1 Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to 2 be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether 3 had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels?
ROBIN
4 I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man 5 than follow him like a dwarf.
MISTRESS PAGE
6 O, you are a flattering boy: now I see you'll be a courtier.
Enter FORD
FORD
7 Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?
MISTRESS PAGE
8 Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
FORD
9 Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want 10 of company. I think, if your husbands were dead, 11 you two would marry.
MISTRESS PAGE
12 Be sure of that,--two other husbands.
FORD
13 Where had you this pretty weather-cock?
MISTRESS PAGE
14 I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my 15 husband had him of. What do you call your knight's 16 name, sirrah?
ROBIN
17 Sir John Falstaff.
FORD
18 Sir John Falstaff!
MISTRESS PAGE
19 He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such a 20 league between my good man and he! Is your wife at 21 home indeed?
FORD
22 Indeed she is.
MISTRESS PAGE
23 By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.
Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN
FORD
24 Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath he any 25 thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them. 26 Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, as 27 easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve 28 score. He pieces out his wife's inclination; he 29 gives her folly motion and advantage: and now she's 30 going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A 31 man may hear this shower sing in the wind. And 32 Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots, they are laid; 33 and our revolted wives share damnation together. 34 Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck 35 the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming 36 Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and 37 wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings all 38 my neighbours shall cry aim. Clock heard 39 The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me 40 search: there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be 41 rather praised for this than mocked; for it is as 42 positive as the earth is firm that Falstaff is 43 there: I will go.
SHALLOW
44 Well met, Master Ford. 45 &c.
FORD
46 Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at home; 47 and I pray you all go with me.
SHALLOW
48 I must excuse myself, Master Ford.
SLENDER
49 And so must I, sir: we have appointed to dine with 50 Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for 51 more money than I'll speak of.
SHALLOW
52 We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and 53 my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.
SLENDER
54 I hope I have your good will, father Page.
PAGE
55 You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you: 56 but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.
DOCTOR CAIUS
57 Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a 58 Quickly tell me so mush.
Host
59 What say you to young Master Fenton? he capers, he 60 dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he 61 speaks holiday, he smells April and May: he will 62 carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons; he 63 will carry't.
PAGE
64 Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is 65 of no having: he kept company with the wild prince 66 and Poins; he is of too high a region; he knows too 67 much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes 68 with the finger of my substance: if he take her, 69 let him take her simply; the wealth I have waits on 70 my consent, and my consent goes not that way.
FORD
71 I beseech you heartily, some of you go home with me 72 to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have 73 sport; I will show you a monster. Master doctor, 74 you shall go; so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh.
SHALLOW
75 Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing 76 at Master Page's.
Exeunt SHALLOW, and SLENDER
DOCTOR CAIUS
77 Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
Exit RUGBY
Host
78 Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight 79 Falstaff, and drink canary with him.
Exit
FORD
Aside 80 I think I shall drink in pipe wine first 81 with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?