Act III, Scene ii:
A street in Windsor.

[Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN.]

MRS:

Nay, keep your way, little gallant: you were

wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether

had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels?

ROBIN:

I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man than

follow him like a dwarf.

MRS:

O! you are a flattering boy: now I see you'll be a

courtier.

[Enter FORD.]

FORD:

Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?

MRS:

Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?

FORD:

Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want of

company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two

would marry.

MRS:

Be sure of that—two other husbands.

FORD:

Where had you this pretty weathercock?

MRS:

I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my

husband had him of. What do you call your knight's

name, sirrah?

ROBIN:

Sir John Falstaff.

FORD:

Sir John Falstaff!

MRS:

He, he; I can never hit on's name. There is such

a league between my good man and he! Is your wife at

home indeed?

FORD:

Indeed she is.

MRS:

By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.

[Exeunt MRS. PAGE and ROBIN.]

FORD:

Has Page any brains? Hath he any eyes? Hath he any

thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them. Why,

this boy will carry a letter twenty mile as easy as a cannon

will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out his wife's

inclination; he gives her folly motion and advantage; and

now she's going to my wife, and Falstaff's boy with her. A

man may hear this shower sing in the wind: and Falstaff's

boy with her! Good plots! They are laid; and our revolted

wives share damnation together. Well; I will take him,

then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed veil of modesty

from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge Page himself

for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these violent proceedings

all my neighbours shall cry aim.[Clock strikes]

The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance bids me

search; there I shall find Falstaff. I shall be rather praised

for this than mocked; for it is as positive as the earth is firm

that Falstaff is there. I will go.

[Enter PAGE, SHALLOW, SLENDER, HOST, SIR HUGH EVANS,CAIUS, and RUGBY.]

SHALLOW, PAGE, &C.

Well met, Master Ford.

FORD:

Trust me, a good knot; I have good cheer at home,

and I pray you all go with me.

SHALLOW:

I must excuse myself, Master Ford.

SLENDER:

And so must I, sir; we have appointed to dine with

Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more

money than I'll speak of.

SHALLOW:

We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my

cousin Slender, and this day we shall have our answer.

SLENDER:

I hope I have your good will, father Page.

PAGE:

You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for you. But

my wife, Master doctor, is for you altogether.

CAIUS:

Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my nursh-a

Quickly tell me so mush.

HOST:

What say you to young Master Fenton? He capers,

he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks

holiday, he smells April and May; he will carry 't, he will

carry 't; 'tis in his buttons; he will carry 't.

PAGE:

Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentleman is

of no having: he kept company with the wild Prince and

Pointz; he is of too high a region, he knows too much. No,

he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of

my substance; if he take her, let him take her simply; the

wealth I have waits on my consent, and my consent goes

not that way.

FORD:

I beseech you, heartily, some of you go home with me

to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport; I will

show you a monster. Master Doctor, you shall go; so shall

you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh.

SHALLOW:

wooing at Master Page's.

[Exeunt SHALLOW and SLENDER.]

CAIUS:

Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.

[Exit RUGBY.]

HOST:

Farewell, my hearts; I will to my honest knight

Falstaff, and drink canary with him.[Exit.]HOST

FORD:

[Aside] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first with

him. I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?

ALL:

Have with you to see this monster.

[Exeunt.]