The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [733]
PAGE.
I will not believe such a Cataian though the priest o'
th' town commended him for a true man.
FORD.
'Twas a good sensible fellow. Well.
MISTRESS PAGE and MISTRESS FORD come forward
PAGE.
How now, Meg!
MRS.
PAGE. Whither go you, George? Hark you.
MRS.
FORD. How now, sweet Frank, why art thou melancholy?
FORD.
I melancholy! I am not melancholy. Get you home; go.
MRS.
FORD. Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now.
Will you go, Mistress Page?
Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY
MRS.
PAGE. Have with you. You'll come to dinner, George?
[Aside to MRS. FORD] Look who comes yonder; she shall
be our messenger to this paltry knight.
MRS.
FORD. [Aside to MRS. PAGE] Trust me, I thought on
her; she'll fit it.
MRS.
PAGE. You are come to see my daughter Anne?
QUICKLY.
Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good Mistress Anne?
MRS.
PAGE. Go in with us and see; we have an hour's talk
with you. Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and
MISTRESS QUICKLY
PAGE.
How now, Master Ford!
FORD.
You heard what this knave told me, did you not?
PAGE.
Yes; and you heard what the other told me?
FORD.
Do you think there is truth in them?
PAGE.
Hang 'em, slaves! I do not think the knight would offer it;
but these that accuse him in his intent towards our
wives are a yoke of his discarded men; very rogues, now
they be out of service.
FORD.
Were they his men?
PAGE.
Marry, were they.
FORD.
I like it never the better for that. Does he lie at the Garter?
PAGE.
Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this voyage
toward my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and what
he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head.
FORD.
I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be loath to
turn them together. A man may be too confident. I would
have nothing lie on my head. I cannot be thus satisfied.
Enter HOST
PAGE.
Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes.
There is either liquor in his pate or money in his purse
when he looks so merrily. How now, mine host!
HOST.
How now, bully rook! Thou'rt a gentleman. [To
SHALLOW following] Cavaleiro Justice, I say.
Enter SHALLOW
SHALLOW.
I follow, mine host, I follow. Good even and
twenty, good Master Page! Master Page, will you go with
us? We have sport in hand.
HOST.
Tell him, Cavaleiro Justice; tell him, bully rook.
SHALLOW.
Sir, there is a fray to be fought between Sir Hugh
the Welsh priest and Caius the French doctor.
FORD.
Good mine host o' th' Garter, a word with you.
HOST.
What say'st thou, my bully rook? [They go aside]
SHALLOW.
[To PAGE] Will you go with us to behold it? My
merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons; and,
I think, hath appointed them contrary places; for, believe
me, I hear the parson is no jester. Hark, I will tell you
what our sport shall be. [They converse apart]
HOST.
Hast thou no suit against my knight, my guest-cavaleiro.
FORD.
None, I protest; but I'll give you a pottle of burnt
sack to give me recourse to him, and tell him my name is
Brook-only for a jest.
HOST.
My hand, bully; thou shalt have egress and regress-
said I well?-and thy name shall be Brook. It is a merry
knight. Will you go, Mynheers?
SHALLOW.
Have with you, mine host.
PAGE.
I have heard the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier.
SHALLOW.
Tut, sir, I could have told you more. In these
times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and
I know not what. 'Tis the heart, Master Page; 'tis here,
'tis here. I have seen the time with my long sword I would
have made you four tall fellows skip like rats.
HOST.
Here, boys, here, here! Shall we wag?
PAGE.
Have with you. I had rather hear them scold than
fight. Exeunt all but FORD
FORD.
Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so firmly on
his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion so
easily. She was in his company at Page's house, and what
they made there I know not. Well, I will look further into
't, and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff. If I find her
honest, I