Act 3, Scene III - Page 2

becomes the
ship-tire, the tire-valiant, or any tire of
Venetian admittance.

MISTRESS FORD
A plain kerchief, Sir John: my brows become nothing
else; nor that well neither.

FALSTAFF
By the Lord, thou art a traitor to say so: thou
wouldst make an absolute courtier; and the firm
fixture of thy foot would give an excellent motion
to thy gait in a semi-circled farthingale. I see
what thou wert, if Fortune thy foe were not, Nature
thy friend. Come, thou canst not hide it.

MISTRESS FORD
Believe me, there is no such thing in me.

FALSTAFF
What made me love thee? let that persuade thee
there's something extraordinary in thee. Come, I
cannot cog and say thou art this and that, like a
many of these lisping hawthorn-buds, that come like
women in men's apparel, and smell like Bucklersbury
in simple time; I cannot: but I love thee; none
but thee; and thou deservest it.

MISTRESS FORD
Do not betray me, sir. I fear you love Mistress Page.

FALSTAFF
Thou mightst as well say I love to walk by the
Counter-gate, which is as hateful to me as the reek
of a lime-kiln.

MISTRESS FORD
Well, heaven knows how I love you; and you shall one
day find it.

FALSTAFF
Keep in that mind; I'll deserve it.

MISTRESS FORD
Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I could not
be in that mind.

ROBIN
[Within] Mistress Ford, Mistress Ford! here's
Mistress Page at the door, sweating and blowing and
looking wildly, and would needs speak with you presently.

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

MISTRESS FORD
Pray you, do so: she's a very tattling woman.

FALSTAFF hides himself

Re-enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN

What's the matter? how now!

MISTRESS PAGE
O Mistress Ford, what have you done? You're shamed,
you're overthrown, you're undone for ever!

MISTRESS FORD
What's the matter, good Mistress Page?

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

MISTRESS FORD
What cause of suspicion?

MISTRESS PAGE
What cause of suspicion! Out pon you! how am I
mistook in you!

MISTRESS FORD
Why, alas, what's the matter?

MISTRESS 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 assence: you are undone.

MISTRESS FORD
'Tis not so, I hope.

MISTRESS PAGE
Pray heaven it be not so, that you have such a man
here! but 'tis most certain your husband's