page, Shallow, Slender.

Page. Come, come: wee'll couch i'th Castle-ditch, till we see the light of our Fairies. Remember son Slender, my Slen. I forsooth, I haue spoke with her, & we haue a nay-word, how to know one another. I come to her in white, and cry Mum; she cries Budget, and by that we know one another

Shal. That's good too: But what needes either your Mum, or her Budget? The white will decipher her well enough. It hath strooke ten a' clocke

Page. The night is darke, Light and Spirits will become it wel: Heauen prosper our sport. No man means euill but the deuill, and we shal know him by his hornes. Lets away: follow me.

Exeunt

Scena Tertia

Enter Mist.Page, Mist.Ford, Caius.

Mist.Page. Mr Doctor, my daughter is in green, when you see your time, take her by the hand, away with her to the Deanerie, and dispatch it quickly: go before into the Parke: we two must go together

Cai. I know vat I haue to do, adieu

Mist.Page. Fare you well (Sir:) my husband will not reioyce so much at the abuse of Falstaffe, as he will chafe at the Doctors marrying my daughter: But 'tis no matter; better a little chiding, then a great deale of heartbreake

Mist.Ford. Where is Nan now? and her troop of Fairies? and the Welch-deuill Herne? Mist.Page. They are all couch'd in a pit hard by Hernes Oake, with obscur'd Lights; which at the very instant of Falstaffes and our meeting, they will at once display to the night

Mist.Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him

Mist.Page. If he be not amaz'd he will be mock'd: If he be amaz'd, he will euery way be mock'd

Mist.Ford. Wee'll betray him finely

Mist.Page. Against such Lewdsters, and their lechery,

Those that betray them, do no treachery

Mist.Ford. The houre drawes-on: to the Oake, to the

Oake.

Exeunt

Scena Quarta

Enter Euans and Fairies.

Euans. Trib, trib Fairies: Come, and remember your parts: be pold (I pray you) follow me into the pit, and when I giue the watch-'ords, do as I pid you: Come, come, trib, trib.

Exeunt

Scena Quinta

Enter Falstaffe, Mistris Page, Mistris Ford, Euans, Anne Page,

Fairies,

Page, Ford, Quickly, Slender, Fenton, Caius, Pistoll.

Fal. The Windsor-bell hath stroke twelue: the Minute drawes-on: Now the hot-bloodied-Gods assist me: Remember Ioue, thou was't a Bull for thy Europa, Loue set on thy hornes. O powerfull Loue, that in some respects makes a Beast a Man: in som other, a Man a beast. You were also (Iupiter) a Swan, for the loue of Leda: O omnipotent Loue, how nere the God drew to the complexion of a Goose: a fault done first in the forme of a beast, (O Ioue, a beastly fault:) and then another fault, in the semblance of a Fowle, thinke on't (Ioue) a fowle-fault. When Gods haue hot backes, what shall poore men do? For me, I am heere a Windsor Stagge, and the fattest (I thinke) i'th Forrest. Send me a coole rut-time (Ioue) or who can blame me to pisse my Tallow? Who comes heere? my Doe? M.Ford. Sir Iohn? Art thou there (my Deere?) My male-Deere? Fal. My Doe, with the blacke Scut? Let the skie raine Potatoes: let it thunder, to the tune of Greenesleeues, haile-kissing Comfits, and snow Eringoes: Let there come a tempest of prouocation, I will shelter mee heere

M.Ford. Mistris Page is come with me (sweet hart.) Fal. Diuide me like a brib'd-Bucke, each a Haunch: I will keepe my sides to my selfe, my shoulders for the fellow of this walke; and my hornes I bequeath your husbands. Am I a Woodman, ha? Speake I like Herne the Hunter? Why, now is Cupid a child of conscience, he makes restitution. As I am a true spirit, welcome

M.Page. Alas, what noise?

M.Ford. Heauen forgiue our sinnes

Fal. What should this be?

M.Ford. M.Page. Away, away

Fal. I thinke the diuell wil not haue me damn'd,

Least the oyle that's in me should set hell on fire;

He would neuer else crosse me thus.

Enter Fairies.

Qui. Fairies blacke, gray, greene, and white,

You Moone-shine reuellers, and shades of night.

You Orphan heires of fixed destiny,

Attend your office, and your quality.

Crier Hob-goblyn, make the Fairy Oyes

Pist. Elues, list your names: Silence you aiery toyes.

Cricket, to Windsor-chimnies shalt thou leape;

Where fires thou find'st vnrak'd, and hearths vnswept,

There pinch the Maids as blew as Bill-berry,

Our radiant Queene, hates Sluts, and Sluttery

Fal. They are Fairies, he that speaks to them shall die,

Ile winke, and couch: No man their workes must eie

Eu. Wher's Bede? Go you, and where you find a maid

That ere she sleepe has thrice her prayers said,

Raise vp the Organs of her fantasie,

Sleepe she as sound as carelesse infancie,

But those as sleepe, and thinke not on their sins,

Pinch them armes, legs, backes, shoulders, sides, & shins

Qu. About, about:

Search Windsor Castle (Elues) within, and out.

Strew good lucke (Ouphes) on euery sacred roome,

That it may stand till the perpetuall doome,

In state as wholsome, as in state 'tis fit,

Worthy the Owner, and the Owner it.

The seuerall Chaires of Order, looke you scowre

With iuyce of Balme; and euery precious flowre,

Each faire Instalment, Coate, and seu'rall Crest,

With loyall Blazon, euermore be blest.

