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The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act III, Scene 2

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The Merry Wives of Windsor
Act III, Scene 2

Windsor. A street.

Stuart Robson as Slender

We have appointed to dine with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more money than I’ll speak of.

Stuart Robson as Slender

Gebbie & Husson Co., Gebbie & Co., circa 1888

  1. Enter Mistress Page, Robin.

Mistress Page

1 - 3
  1. Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to be a
  2. follower, but now you are a leader. Whether had you rather
  3. lead mine eyes, or eye your master’s heels?

Robin

4 - 5
  1. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than follow
  2. him like a dwarf.

Mistress Page

6
  1. O, you are a flattering boy, now I see you’ll be a courtier.
  1. Enter Ford.

Ford

7
  1. Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?

Mistress Page

8
  1. Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?

Ford

9 - 11
  1. Ay, and as idle as she may hang together, for want of
  2. company. I think if your husbands were dead, you two would
  3. marry.

Mistress Page

12
  1. Be sure of that—two other husbands.

Ford

13
  1. Where had you this pretty weathercock?

Mistress Page

14 - 15
  1. I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had
  2. him of. What do you call your knight’s name, sirrah?

Robin

16
  1. Sir John Falstaff.

Ford

17
  1. Sir John Falstaff!

Mistress Page

18 - 19
  1. He, he—I can never hit on ’s name. There is such a league
  2. between my goodman and he! Is your wife at home indeed?

Ford

20
  1. Indeed she is.

Mistress Page

21
  1. By your leave, sir. I am sick till I see her.
  1. Exeunt Mrs. Page and Robin.

Ford

22 - 38
  1. Has Page any brains? Hath he any eyes? Hath he any thinking?
  2. Sure they sleep, he hath no use of them. Why, this boy will
  3. carry a letter twenty mile, as easy as a cannon will shoot
  4. point-blank twelve score. He pieces out his wive’s
  5. inclination; he gives her folly motion and advantage; and
  6. now she’s going to my wife, and Falstaff’s boy with her. A
  7. man may hear this show’r sing in the wind. And Falstaff’s
  8. boy with her! Good plots, they are laid, and our revolted
  9. wives share damnation together. Well, I will take him, then
  10. torture my wife, pluck the borrow’d veil of modesty from the
  11. so-seeming Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure
  12. and willful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings all my
  13. neighbors shall cry aim.
  14. Clock heard.
  15. The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me
  16. search—there I shall find Falstaff. I shall be rather
  17. prais’d for this than mock’d; for it is as positive as the
  18. earth is firm that Falstaff is there. I will go.
  1. Enter Page, Shallow, Slender, Host, Evans, Caius, Rugby.

Page, Shallow, Slender, Host, Evans, Caius, Rugby

39
  1. Well met, Master Ford.

Ford

40 - 41
  1. Trust me, a good knot. I have good cheer at home, and I pray
  2. you all go with me.

He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth

Hugh Thomson, 1910

Shallow

42
  1. I must excuse myself, Master Ford.

Slender

43 - 45
  1. And so must I, sir. We have appointed to dine with Mistress
  2. Anne, and I would not break with her for more money than
  3. I’ll speak of.

Shallow

46 - 47
  1. We have linger’d about a match between Anne Page and my
  2. cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.

Slender

48
  1. I hope I have your good will, father Page.

George

49 - 50
  1. You have, Master Slender, I stand wholly for you; but my
  2. wife, Master Doctor, is for you altogether.

Caius

51 - 52
  1. Ay, be-gar, and de maid is love-a me. My nursh-a Quickly
  2. tell me so mush.

Host

53 - 56
  1. What say you to young Master Fenton? He capers, he dances,
  2. he has eyes of youth; he writes verses, he speaks holiday,
  3. he smells April and May—he will carry’t, he will
  4. carry’t—’tis in his buttons—he will carry’t.

George

57 - 62
  1. Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is of no
  2. having. He kept company with the wild Prince and Poins; he
  3. is of too high a region, he knows too much. No, he shall not
  4. knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance.
  5. If he take her, let him take her simply. The wealth I have
  6. waits on my consent, and my consent goes not that way.

Ford

63 - 66
  1. I beseech you heartily, some of you go home with me to
  2. dinner. Besides your cheer, you shall have sport; I will
  3. show you a monster. Master Doctor, you shall go, so shall
  4. you, Master Page, and you, Sir Hugh.

Shallow

67 - 68
  1. Well, fare you well. We shall have the freer wooing at
  2. Master Page’s.
  1. Exeunt Shallow and Slender.

Caius

69
  1. Go home, John Rugby, I come anon.
  1. Exit Rugby.

Host

70 - 71
  1. Farewell, my hearts. I will to my honest knight Falstaff,
  2. and drink canary with him.
  1. Exit.

Ford

72 - 73
  1. Aside.
  2. I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with him; I’ll
  3. make him dance.—Will you go, gentles?

Page, Evans, and Caius

74
  1. Have with you to see this monster.
  1. Exeunt.
Mistress Page and Robin

From: Mistress Page and Robin

Hugh Thomson, 1910

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