The Merry Wives of Windsor · Act 3, Scene 1

Listen in app

Original

Modern English

Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE
Enter SIR HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE
Sir Hugh Evans

I pray you now, good master Slender’s serving-man, and friend Simple by your name, which way have you looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor of physic?

Sir Hugh Evans

Please, good man, Slender’s servant, and friend Simple, by your name, where have you looked for Master Caius, who calls himself a doctor?

Simple

Marry, sir, the pittie-ward, the park-ward, every way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town way.

Simple

Well, sir, the pity-ward, the park-ward, everywhere; old Windsor road, and everywhere but the town road.

Sir Hugh Evans

I most fehemently desire you you will also look that way.

Sir Hugh Evans

I strongly ask that you also look down that way.

Simple

I will, sir.

Simple

I will, sir.

Exit
Exit
Sir Hugh Evans

’Pless my soul, how full of chollors I am, and trempling of mind! I shall be glad if he have deceived me. How melancholies I am! I will knog his urinals about his knave’s costard when I have good opportunities for the ork. ’Pless my soul!

Sir Hugh Evans

Good heavens, how full of anger I am, and how my mind is racing! I’ll be glad if he has tricked me. How sad I am! I’ll hit him on the head with his own pot when I get the chance. Good heavens!

Sings
Sings
Sir Hugh Evans

To shallow rivers, to whose falls Melodious birds sings madrigals; There will we make our peds of roses, And a thousand fragrant posies. To shallow-- Mercy on me! I have a great dispositions to cry.

Sir Hugh Evans

To shallow rivers, where the falls Melodious birds sing love songs; There we’ll make our beds of roses, And a thousand sweet-smelling flowers. To shallow-- Mercy on me! I feel like crying.

Sings
Sings
Sir Hugh Evans

Melodious birds sing madrigals-- When as I sat in Pabylon-- And a thousand vagram posies. To shallow & c.

Sir Hugh Evans

Melodious birds sing love songs-- When I sat in Babylon-- And a thousand wandering flowers. To shallow & c.

Re-enter SIMPLE
Re-enter SIMPLE
Simple

Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh.

Simple

There he is, coming this way, Sir Hugh.

Sir Hugh Evans

He’s welcome.

Sir Hugh Evans

He’s welcome.

Sings
Sings
Sir Hugh Evans

To shallow rivers, to whose falls- Heaven prosper the right! What weapons is he?

Sir Hugh Evans

To shallow rivers, to whose falls- Heaven bless the right side! What weapons is he

Simple

No weapons, sir. There comes my master, Master Shallow, and another gentleman, from Frogmore, over the stile, this way.

Simple

No weapons, sir. Here comes my master, Master Shallow, and another gentleman, from Frogmore, over the stile, this way.

Sir Hugh Evans

Pray you, give me my gown; or else keep it in your arms.

Sir Hugh Evans

Please, give me my gown; or else hold it in your arms.

Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER
Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER
Shallow

How now, master Parson! Good morrow, good Sir Hugh. Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good student from his book, and it is wonderful.

Shallow

Hello, Master Parson! Good morning, good Sir Hugh. Keep a gambler away from the dice, and a good student away from his book, and it’s amazing.

Slender

[Aside] Ah, sweet Anne Page!

Slender

[Aside] Ah, sweet Anne Page!

Page

’Save you, good Sir Hugh!

Page

God save you, good Sir Hugh!

Sir Hugh Evans

’Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you!

Sir Hugh Evans

Bless you, for His mercy’s sake, all of you!

Shallow

What, the sword and the word! do you study them both, master parson?

Shallow

What, the sword and the word! Do you study both, Master Parson?

Page

And youthful still! in your doublet and hose this raw rheumatic day!

Page

And still so youthful! In your doublet and hose this raw, rheumatic day!

Sir Hugh Evans

There is reasons and causes for it.

Sir Hugh Evans

There are reasons and causes for it.

Page

We are come to you to do a good office, master parson.

Page

We’ve come to you to do a good deed, Master Parson.

Sir Hugh Evans

Fery well: what is it?

Sir Hugh Evans

Very well: what is it?

Page

Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who, belike having received wrong by some person, is at most odds with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw.

Page

Over there is a very respected gentleman, who, perhaps having been wronged by someone, is extremely upset and struggling to maintain his composure and patience like never before.

Shallow

I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never heard a man of his place, gravity and learning, so wide of his own respect.

Shallow

I’ve lived eighty years and more; I’ve never heard a man of his position, seriousness, and education, act so out of character.

Sir Hugh Evans

What is he?

Sir Hugh Evans

Who is he?

Page

I think you know him; Master Doctor Caius, the renowned French physician.

Page

I think you know him; Master Doctor Caius, the famous French doctor.

Sir Hugh Evans

Got’s will, and his passion of my heart! I had as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge.

Sir Hugh Evans

God’s will, and my heart! I’d rather you tell me about a bowl of porridge.

Page

Why?

Page

Why?

Sir Hugh Evans

He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates and Galen, --and he is a knave besides; a cowardly knave as you would desires to be acquainted withal.

Sir Hugh Evans

He knows nothing about Hippocrates and Galen, --and he’s a fool too; a cowardly fool that you would want to be friends with.

