Page:Works of Heinrich Heine 01.djvu/435

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IN THE COMEDIES.
419

MRS. PAGE.

[MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, Act II. Scene 2.]

Quick. That were a jest, indeed ; they have not so litlle grace, I hope : that were a trick, indeed ! But Mrs. Page would desire you to send her your little page, of all loves ; her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page : ancl, truly, Master Page is an honest man. Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life than she does ; do what she will, say what she will, take all, pay all, go to bed when she list, rise when she list, all is as she will ; and, truly, she deserves it : for if there be a kind woman in Windsor she is one. You must send her your page : no remedy.


MRS. FORD.

[MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, Act 1. Scene 3.]

Fal. No quips now, Pistol : Indeed I am in the waist two yards about : but I am now about no waste ; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife ; I spy entertainment in her ; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation : I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am Sir John Falstaffs.
Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her well out of honesty into English.