Fal. She shall not see me: I will ensconce me behind the arras.

Mrs. Ford. Pray you, do so: she's a very tattling [Falstaff hides himself. 80

woman.

Re-enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN.

What's the matter? how now!

Mrs. Page. O Mistress Ford, what have you done? You're shamed, you're overthrown, you're undone for ever!

Mrs. Ford.

Page?

What's the matter, good Mistress

Mrs. Page. O well-a-day, Mistress Ford! having an honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of suspicion!

87

Mrs. Ford. What cause of suspicion? Mrs. Page. What cause of suspicion! Out upon you! how am I mistook in you!

90

Mrs. Ford. Why, alas, what's the matter? Mrs. Page. Your husband's coming hither, woman, with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman that he says is here now in the house, by your consent, to take an ill advantage of his absence: you are undone.

95

Mrs. Page. Pray heaven it be not so, that you have such a man here! but 'tis most certain your husband's coming, with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one. I come before to tell you. If you know yourself clear, why, I am glad of it;

but if you have a friend here, convey, convey him out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to you; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good life for ever.

104

Mrs. Ford. What shall I do? There is a gentleman my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame so much as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound he were out of the house.

108

Mrs. Page. For shame! never stand 'you had rather' and 'you had rather:' your husband's here at hand; bethink you of some conveyance: in the house you cannot hide him. O, how have you deceived me! Look, here is a basket: if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep in here; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going to bucking: or, it is whiting-time, send him by your two men to Datchet-mead.

116

Mrs. Ford. He's too big to go in there. What shall I do?

Fal. [Coming forward] Let me see't, let me see't, O, let me see't! I'll in, I'll in. - Follow your friend's counsel. — I'll in.

121

Mrs. Page. What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your letters, knight?

Fal. I love thee. Help me away. -Let me creep in here. I'll never

125

[Gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen. Mrs. Page. Help to cover your master, boy.— Call your men, Mistress Ford. - You dissembling knight!

-

Mrs. Ford. What, John! Robert! John!

Re-enter Servants.

[Exit Robin.

Go take up these clothes here quickly. Where's the cowl-staff? look, how you drumble!-Carry them to the laundress in Dachet-mead; quickly,

come.

181

Enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS. Ford. Pray you, come near: if I suspect without cause, why then make sport at me; then let me be your jest; I deserve it. How now! whither

bear you this?

Serv. To the laundress, forsooth.

135

Mrs. Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they bear it? You were best meddle with buckwashing.

Ford. Buck!

Buck! I would I could wash myself of the buck! Buck, buck, buck! Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck; and of the season too, it shall appear. [Exeunt Servants with the basket.] Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night; I'll tell you my dream. Here, here, here be my keys: ascend my chambers; search, seek, find out: I'll warrant we'll unkennel the fox. Let me stop this first. way door.] So, now uncape.

- [Locking the

145

Page. Good Master Ford, be contented: you wrong yourself too much.

Ford. True, Master Page.-Up, gentlemen; you shall see sport anon: follow me, gentlemen. [Exit.

Evans. This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies. Caius.

By gar, 'tis no the fashion of France; it is not jealous in France.

152

Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen; see the issue of his search. [Exeunt Page, Caius, and Evans. Mrs. Page. Is there not a double excellency in this?

Mrs. Ford. I know not which pleases me better, that my husband is deceived, or Sir John.

157

Mrs. Page. What a taking was he in when your husband asked who was in the basket!

Mrs. Ford. I am half afraid he will have need of washing; so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit.

Mrs. Page. Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would all of the same strain were in the same distress.

Mrs. Ford. I think my husband hath some special suspicion of Falstaff's being here; for I never saw him SO gross in his jealousy till

now.

166

Mrs. Page. I will lay a plot to try that; and we will yet have more tricks with Falstaff: his dissolute disease will scarce obey this medicine.

Mrs. Ford. Shall we send that foolish carrion, Mistress Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the water; and give him another hope, to betray him to another punishment?

Mrs. Page. We will do it: let him be sent for to-morrow, eight o'clock, to have amends.

175

Re-enter FORD, PAGE, CAIUS, and SIR HUGH EVANS.

Ford. I cannot find him: may be the knave bragged of that he could not compass.

Mrs. Page. [Aside to Mrs. Ford] Heard you that? Mrs. Ford. You use me well, Master Ford, do you?

Ford. Ay, I do so.

180

Mrs. Ford. Heaven make you better than your thoughts!

Ford. Amen!

Mrs. Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford.

Ford. Ay, ay; I must bear it.

185

Evans. If there be any pody in the house, and in the chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses, heaven forgive my sins at the day of judgement!

Caius. By gar, nor I too: there is no bodies. Page. Fie, fie, Master Ford! are you not ashamed? What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination? I would not ha' your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Windsor Castle.

193

Ford. 'Tis my fault, Master Page: I suffer for it. Evans. You suffer for a pad conscience: your wife is as honest a 'omans as I will desires among five thousand, and five hundred too.

198

Caius. By gar, I see 'tis an honest woman. Ford. Well, I promised you a dinner. Come, come, walk in the Park: I pray you, pardon me;