William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor

ACT III SCENE 3. A room in FORD'S house. (continued)

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.

MRS. FORD.
[Aside.] Spek louder.--'Tis not so, I hope.

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.

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

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.

MRS. FORD.
He's too big to go in there. What shall I do?

FALSTAFF.
[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.

MRS. PAGE.
What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your letters, knight?

FALSTAFF.
I love thee and none but thee; help me away: let me creep in
here. I'll never--

[He gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen.]