Scoena Secunda.
I will not lend thee a penny.
Why then the world's mine Oyster, which I, with sword will open.
Not a penny: I haue beene content (Sir,) you should lay my countenance to pawne: I haue grated vp∣on my good friends for three Repreeues for you, and your Coach-fellow Nim; or else you had look'd through the grate, like a Geminy of Baboones: I am damn'd in hell, for swearing to Gentlemen my friends, you were good Souldiers, and tall-fellowes. And when Mistresse Bright lost the handle of her Fan, I took't vpon mine ho∣nour thou hadst it not.
Didst not thou share? hadst thou not fifteene pence?
Reason, you roague, reason: thinkst thou Ile en∣danger my soule, gratis? at a word, hang no more about mee, I am no gibbet for you: goe, a short knife, and a throng, to your Mannor of Pickt-hatch: goe, you'll not beare a Letter for mee you roague? you stand vpon your honor: why, (thou vnconfinable basenesse) it is as much as I can doe to keepe the termes of my hononor precise: I, I, I my selfe sometimes, leauing the feare of heauen on the left hand, and hiding mine honor in my necessity, am faine to shufflle: to hedge, and to lurch, and yet, you Rogue, will en-sconce your raggs; your Cat-a-Moun∣taine-lookes, your red-lattice phrases, and your bold-beating-oathes, vnder the shelter of your honor? you will not doe it? you?
I doe relent: what would thou more of man?
Sir, here's a woman would speake with you.
Let her approach.
Giue your worship good morrow.
Good-morrow, good-wife.
Not so and't please your worship.
Good maid then.
I doe beleeue the swearer; what with me?
Shall I vouch-safe your worship a word, or two?
Two thousand (faire woman) and ile vouchsafe thee the hearing.
There is one Mistresse Ford, (Sir) I pray come a little neerer this waies: I my selfe dwell with M. Doctor Caius:
Well, on; Mistresse Ford, you say.
Your worship saies very true: I pray your wor∣ship come a little neerer this waies.
I warrant thee, no-bodie heares: mine owne people, mine owne people.
Are they so? heauen-blesse them, and make them his Seruants.
Well; Mistresse Ford, what of her?
Why, Sir; shee's a good-creature; Lord, Lord, your Worship's a wanton: well: heauen forgiue you, and all of vs, I pray—.
Mistresse Ford: come, Mistresse Ford.
Marry this is the short, and the long of it: you haue brought her into such a Canaries, as 'tis wonder∣full: the best Courtier of them all (when the Court lay at Windsor) could neuer haue brought her to such a Ca∣narie: yet there has beene Knights, and Lords, and Gen∣tlemen, with their Coaches; I warrant you Coach after Coach, letter after letter, gift after gift, smelling so sweet∣ly; all Muske, and so rushling, I warrant you, in silke and golde, and in such alligant termes, and in such wine and suger of the best, and the fairest, that would haue wonne any womans heart: and I warrant you, they could neuer get an eye-winke of her: I had my selfe twentie Angels giuen me this morning, but I defie all Angels (in any such sort, as they say) but in the way of honesty: and I warrant you, they could neuer get her so much as sippe on a cup with the prowdest of them all, and yet there has beene Earles: nay, (which is more) Pentioners, but I warrant you all is one with her.
But what saies shee to mee? be briefe my good shee-Mercurie.
Marry, she hath receiu'd your Letter: for the which she thankes you a thousand times; and she giues you to notifie, that her husband will be absence from his house, betweene ten and eleuen.
Ten, and eleuen.
I, forsooth: and then you may come and see the picture (she sayes) that you wot of: Master Ford her hus∣band will be from home: alas, the sweet woman leades an ill life with him: hee's a very iealousie-man; she leads a very frampold life with him, (good hart.)