This news distracts me! PISTOL This punk is one of Cupid's carriers:
Clap on more sails; pursue; up with your fights:
Give fire: she is my prize, or ocean whelm them all!
Exit FALSTAFF Sayest thou so, old Jack? go thy ways;I'll make more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expense of so much money, be now a gainer? Good body, Ithank thee. Let them say 'tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter.
Enter BARDOLPH BARDOLPH Sir John, there's one Master Brook below would fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath sent your worship a morning's draught of sack. FALSTAFF Brook is his name? BARDOLPH Ay, sir. FALSTAFF Call him in.
Exit BARDOLPH
Such Brooks are welcome to me, that o'erflow such liquor. Ah, ha! Mistress Ford and Mistress Page have I encompassed you? go to; via!
Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised FORD Bless you, sir! FALSTAFF And you, sir! Would you speak with me? FORD I make bold to press with so little preparation upon you. FALSTAFF You're welcome. What's your will? Give us leave, drawer.
Exit BARDOLPH FORD Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook. FALSTAFF Good Master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you. FORD Good Sir John, I sue for yours: not to charge you;for I must let you understand I think myself in better plight for a lender than you are: the which hath something embolden'd me to this unseasoned intrusion; for they say, if money go before, all ways do lie open. FALSTAFF Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on. FORD Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles me:
if you will help to bear it, Sir John, take all, or half, for easing me of the carriage. FALSTAFF Sir, I know not how I may deserve to be your porter. FORD I will tell you, sir, if you will give me the hearing. FALSTAFF Speak, good Master Brook: I shall be glad to be your servant. FORD Sir, I hear you are a scholar,--I will be brief with you,--and you have been a man long known to me, though I had never so good means, as desire, to make myself acquainted with you. I shall discover a thing to you, wherein I must very much lay open mine own imperfection: but, good Sir John, as you have one eye upon my follies, as you hear them unfolded, turn another into the register of your own; that Imay pass with a reproof the easier, sith you yourself know how easy it is to be such an offender. FALSTAFF Very well, sir; proceed. FORD There is a gentlewoman in this town;her husband's name is Ford. FALSTAFF Well, sir. FORD I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, bestowed much on her; followed her with a doting observance; engrossed opportunities to meet her;fee'd every slight occasion that could but niggardly give me sight of her; not only bought many presents to give her, but have given largely to many to know what she would have given; briefly, I have pursued her as love hath pursued me; which hath been on the wing of all occasions. But whatsoever I have merited, either in my mind or, in my means, meed, I am sure, I have received none; unless experience be a jewel that I have purchased at an infinite rate, and that hath taught me to say this:
'Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues;Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues.' FALSTAFF Have you received no promise of satisfaction at her hands? FORD Never. FALSTAFF Have you importuned her to such a purpose? FORD Never. FALSTAFF Of what quality was your love, then? FORD Like a fair house built on another man's ground; so that I have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where I erected it. FALSTAFF To what purpose have you unfolded this to me? FORD When I have told you that, I have told you all.
