A Street in Windsor.
 Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN.

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

Robin	I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than 
	follow him like a dwarf.

Mistress Page	O, you are a flattering boy: now I see you'll be a 
	courtier.

                               Enter FORD.

Ford	Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?

Mistress Page	Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?

Ford	Ay, and as idle as she may hang together, for want of 
	company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two 
	would marry.

Mistress Page	Be sure of that - two other husbands.

Ford	Where had you this pretty weathercock?

Mistress Page	I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had 
	him of. - What do you call your knight's name, sirrah?

Robin	Sir John Falstaff.

Ford	Sir John Falstaff?

Mistress Page	He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such a league 
	between my goodman and he! Is your wife at home indeed?

Ford	Indeed she is.

Mistress Page	By your leave, sir; I am sick till I see her.
									[Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN.

Ford	Has Page any brains? Hath he any eyes? Hath he any 
	thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why, 
	this boy will carry a letter twenty mile as easy as a 
	cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out 
	his wife's inclination, he gives her folly motion and 
	advantage, and now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's 
	boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind. 
	And Falstaff's boy with her! Good plots! They are laid, 
	and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well, I 
	will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed 
	veil of modesty from the so-seeming Mistress Page, divulge 
	Page himself for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these 
	violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim.
												[Clock strikes.
	The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me 
	search: there I shall find Falstaff. I shall be rather 
	praised for this than mocked, for it is as positive as the 
	earth is firm that Falstaff is there. I will go.

           Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS,
                         DOCTOR CAIUS and RUGBY.

Shallow &
the others	Well met, Master Ford.

Ford	[Aside.] Trust me, a good knot.
	[Aloud.] I have good cheer at home, and I pray you all go 
	with me.

Shallow	I must excuse myself, Master Ford.

Slender	And so must I, sir. We have appointed to dine with 
	Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more 
	money than I'll speak of.

Shallow	We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my 
	cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.

Slender	I hope I have your good will, father Page.

Page	You have, Master Slender, I stand wholly for you. But my 
	wife, Master Doctor, is for you altogether.

Caius	Ay, be-gar, and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a Quickly 
	tell me so mush.

Host	What say you to young Master Fenton? He capers, he dances, 
	he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks holiday, 
	he smells April and May: - he will carry't, he will carry 
	't. 'Tis in his buttons he will carry't.

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

Ford	I beseech you heartily, some of you go home with me to 
	dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport. I will 
	show you a monster. Master Doctor, you shall go; so shall 
	you, Master Page, and you, Sir Hugh.

Shallow	Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer wooing at 
	Master Page's.
												[Exeunt SHALLOW and SLENDER.

Caius	Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
												[Exit RUGBY.

Host	Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight Falstaff, 
	and drink canary with him.
												[Exit.

Ford	[Aside.] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with 
	him; I'll make him dance.
	[Aloud.] Will you go, gentles?

All	Have with you to see this monster.
												[Exeunt.
