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The Merry Wives of Windsor

Act I, Scene 3

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, Keisar and Pheezar). 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: Let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word: follow.
 
[Exit]
 
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 tinderbox: his thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful singer, he kept not time.
 
NYM
The good humor is to steal at a minute'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 behavior (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 humor 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 humor 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
Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
 
NYM
I thank thee for that humor.
 
FALSTAFF
O she did so course ore my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye, did seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass: Here's another letter to her: she bears the purse too: she is a region in Guiana: all gold, and bounty: I will be cheaters to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me: they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both: Go, bear thou this letter to Mistress Page; and thou this to Mistress Ford: we will thrive (lads) we will thrive.
 
PISTOL
Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become,
And by my side wear steel? then Lucifer take all.
 
NYM
I will run no base humor: here take the humor-letter; I will keep the havior of reputation.
 
FALSTAFF
       __     ,         ,                 x        ,
      Hold | sirrah,| bear you | these letters | tightly,
       __      ,        ,          2        ,        ,
     
Sail | like my | pinnace | to these gold|en shores.
         T      T    .  T        x           T    T     T
     
Rogues, hence, avaunt,| vanish like^|hailstones; go,
         T      T  . T      2      ,           ,         ,
     
Trudge; plod away | of the hoof:| seek^shelt|er, pack:
       ,                ,          ,      ,        ,
     
Falstaff*| will learn | the hon|or of | the age,
         T      T     .      T         ,          ,        ,
     
French thrift, you* rogues,| myself,| and skirt|ed page.
 
[Exeunt FALSTAFF and ROBIN]
 
PISTOL
            ,         ,           ,          ,
     
Let^vult|ures gripe | thy guts:| for gourd,| and
      <-  x         ,          ,       ,       ,         ,        ,
       
Fullam || holds: and high and low beguiles the rich and poor,  ????
       ,              ,         ,            ,            ,
     
Tester | I'll have | in pouch | when thou | shalt lack,
        ,    ,          __
     
Base Phryg/ian | Turk.
 
NYM
      ,        ,    ,
     
I have | ope|rations, (tri with prev)
        ,         ,        ,     ___    oo
     
Which be | humors | of re|venge.|
 
PISTOL
        ,             ,
     
Wilt thou | revenge?
 
NYM
                                ,       ,          ,
                          
By welk|in, and | her star.
 
PISTOL
            ,         ,
     
With wit,| or steel?
 
NYM
                                  ,         ,       ,
                          
With both | the hum|ors, I:
      ,     2     ,          ,        2       ,         ,
     
I will di|scuss the | humor | of this love | to Ford.
 
PISTOL
          ,        ,           ,        ,
      And I | to Page | shall eke | unfold
            ,          ,       ,    oo
      How* Fal|staff^varl|et vile)|
            ,           ,           ,           ,
      His dove | will prove;| his gold | will hold,
       .   T    T    T         ,    oo
      And his soft couch | defile.|
 
NYM
My humor shall not cool: I will incense Page to deal with poison: I will possess him with yellowness, for the revolt of mine is dangerous: that is my true humor.
 
PISTOL
Thou art the Mars of malecontents: I second thee: troop on.
 
[Exeunt]

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