him does he not hold up his head, as it were, and

Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish

Re-enter RUGBY.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.

31

Quick. We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young man; go into this closet: he will not stay long.[Shuts Simple in the closet.] What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be not well, that he comes not home.

[Singing] And down, down, adown-a, etc.

Enter DOCTOR CAIUS.

37

Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert, a box, a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.

Quick. Ay, forsooth; I'll fetch it you.

41

[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 à la cour, - la grande affaire.

Quick. Is it this, sir?

46

Caius. Oui; mette le au mon pocket: dépêche, quickly. Vere is dat knave Rugby?

Quick.

What, John Rugby! John!

Rug. Here, sir!

50

Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

55

Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long. - Od's me! Qu'ai-j'oublié! dere is some simples in my closet dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

Quick. Ay me, he'll find the young man there, and be mad!

60

Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! larron! - [Pulling Simple out.] Rugby, my rapier!

Quick. Good master, be content.

Caius.

Wherefore shall I be content-a?

Quick. The young man is an honest man.

65

Caius. What shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.

Quick. I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.

Caius. Vell.

Sim. Ay, forsooth; to desire her to

Quick. Peace, I pray you.

Caius.

70

Peace-a your tongue. - Speak-a your tale. Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master in the way of marriage.

76

Quick. 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, baille me some paper. Tarry you a little-a while. [Writes. 80 Quick. [Aside to Simple] 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,

Sim. [Aside to Quickly] 'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand.

90

Quick. [Aside to Simple] Are you avised 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.

96

Caius. You jack'nape, give-a this 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. not good you tarry here. two stones; by gar, he throw at his dog.

You may be gone; it is By gar, I will cut all his shall not have a stone to

[Exit Simple. 102

Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend.

Caius. It is no matter-a ver dat:

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 Jarteer to measure our weapon. By gar, I will myself have Anne Page. Quick. 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 with 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. 113

Quick. 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.

Fent. [Within] Who's within there? ho!

Quick.

Who's there, I trow? Come near the

house, I pray you.

Enter FENton.

120

Fent. How now, good woman! how dost thou ? Quick. The better that it pleases your good worship to ask.

Fent. What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?

Quick. 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.

Fent. Shall I do any good, think'st thou? shall I not lose my suit?

Quick. 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?

Fent.

133

Yes, marry, have I; what of that? Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale: - good faith, it is such another Nan; but, I detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread : we had an hour's talk of that wart. I shall never laugh but in that maid's company! - But, indeed, she is given too much to allicholy and musing: but for you-well, go to.

139

Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there's money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: if thou seest her before me, commend me.

Quick. Will I? i' faith, that we will; and I will tell your worship more of the wart the next time we have confidence; and of other wooers.

145

Fent. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now. Quick. Farewell to your worship. -[Exit Fenton.] Truly, an honest gentleman: but Anne loves him. not; for I know Anne's mind as well as another does. Out upon't! what have I forgot? [Exit.