FAL. Brook, is his name?

BARD. Ay, sir.

FAL. 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!

8

Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised.

FORD. Bless you, sir.

FAL. And you, sir: Would

you speak with me? FORD. I make bold, to press with so little preparation upon you.

FAL. 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.

FAL. Good master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you.

9.

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

go to; via!] This cant phrase of exultation or defiance, is common in the old plays. So, in Blurt Master Constable: STEEvens.

"Via for fate! Fortune, lo! this is all."

Markham uses this word as one of the vocal helps necessary for reviving a horse's spirits in galloping large rings, when he grows slothful. Hence this cant phrase (perhaps from the Italian, via,) may be used on other occasions to quicken or pluck up courage. TOLLET.

9

not to charge you;] That is, not with a purpose of putting you to expence, or being burthensome. JOHNSON.

this unseasoned intrusion; for they say, if money go before, all ways do lie open.

FAL. 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 me to bear it, sir John, take all, or half, for easing me of the carriage.

FAL. 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.

FAL. 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 I may pass with a reproof the easier, sith' you yourself know, how easy it is to be such an offender.

FAL. Very well, sir; proceed.

FORD. There is a gentlewoman in this town, her husband's name is Ford.

FAL. 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

1 ———— sith —] i, e. since. STEEVEns.

FAL. Brook, is his name?

BARD. Ay, sir.

FAL. 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!3

Re-enter BARDOLPH, with FORD disguised.

FORD. Bless you, sir.

FAL. And you, sir: Would you speak with me? FORD. I make bold, to press with so little preparation upon you.

FAL. 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.

FAL. Good master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you.

9.

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

8

go to; via!] This cant phrase of exultation or defiance, is common in the old plays. So, in Blurt Master Constable:

"Via for fate! Fortune, lo! this is all." STEEVENS. Markham uses this word as one of the vocal helps necessary for reviving a horse's spirits in galloping large rings, when he grows slothful. Hence this cant phrase (perhaps from the Italian, via,) may be used on other occasions to quicken or pluck up courage. TOLLET.

9

not to charge you;] That is, not with a purpose of putting you to expence, or being burthensome. JOHNSON.

this unseasoned intrusion; for they say, if money go before, all ways do lie open.

FAL. 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 me to bear it, sir John, take all, or half, for easing me of the carriage.

FAL. 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.

FAL. 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 I may pass with a reproof the easier, sith you yourself know, how easy it is to be such an offender.

FAL. Very well, sir; proceed.

FORD. There is a gentlewoman in this town, her husband's name is Ford.

FAL. 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

sith-] i, e. since. STEEVENS.

FAL. Brook, is his name?

BARD. Ay, sir.

FAL. 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.

FAL. And you, sir: Would you speak with me? FORD. I make bold, to press with so little preparation upon you.

FAL. You're welcome; What's

us leave, drawer.

your will? Give [Exit BARDOLPH.

FORD. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much; my name is Brook.

FAL. Good master Brook, I desire more acquaintance of you.

9

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

go to; via!] This cant phrase of exultation or defiance, is common in the old plays. So, in Blurt Master Constable:

"Via for fate! Fortune, lo! this is all." STEEVENS. Markham uses this word as one of the vocal helps necessary for reviving a horse's spirits in galloping large rings, when he grows slothful. Hence this cant phrase (perhaps from the Italian, via,) may be used on other occasions to quicken or pluck up courage. TOLLET.

9

not to charge you;] That is, not with a purpose of putting you to expence, or being burthensome. JOHNSON.