Читать книгу Shakespeare: The Complete Collection - William Shakespeare - Страница 118

Enter Falstaff, [Mistress] Quickly.

Fal. Prithee no more prattling. Go, I’ll hold. This is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers. Away, go. They say there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death. Away!

Quick. I’ll provide you a chain, and I’ll do what I can to get you a pair of horns.

Fal. Away, I say, time wears, hold up your head and mince.

[Exit Mrs. Quickly.]

[Enter] Ford [disguised].

How now, Master [Brook]? Master [Brook], the matter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the park about midnight, at Herne’s oak, and you shall see wonders.

Ford. Went you not to her yesterday, sir, as you told me you had appointed?

Fal. I went to her, Master [Brook], as you see, like a poor old man, but I came from her, Master [Brook], like a poor old woman. That same knave Ford, her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, Master [Brook], that ever govern’d frenzy. I will tell you—he beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman; for in the shape of man, Master [Brook], I fear not Goliah with a weaver’s beam, because I know also life is a shuttle. I am in haste, go along with me, I’ll tell you all, Master [Brook]. Since I pluck’d geese, play’d truant, and whipt top, I knew not what ’twas to be beaten till lately. Follow me, I’ll tell you strange things of this knave Ford, on whom to-night I will be reveng’d, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow. Strange things in hand, Master [Brook]! Follow.

Exeunt.

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