And Nightly-meadow-Fairies, looke you sing

Like to the Garters-Compasse, in a ring

Th' expressure that it beares: Greene let it be,

More fertile-fresh then all the Field to see:

And, Hony Soit Qui Maly-Pence, write

In Emrold-tuffes, Flowres purple, blew, and white,

Like Saphire-pearle, and rich embroiderie,

Buckled below faire Knight-hoods bending knee;

Fairies vse Flowres for their characterie.

Away, disperse: But till 'tis one a clocke,

Our Dance of Custome, round about the Oke

Of Herne the Hunter, let vs not forget

Euan. Pray you lock hand in hand: your selues in order set:

And twenty glow-wormes shall our Lanthornes bee

To guide our Measure round about the Tree.

But stay, I smell a man of middle earth

Fal. Heauens defend me from that Welsh Fairy,

Least he transforme me to a peece of Cheese

Pist. Vilde worme, thou wast ore-look'd euen in thy

birth

Qu. With Triall-fire touch me his finger end:

If he be chaste, the flame will backe descend

And turne him to no paine: but if he start,

It is the flesh of a corrupted hart

Pist. A triall, come

Eua. Come: will this wood take fire?

Fal. Oh, oh, oh

Qui. Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire.

About him (Fairies) sing a scornfull rime,

And as you trip, still pinch him to your time.

The Song.

Fie on sinnefull phantasie: Fie on Lust, and Luxurie:

Lust is but a bloudy fire, kindled with vnchaste desire,

Fed in heart whose flames aspire,

As thoughts do blow them higher and higher.

Pinch him (Fairies) mutually: Pinch him for his villanie.

Pinch him, and burne him, and turne him about,

Till Candles, & Star-light, & Moone-shine be out

Page. Nay do not flye, I thinke we haue watcht you now: Will none but Herne the Hunter serue your turne? M.Page. I pray you come, hold vp the iest no higher. Now (good Sir Iohn) how like you Windsor wiues? See you these husband? Do not these faire yoakes Become the Forrest better then the Towne? Ford. Now Sir, whose a Cuckold now? Mr Broome, Falstaffes a Knaue, a Cuckoldly knaue, Heere are his hornes Master Broome: And Master Broome, he hath enioyed nothing of Fords, but his Buck-basket, his cudgell, and twenty pounds of money, which must be paid to Mr Broome, his horses are arrested for it, Mr Broome

M.Ford. Sir Iohn, we haue had ill lucke: wee could neuer meete: I will neuer take you for my Loue againe, but I will alwayes count you my Deere

Fal. I do begin to perceiue that I am made an Asse

Ford. I, and an Oxe too: both the proofes are extant

Fal. And these are not Fairies: I was three or foure times in the thought they were not Fairies, and yet the guiltinesse of my minde, the sodaine surprize of my powers, droue the grossenesse of the foppery into a receiu'd beleefe, in despight of the teeth of all rime and reason, that they were Fairies. See now how wit may be made a Iacke-a-Lent, when 'tis vpon ill imployment

Euans. Sir Iohn Falstaffe, serue Got, and leaue your desires, and Fairies will not pinse you

Ford. Well said Fairy Hugh

Euans. And leaue you your iealouzies too, I pray

you

Ford. I will neuer mistrust my wife againe, till thou

art able to woo her in good English

Fal. Haue I laid my braine in the Sun, and dri'de it, that it wants matter to preuent so grosse ore-reaching as this? Am I ridden with a Welch Goate too? Shal I haue a Coxcombe of Frize? Tis time I were choak'd with a peece of toasted Cheese

Eu. Seese is not good to giue putter; your belly is al putter

Fal. Seese, and Putter? Haue I liu'd to stand at the taunt of one that makes Fritters of English? This is enough to be the decay of lust and late-walking through the Realme

Mist.Page. Why Sir Iohn, do you thinke though wee

would haue thrust vertue out of our hearts by the head and shoulders, and haue giuen our selues without scruple to hell, that euer the deuill could haue made you our delight?

Ford. What, a hodge-pudding? A bag of flax?

Mist.Page. A puft man?

Page. Old, cold, wither'd, and of intollerable entrailes?

Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Sathan?

Page. And as poore as Iob?

Ford. And as wicked as his wife?

Euan. And giuen to Fornications, and to Tauernes, and Sacke, and Wine, and Metheglins, and to drinkings and swearings, and starings? Pribles and prables?

Fal. Well, I am your Theame: you haue the start of me, I am deiected: I am not able to answer the Welch

Flannell, Ignorance it selfe is a plummet ore me, vse me as you will

Ford. Marry Sir, wee'l bring you to Windsor to one Mr Broome, that you haue cozon'd of money, to whom you should haue bin a Pander: ouer and aboue that you haue suffer'd, I thinke, to repay that money will be a biting affliction

Page. Yet be cheerefull Knight: thou shalt eat a posset to night at my house, wher I will desire thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughes at thee: Tell her Mr Slender hath married her daughter

Mist.Page. Doctors doubt that;

If Anne Page be my daughter, she is (by this) Doctour

Caius wife

Slen. Whoa hoe, hoe, Father Page

Page. Sonne? How now? How now Sonne,

Haue you dispatch'd?

Slen. Dispatch'd? Ile make the best in Glostershire know on't: would I were hang'd la, else

Page. Of what sonne? Slen. I came yonder at Eaton to marry Mistris Anne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy. If it had not bene i'th Church, I would haue swing'd him, or hee should haue swing'd me. If I did not thinke it had beene Anne Page, would I might neuer stirre, and 'tis a Post-masters Boy