Not I, sir; pray you keep on.SLENDER
Truly, I will not go first; truly, la! I will not do you that wrong.
ANNE
I pray you, sir.
SLENDER
I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome. You do yourself wrong indeed, la!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. The same
[Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE.]
EVANS
Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' house which is the way; and there dwells one Mistress Quickly, which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wringer.
SIMPLE
Well, sir.
EVANS
Nay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with Mistress Anne Page; and the letter is to desire and require her to solicit your master's desires to Mistress Anne Page. I pray you be gone: I will make an end of my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to come.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. A room in the Garter Inn
[Enter FALSTAFF, HOST, BARDOLPH, NYM, PISTOL, and ROBIN.]
FALSTAFF
Mine host of the Garter!
HOST
What says my bully rook? Speak scholarly and wisely.
FALSTAFF
Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers.
HOST
Discard, bully Hercules; cashier; let them wag; trot, trot.
FALSTAFF
I sit at ten pounds a week.
HOST
Thou'rt an emperor, Caesar, Keiser, and Pheazar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap; said I well, bully Hector?
FALSTAFF
Do so, good mine host.
HOST
I have spoke; let him follow. [To BARDOLPH] Let me see thee froth and lime. I am at a word; follow.
[Exit HOST.]
FALSTAFF
Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade; an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man a fresh tapster. Go; adieu.
BARDOLPH
It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive.
PISTOL
O base Hungarian wight! Wilt thou the spigot wield?
[Exit BARDOLPH.]
NYM
He was gotten in drink. Is not the humour conceited?
FALSTAFF
I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer—he kept not time.
NYM
The good humour is to steal at a minim's rest.
PISTOL
"Convey" the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! A fico for the phrase!
FALSTAFF
Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
PISTOL
Why, then, let kibes ensue.
FALSTAFF
There is no remedy; I must cony-catch; I must shift.
PISTOL
Young ravens must have food.
FALSTAFF
Which of you know Ford of this town?
PISTOL
I ken the wight; he is of substance good.
FALSTAFF
My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
PISTOL
Two yards, and more.
FALSTAFF
No quips now, Pistol. Indeed, I am in the waist two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation; I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be Englished rightly, is "I am Sir John Falstaff's."
PISTOL
He hath studied her will, and translated her will out of honesty into English.
NYM
The anchor is deep; will that humour pass?
FALSTAFF
Now, the report goes she has all the rule of her husband's purse; he hath a legion of angels.
PISTOL
As many devils entertain; and "To her, boy," say I.
NYM
The humour rises; it is good; humour me the angels.
FALSTAFF
I have writ me here a letter to her; and here another to Page's wife, who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious oeillades; sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.
PISTOL
