William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor

ACT II. SCENE 1. Before PAGE'S house (continued)

MRS. FORD.
[Aside to MRS. PAGE] Trust me, I thought on
her: she'll fit it.

[Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY.]

MRS. PAGE.
You are come to see my daughter Anne?

QUICKLY.
Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good Mistress Anne?

MRS. PAGE.
Go in with us and see; we'd have an hour's talk with you.

[Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and MISTRESS QUICKLY.]

PAGE.
How now, Master Ford!

FORD.
You heard what this knave told me, did you not?

PAGE.
Yes; and you heard what the other told me?

FORD.
Do you think there is truth in them?

PAGE.
Hang 'em, slaves! I do not think the knight would offer it;
but these that accuse him in his intent towards our
wives are a yoke of his discarded men; very rogues, now
they be out of service.

FORD.
Were they his men?

PAGE.
Marry, were they.

FORD.
I like it never the better for that. Does he lie at the
Garter?

PAGE.
Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this voyage
toward my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and what
he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head.

FORD.
I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be loath to
turn them together. A man may be too confident. I would
have nothing 'lie on my head': I cannot be thus satisfied.

PAGE.
Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes.
There is either liquor in his pate or money in his purse
when he looks so merrily.

[Enter HOST and SHALLOW.]

How now, mine host!