William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor

ACT I. SCENE 4. A room in DOCTOR CAIUS'S house. (continued)

[Re-enter RUGBY.]

RUGBY.
Out, alas! here comes my master.

QUICKLY.
We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young
man; go into this closet. [Shuts SIMPLE in the closet.] He
will not stay long. What, John Rugby! John! what, John,
I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be
not well that he comes not home.

[Exit Rugby.]
[Sings.] And down, down, adown-a,' &c.

[Enter DOCTOR CAIUS.]

CAIUS.
Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go
and vetch me in my closet une boitine verde--a box, a green-a
box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.

QUICKLY.
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. [Aside] I am glad
he went not in himself: if he had found the young man,
he would have been horn-mad.

CAIUS.
Fe, fe, fe fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a
la cour--la grande affaire.

QUICKLY.
Is it this, sir?

CAIUS.
Oui; mettez le au mon pocket: depechez, quickly.--Vere
is dat knave, Rugby?

QUICKLY.
What, John Rugby? John!

[Re-enter Rugby.]

RUGBY. Here, sir.

CAIUS.
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby: come,
take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court.

RUGBY. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

CAIUS.
By my trot, I tarry too long.--Od's me! Qu'ay j'oublie?
Dere is some simples in my closet dat I vill not for the
varld I shall leave behind.

QUICKLY.
[Aside.] Ay me, he'll find the young man there, and be
mad!