Fent. Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose, And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you Her mother, ever strong against that match. Made promise to the doctor. Now, thus it rests: 14. larded, intermingled. ΤΟ 20 To take her by the hand and bid her go, She shall go with him: her mother hath intended, Host. Which means she to deceive, father or Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me: To give our hearts united ceremony. Host. Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar : Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest. Fent. So shall I evermore be bound to thee; Besides, I'll make a present recompense. [Exeunt. 40 50 ACT V. SCENE I. A room in the Garter Inn. Enter FALSTAFF and MISTRESS QUICKLY. Fal. Prithee, no more prattling; go. I'll hold. This is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers. Away! go. They say there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death. Away! 52. husband, manage. Quick. I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do what I can to get you a pair of horns. Fal. Away, I say; time wears: hold up your head, and mince. [Exit Mrs. Quickly. Enter FORD. How now, Master Brook! Master Brook, the 10 matter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, 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 Brook, as you see, like a poor old man: but I came from her, Master Brook, like a poor old woman. That same knave Ford, her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, Master Brook, that ever governed frenzy. I will tell you: he beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman; for in the shape of man, Master Brook, I fear not Goliath with a weaver's beam; because I know also life is a shuttle. I am in haste; go along with me: I'll tell you all, Master Brook. Since I plucked geese, played truant and whipped top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten till lately. Follow me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave Ford, on whom to-night I will be revenged, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow. Strange things in hand, Master Brook! Follow. SCENE II. Windsor Park. [Exeunt. Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLEnder. Page. Come, come: we'll couch i' the castle 20 30 ditch till we see the light of our fairies. Remember, son Slender, my daughter. Slen. Ay, forsooth; I have spoke with her and we have 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 needs either your 'mum' or her 'budget?' the white will decipher her well enough. It hath struck ten o'clock. Page. The night is dark; light and spirits will become it well. Heaven prosper our sport! No man means evil but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns. Let's away; follow me. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A street leading to the Park. Enter MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and : Mrs. Page. Master doctor, my daughter is in green when you see your time, take her by the hand, away with her to the deanery, and dispatch it quickly. Go before into the Park: we two must go together. Caius. I know vat I have to do. Adieu. [Exit Caius.] My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff as he will chafe at the doctor's marry 5. nay-word, watch-word. 6, 7. mum,' 'budget'; both words were used colloquially in demanding silence, hence would arouse no suspicion when ex ΤΟ changed by Ann and Slender. To play mum-budget' was a proverbial phrase for to be tongue-tied.' ing 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 Welsh devil Hugh? Mrs. Page. They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights; which, at the very instant of Falstaff's and our meeting, they will at once display to the night. Mrs. Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him. Mrs. Page. If he be not amazed, he will be mocked; if he be amazed, he will every way be 20 mocked. Mrs. Ford. We'll betray him finely. Mrs. Page. Against such lewdsters and their lechery Those that betray them do no treachery. Mrs. Ford. The hour draws on. To the oak, to the oak! [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Windsor Park. Enter SIR HUGH EVANS disguised, with others Evans. Trib, trib, fairies; come; and remember SCENE V. Another part of the Park. Enter FALSTAFF disguised as Herne. Fal. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve; the minute draws on. Now, the hot-blooded gods |