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