Host. Here's a Bohemian-Tartar 35 tarries the

coming down of thy fat woman. Let her descend, bully, let her descend. My chambers are honourable: fie! privacy? fie!

Enter FALSTAFF.

Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now with me; but she's gone.

Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of Brentford ?

Fal. Ay, marry, was it, muscle-shell: 36 what would you with her?

Sim. My master, sir, Master Slender, sent to her, seeing her go through the streets, to know, sir,

35. Bohemian-Tartar. "Tartars" and "Bohemians' were wandering hordes of gipsies, and the terms were applied to vagabonds generally; but the compound term is another of those sounding names that mine Host flings at Simple to bewilder him. 36. Muscle-shell. This epithet of Falstaff's sufficiently indi

whether one Nym, sir, that beguiled him of a chain, had the chain or no.

Fal. I spake with the old woman about it.
Sim. And what says she, I pray, sir?

Fal. Marry, she says that the very same man that beguiled Master Slender of his chain, cozened him of it.

Sim. I would I could have spoken with the woman herself; I had other things to have spoken with her too from him.

Fal. What are they? let us know.
Host. Ay, come; quick.

Sim. I may not conceal them,37 sir.
Host. Conceal them, or thou diest.

cates the scared appearance Simple presents, as he stands gaping and staring with his mouth open.

37. I may not conceal them. Simple's blunder for 'reveal, which the Host humours by his repeating the word in the same mistaken sense.

SCENE VI.—Another room in the Garter Inn.

Enter FENTON and Host.

Host. Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is heavy: I will give over all.

Fent. Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my

purpose,

And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee
A hundred pound in gold more than your loss.
Host. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I
will, at the least, keep your counsel.

Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page;
Who mutually hath answer'd my affection,
(So far forth as herself might be her chooser,)
Even to my wish. I have a letter from her
Of such contents as you will wonder at;
The mirth whereof so larded with my matter,
That neither, singly, can be manifested,
Without the show of both;-wherein fat Falstaff
Hath a great scene: the image of the jest

I'll show you here at large. [pointing to letter.] Hark, good mine host:

To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and

one,

Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen; The purpose why, is here [Pointing to letter]: in which disguise,

While other jests are something rank on foot,
Her father hath commanded her to slip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eton
Immediately to marry: she hath consented.

46

Now, sir,
Her mother, even strong against that match,
And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he shall likewise shuffle her away,
While other sports are tasking of their minds,
And at the deanery, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot
She, seemingly obedient, likewise hath
Made promise to the doctor.-Now, thus it rests:
Her father means she shall be all in white;
And in that habit, when Slender sees his time
To take her by the hand, and bid her go,
She shall go with him: her mother hath intended,
The better to denote her to the doctor,-
For they must all be masked and vizarded,—
That, quaint" in green, she shall be loose enrob'd
With ribands pendent, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
The maid hath given consent to go with him.
Host. Which means she to deceive, father or
mother?

Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me:
And here it rests,-that you'll procure the vicar
To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one,
And, in the lawful name of marrying,
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.

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 tonight I will be revenged, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow:-strange things in hand, Master Brook:-follow. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Windsor Park.

Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER. Page. Come, come; we'll couch i' the castleditch 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.

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 mocked.

Mrs. Ford. We'll betray him finely.
Mrs. Page. Against such, 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 as a Satyr, with ANNE PAGE and others dressed as Fairies. Evans. Trib, trib, fairies; come; and remember your parts. Be pold, I pray you; follow me into the pit; and when I give the watch-'ords, do as I pid you: come, come; trib, trib. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Another part of the Park.

Enter FALSTAFF disguised as Herne, with a buck's head on.

Fal. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve; the minute draws on. Now, the hot-blooded gods assist me !—Remember, Jove, thou wast a bull for

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The Street in Windsor. Enter MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and DOCTOR CAIUS.

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.

Mrs. Page. Fare you well, sir. [Exit CAIUS.]— My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff as he will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter: but 'tis no matter; better a little chiding than a great deal of heart-break.

love! that, in some respects, makes a beast a man ; in some other, a man a beast.-You were also, Jupiter, a swan for the love of Leda :-Oh, omnipotent love! how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose!-- A fault done first in the form of a beast;—and then another fault in the semblance of a fowl;—think on't, Jove; a foul fault. For me, I am here a Windsor stag; and the fattest, I think, the forest.- Who comes here? my doe?

Enter MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE. Mrs. Ford. Sir John! art thou here, my deer? Fal. My doe!-Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of "Green Sleeves;" hail kissing-comfits, and snow eringoes; let there come a tempest, I will shelter me here. [Embracing her. Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page is come with me,

sweetheart.

5. Eringoes. A sea-side plant, used in making sugar-plums called "kissing-comfits:" as were also potatoes, when first introduced into England. This kind of sweetmeat found favour among gallants of Falstaff's description.