style="font-size:15px;"> Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet une boitine verde—a box, a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.QUICKLY
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you.
[Aside] I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad. CAIUS Fe, fe, fe fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a la cour—la grande affaire. QUICKLY Is it this, sir? CAIUS Oui; mettez le au mon pocket: depechez, quickly—Vere is dat knave, Rugby? QUICKLY What, John Rugby? John!
[Re-enter Rugby.]
RUGBY
Here, sir.
CAIUS
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby: come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court.
RUGBY
'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
CAIUS
By my trot, I tarry too long—Od's me! Qu'ay j'oublie? Dere is some simples in my closet dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.
QUICKLY
[Aside] Ay me, he'll find the young man there, and be mad! CAIUS O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?—Villainy! larron!
[Pulling SIMPLE out]
Rugby, my rapier!
QUICKLY
Good master, be content.
CAIUS
Verefore shall I be content-a?
QUICKLY
The young man is an honest man.
CAIUS
What shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
QUICKLY
I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
CAIUS
Vell.
SIMPLE
Ay, forsooth, to desire her to—
QUICKLY
Peace, I pray you.
CAIUS
Peace-a your tongue!—Speak-a your tale.
SIMPLE
To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master, in the way of marriage.
QUICKLY
This is all, indeed, la! but I'll ne'er put my finger in the fire, and need not.
CAIUS
Sir Hugh send-a you?—Rugby, baillez me some paper: tarry you a little-a while. [Writes.] QUICKLY I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been throughly moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I'll do you your master what good I can; and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master—I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself— SIMPLE 'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. QUICKLY Are you avis'd o' that? You shall find it a great charge; and to be up early and down late; but notwithstanding—to tell you in your ear—I would have no words of it—my master himself is in love with Mistress Anne Page; but notwithstanding that, I know Anne's mind, that's neither here nor there. CAIUS You jack'nape; give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in de Park; and I will teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make. You may be gone; it is not good you tarry here: by gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to throw at his dog.
[Exit SIMPLE.]
QUICKLY
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
CAIUS
It is no matter-a ver dat:—do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself? By gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jartiere to measure our weapon. By gar, I vill myself have Anne Page.
QUICKLY
Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. We must give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!
CAIUS
Rugby, come to the court vit me. By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door. Follow my heels, Rugby.
[Exeunt CAIUS and RUGBY.]
QUICKLY
You shall have An fool's-head of your own. No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's mind than I do; nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.
FENTON
[Within]
Who's within there? ho!
QUICKLY
Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.
[Enter FENTON.]
FENTON
How now, good woman! how dost thou?
QUICKLY
The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.
FENTON
What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?
QUICKLY
In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way; I praise heaven for it.
FENTON
Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? Shall I not lose my suit?
QUICKLY
Troth, sir, all is in His hands above; but notwithstanding, Master Fenton, I'll be sworn on a book she loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?
FENTON
Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
QUICKLY
Well, thereby hangs a tale; good faith, it is such another
