The Merry Wives of Windsor Part 25

_Mrs Page._ The spirit of wantonness is, sure, scared out of him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with fine and recovery, he will never, I think, in the way of waste, attempt us again.

_Mrs Ford._ Shall we tell our husbands how we have 190 served him?

_Mrs Page._ Yes, by all means; if it be but to sc.r.a.pe the figures out of your husband's brains. If they can find in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight shall be any further afflicted, we two will still be the ministers. 195

_Mrs Ford._ I'll warrant they'll have him publicly shamed: and methinks there would be no period to the jest, should he not be publicly shamed.

_Mrs Page._ Come, to the forge with it, then; shape it: I would not have things cool. [_Exeunt._ 200

NOTES: IV, 2

18: _lunes_] Theobald. _lines_ Ff Q3. _vaine_ (Q1 Q2).

33: _street_] F1 Q3. _streets_ F2 F3 F4.

39: Re-enter F.] Enter. F2.

40: SCENE III. Pope.

43: _pistols_] _Pistol_ Jackson conj.

48: _Creep into the kiln-hole_] Given to Mrs Page by Dyce (Malone conj.).

55: Mrs Page] (Q1 Q2) Malone. Mist. Ford. Ff Q3.

57: Mrs Ford] om. F2 F3 F4.

62: _a mischief_] _mischief_ F4.

63, 73, 85, 150, and pa.s.sim: _Brentford_] _Brainford_ (Q1 Q2) Ff Q3.

66: _thrummed_] _thrum'd_ F1 F2 F3. _thrumb_ F4.

89: _him_] F2 F3 F4. om. F1 Q3.

98: _knight_] F1 Q3. _the knight_ F2 F3 F4.

99: _as lief_] F2 F3 F4. _liefe as_ F1 Q3.

100: SCENE IV. Pope.

102: _villain_] _villains_ Dyce.

_Youth in a basket_] _you youth in a basket come out here_ Malone (from Q1 Q2).

103: _ging_] F2 F3 F4. _gin_ F1 Q3 _gang_ Rowe.

104: _shamed_] _ashamed_ F2.

105: _wife_] om. Rowe.

159: _not_] om. F1.

160: SCENE V. Pope.

Re-enter ... clothes] Rowe. Enter Fal. Ff. and Mistress Page] Pope.

163: _hag_] F3 F4. _ragge_ F1. _hagge_ Q3. _rag_ F2.

170: _By yea and no_] _By Jeshu_ (Q1 Q2).

171: _'oman_] _'omans_ Q3.

172: _his_] Ff Q3. _her_ (Q1 Q2) Pope.

175: _trail_] F1 Q3 F2 F3. _Tryal_ F4.

188: _fine_] _find_ Q3.

193: _brains_] _brain_ F3 F4.

197: _period_] _right period_ Hanmer.

198: _the jest_] _jest_ Q3.

199: _it, then; shape it:_] _it, then shape it:_ Ff Q3.

SCENE III. _A room in the Garter Inn._

_Enter HOST and BARDOLPH._

_Bard._ Sir, the Germans desire to have three of your horses: the duke himself will be to-morrow at court, and they are going to meet him.

_Host._ What duke should that be comes so secretly? I hear not of him in the court. Let me speak with the gentlemen: 5 they speak English?

_Bard._ Ay, sir; I'll call them to you.

_Host._ They shall have my horses; but I'll make them pay; I'll sauce them: they have had my house a week at command; I have turned away my other guests: they must 10 come off; I'll sauce them. Come. [_Exeunt._

NOTES: IV, 3

SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.

1: _Germans desire_] Capell. _Germane desires_ Ff Q3.

7: _Ay_] om. F3 F4.

9: _house_] (Q1 Q2) Rowe. _houses_ Ff Q3.

11: _come off_] _compt off_ Theobald (Warburton). _not come off_ Capell.

SCENE IV. _A room in FORD'S house._

_Enter PAGE, FORD, MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and SIR HUGH EVANS._

_Evans._ 'Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman as ever I did look upon.

_Page._ And did he send you both these letters at an instant?

_Mrs Page._ Within a quarter of an hour. 5

_Ford._ Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt; I rather will suspect the sun with cold Than thee with wantonness: now doth thy honour stand, In him that was of late an heretic, As firm as faith.

_Page._ 'Tis well, 'tis well; no more: 10 Be not as extreme in submission As in offence.

But let our plot go forward: let our wives Yet once again, to make us public sport, Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, 15 Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.

_Ford._ There is no better way than that they spoke of.

_Page._ How? to send him word they'll meet him in the Park at midnight? Fie, fie! he'll never come.

_Evans._ You say he has been thrown in the rivers, and 20 has been grievously peaten, as an old 'oman: methinks there should be terrors in him that he should not come; methinks his flesh is punished, he shall have no desires.

_Page._ So think I too.

_Mrs Ford._ Devise but how you'll use him when he comes, 25 And let us two devise to bring him thither.

_Mrs Page._ There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter, Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest, Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight, Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns; 30 And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle, And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain In a most hideous and dreadful manner: You have heard of such a spirit; and well you know The superst.i.tious idle-headed eld 35 Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age, This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth.

_Page._ Why, yet there want not many that do fear In deep of night to walk by this Herne's oak: But what of this?

_Mrs Ford._ Marry, this is our device; 40 That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us.