Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 4
A room in DOCTOR CAIUS’ house.
Rugby : I'll go watch.
Simple : Ay, for fault of a better.
Simple : Ay, forsooth.
Simple : No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a
[p]little yellow
beard, a Cain-coloured beard.
Simple : Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands
[p]as any is
between this and his head; he hath fought
[p]with a warrener.
Simple : Yes, indeed, does he.
Rugby : Out, alas! here comes my master.
Doctor Caius : Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you,
[p]go and vetch me
in my closet un boitier vert, a box,
[p]a green-a box: do intend vat I
speak? a green-a box.
Doctor Caius : Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je
[p]m'en vais a la
cour--la grande affaire.
Doctor Caius : Oui; mette le au mon pocket: depeche, quickly. Vere
[p]is dat knave
Rugby?
Rugby : Here, sir!
Doctor Caius : You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come,
[p]take-a your
rapier, and come after my heel to the court.
Rugby : 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
Doctor Caius : By my trot, I tarry too long. Od's me!
[p]Qu'ai-j'oublie! dere is some
simples in my closet,
[p]dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave
behind.
Doctor Caius : O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain! larron!
[p][Pulling
SIMPLE out]
[p]Rugby, my rapier!
Doctor Caius : Wherefore shall I be content-a?
Doctor Caius : What shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is
[p]no honest man dat
shall come in my closet.
Doctor Caius : Vell.
Simple : Ay, forsooth; to desire her to--
Doctor Caius : Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.
Simple : To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to
[p]speak a good word
to Mistress Anne Page for my
[p]master in the way of marriage.
Doctor Caius : Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baille me some paper.
[p]Tarry you a
little-a while.
Simple : [Aside to MISTRESS QUICKLY] 'Tis a great charge to
[p]come under one
body's hand.
Doctor Caius : You jack'nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh; by
[p]gar, it is a
shallenge: I will cut his troat in dee
[p]park; and I will teach a
scurvy jack-a-nape priest
[p]to meddle or make. You may be gone; it is
not good
[p]you tarry here. By gar, I will cut all his two
[p]stones;
by gar, he shall not have a stone to throw
[p]at his dog:
Doctor Caius : It is no matter-a ver dat: do not you tell-a me
[p]dat I shall have
Anne Page for myself? By gar, I
[p]vill kill de Jack priest; and I
have appointed mine
[p]host of de Jarteer to measure our weapon. By
gar, I
[p]will myself have Anne Page.
Doctor Caius : Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if I have
[p]not Anne Page,
I shall turn your head out of my
[p]door. Follow my heels, Rugby.
Fenton : [Within] Who's within there? ho!
Fenton : How now, good woman? how dost thou?
Fenton : What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?
Fenton : Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? shall I not lose my suit?
Fenton : Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
Fenton : Well, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there's money
[p]for thee; let me
have thy voice in my behalf: if
[p]thou seest her before me, commend
me.
Fenton : Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.
Previous: Act 1 - Scene 3
Next: Act 2 - Scene 1
