Simp. Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh. Eva. He's welcome. By fhallow rivers, to whofe falls

Heaven profper the right! What weapons is he?

Simp. No weapons, Sir: there comes my master, mafter Shallow, and another gentleman from Frogmore, over the stile, this way.

Eva. Pray you, give me my gown; or else keep it in your arms.

Enter Page, Shallow, and Slender.

Shal. How now, mafter Parfon! Good-morrow, good Sir Hugh. Keep a gamefter from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful. Slen. Ah fweet Anne Page!

Page. Save you, good Sir Hugh!

Eva. 'Plefs you from his mercy fake, all of you ! Shal. What the fword and the word! do you study them both, master Parson?

Page. And youthful ftill, in your doublet and hofe, this raw rheumatick day?

Eva. There is reasons and causes for it.

Page. We are come to you, to do a good office, mafter Parfon.

Eva. Fery well: what is it?

Page. Yonder is a moft reverend gentleman, who belike, having receiv'd wrong by fome person, is at moft odds with his own gravity and patience, that ever you saw.

Shal. I have liv'd fourfcore years, and upward; I never heard a man of his place, gravity, and learning fo wide of his own respect,

Eva. What is he?

the other to Raleigh. Thefe poems are read in different copies with great variations. JOHNSON.

In England's Helicon, a collection of love-verfes printed in Shakespeare's life-time, viz. in 1600, the first of them is given to Marlow, the fecond to a perfon unknown. STEEVENS.

Page,

Page. I think you know him; mafter Doctor Caius, the renowned French physician.

Eva. Got's will, and his paffion o' my heart! I had as lief you would tell me of a mefs of porridge. Page. Why?

Eva. He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates and Galen—and he is a knave befides; a cowardly knave, as you would defires to be acquainted withal. Page. I warrant you, he's the man fhould fight with him.

Slen. O, fweet Ann Page!

Enter Hoft, Caius, and Rugby.

Shal. It appears fo, by his weapons.-Keep them afunder ;-here comes Doctor Caius.

Page. Nay, good master Parfon, keep in your

weapon.

Shal. So do you, good master Doctor.

Hoft. Difarm them, and let them queftion; let them keep their limbs whole, and hack our English. Caius. I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your ear: verefore vill you not meet-a me?

Eva. Pray you, use your patience. In good time. Caius. By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John ape.

Eva. Pray you, let us not be laughing-ftogs to other mens humours. I defire you in friendship, and will one way or other make you amends: I will knog your urinals about your knave's cogs-combs, for miffing your meetings and appointments.

Caius. Diable! Jack Rugby, mine Hoft de Jarterre, have I not stay for him, to kill him? have I not, at de place I did appoint?

Eva. As I am a chriftian's foul, now look you, this is the place appointed; I'll be judgment by mine Hoft of the Garter.

Hoft. Peace, I fay, Gallia and Gaul, French and Welch, foul-curer and body-curer.

Caius. Ay, dat is very good! excellent!

Hoft. Peace, I fay; hear mine Host of the Garter. Am I politick? am I fubtle? am I a Machiavel ? Shall I lose my doctor? no; he gives me the potions and the motions. Shall I lofe my parfon? my prieft? my Sir Hugh? no; he gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs. Give me thy hand, terreftial; fo.-Give me thy hand, celeftial; fo. Boys of art, I have deceiv'd you both; I have directed you to wrong places : your hearts are mighty, your skins are whole, and let burnt fack be the iffue. Come, lay their fwords to pawn. Follow me, lad of peace; follow, follow, follow.

Shal. Trust me, a mad Hoft.-Follow, gentlemen, follow.

Slen. O, fweet Anne Page!

[Exeunt Shal. Slen. Page, and Hoft. Caius. Ha! do I perceive dat? have you make a de-fot of us? ha, ha!

Eva. This is well; he has made us his vloutingftog. I defire you, that we may be friends; and let us knog our prains together, to be revenge on this fame fcald, fcurvy, cogging companion, the Hoft

6

of the Garter.

Caius. By gar, vit all my heart; he promise to bring me vere is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive me

too.

Eva. Well, I will fmite his noddles.-Pray you follow.

- scall, fcurvy,—] Scall was an old word of reproach, as fcab was afterwards.

Chaucer imprecates on his fcrivener :

"Under thy longe lockes mayeft thou have the fcalle."

JOHNSON.

SCENE

SCENE II.

The Street in Windfor.

Enter Miftrefs 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, forfooth, go before you man, than follow him like a dwarf.

like a

Mrs. Page. O, you are a flattering boy; now, I fee, you'll be a courtier.

Enter Ford.

Ford. Well met, mistress Page: whither go you? Mrs. Page. Truly, Sir, to fee your wife; is fhe at home?

Ford. Ay; and as idle as fhe may hang together, for want of company: I think, if your hufbands were dead, you two would marry.

Mrs. Page. Be fure 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, firrah?

Rob. Sir John Falstaff.

Ford. Sir John Falstaff!

Mrs. Page. He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is fuch a league between my good man and he! Is your wife at home, indeed?

Ford. Indeed, the is.

Mrs. Page. By your leave, Sir.-I am fick, 'till I fee her. [Exeunt Mrs. Page and Robin. Ford. Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any thinking? fure, they fleep; he hath no ufe of them. Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty

miles, as eafy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve fcore. He pieces out his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion and advantage: and now fhe's going to my wife, and Falftaff's boy with her. A man may hear this shower fing in the wind;-and Falstaff's boy with her!-Good plots!—they are laid; and our revolted wives fhare damnation together. Well, I will take him, then torture my wife; pluck the borrow'd veil of modefty from the fo feeming mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a fecure and wilful Acteon; and to thefe violent proceedings all my neighbours fhall cry aim. The clock gives me my cue, and my affurance bids me search; there I fhail find Falstaff. I fhall 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.

Enter Page, Shallow, Slender, Hoft, Evans, and Caius.

Shal. Page, &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 excufe myself, mafter Ford.

Slen. And fo muft 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. 7 We have linger'd about a match between Anne Page and my coufin Slender, and this day we fhall have our answer.

Slen. I hope, I have your good will, father Page. Page. You have, Mr. Slender; I stand wholly for you but my wife, mafter Doctor, is for you altogether.

Caius. Ay, by gar; and de maid is love-a me; my nurfh-a Quickly tell me fo mufh.

7 We have linger'd-] They have not linger'd very long. The match was propofed by Sir Hugh but the day before.

JOHNSON.

Heft.