Page

I warrant you, he’s the man should fight with him.

Page

I swear, he’s the man who should fight him.

Shallow

[Aside] O sweet Anne Page!

Shallow

[Aside] Oh, sweet Anne Page!

It appears so by his weapons. Keep them asunder: here comes Doctor Caius.

It looks like it from his weapons. Keep them apart: here comes Doctor Caius.

Enter Host, DOCTOR CAIUS, and RUGBY
Enter Host, DOCTOR CAIUS, and RUGBY
Page

Nay, good master parson, keep in your weapon.

Page

No, good master parson, keep your weapon sheathed.

Shallow

So do you, good master doctor.

Shallow

So do you, good master doctor.

Host

Disarm them, and let them question: let them keep their limbs whole and hack our English.

Host

Disarm them, and let them talk: let them keep their limbs intact and mess up our English.

Doctor Caius

I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your ear. Vherefore vill you not meet-a me?

Doctor Caius

I beg you, let me speak a word in your ear. Why won’t you meet me?

Sir Hugh Evans

[Aside to DOCTOR CAIUS] Pray you, use your patience: in good time.

Sir Hugh Evans

[Aside to DOCTOR CAIUS] Please, be patient: it’s about time.

Doctor Caius

By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John ape.

Doctor Caius

By God, you are a coward, a worthless dog, a monkey.

Sir Hugh Evans

[Aside to DOCTOR CAIUS] Pray you let us not be laughing-stocks to other men’s humours; I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make you amends.

Sir Hugh Evans

[Aside to DOCTOR CAIUS] Please, let’s not be the laughingstock of other people’s jokes; I’m asking you as a friend, and I’ll make it right one way or another.

Aloud
Aloud
Sir Hugh Evans

I will knog your urinals about your knave’s cockscomb for missing your meetings and appointments.

Sir Hugh Evans

I’ll beat you up for missing your meetings and appointments.

Doctor Caius

Diable! Jack Rugby,--mine host de Jarteer,--have I not stay for him to kill him? have I not, at de place I did appoint?

Doctor Caius

Damn! Jack Rugby, my landlord, didn’t I wait for him to kill him? Didn’t I wait at the place I said I would?

Sir Hugh Evans

As I am a Christians soul now, look you, this is the place appointed: I’ll be judgement by mine host of the Garter.

Sir Hugh Evans

As I’m a Christian, look, this is the place we agreed on: I’ll be the judge, with my landlord from the Garter.

Host

Peace, I say, Gallia and Gaul, French and Welsh, soul-curer and body-curer!

Host

Quiet, I say, French and Welsh, healer of souls and healer of bodies!

Doctor Caius

Ay, dat is very good; excellent.

Doctor Caius

Yes, that’s very good; excellent.

Host

Peace, I say! hear mine host of the Garter. Am I politic? am I subtle? am I a Machiavel? Shall I lose my doctor? no; he gives me the potions and the motions. Shall I lose my parson, my priest, my Sir Hugh? no; he gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs. Give me thy hand, terrestrial; so. Give me thy hand, celestial; so. Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places: your hearts are mighty, your skins are whole, and let burnt sack be the issue. Come, lay their swords to pawn. Follow me, lads of peace; follow, follow, follow.

Host

Quiet, I say! Listen to my landlord from the Garter. Am I clever? Am I sneaky? Am I a Machiavellian schemer? Should I let go of my doctor? No; he gives me the potions and the motions. Should I let go of my priest, my Sir Hugh? No; he gives me the proverbs and the sayings. Give me your hand, earthly one; so. Give me your hand, heavenly one; so. Artful boys, I’ve tricked you both; I’ve sent you to the wrong places: your hearts are strong, your bodies are unharmed, and let the wine be the outcome. Come, let’s bet their swords. Follow me, lads of peace; follow, follow, follow.

Shallow

Trust me, a mad host. Follow, gentlemen, follow.

Shallow

Trust me, a crazy landlord. Follow, gentlemen, follow.

Slender

[Aside] O sweet Anne Page!

Slender

[Aside] Oh sweet Anne Page!

Exeunt SHALLOW, SLENDER, PAGE, and Host
Exeunt SHALLOW, SLENDER, PAGE, and Host
Doctor Caius

Ha, do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot of us, ha, ha?

Doctor Caius

Ha, do I see that? Are you making a fool of us, ha, ha?

Sir Hugh Evans

This is well; he has made us his vlouting-stog. I desire you that we may be friends; and let us knog our prains together to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy cogging companion, the host of the Garter.

Sir Hugh Evans

This is good; he’s made a fool of us. I want us to be friends, and let’s knock our brains together to get revenge on this same tricky, deceitful host from the Garter.

Doctor Caius

By gar, with all my heart. He promise to bring me where is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive me too.

Doctor Caius

By God, with all my heart. He promised to take me to Anne Page; by God, he deceived me too.

Sir Hugh Evans

Well, I will smite his noddles. Pray you, follow.

Sir Hugh Evans

Well, I will hit him hard. Please, follow me.

Exuent
Exuent

End of Act 3, Scene 1

That's the end of this scene. Want to keep going? Pick up the next one below — or hear it narrated in the app.

Get the iOS app Get the Android app

Read the summary & analysis →

♪ Listen with the app Get it free →