William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor

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

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.

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.

[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.
[Aside to MRS. PAGE.] Ay, ay, peace.--You use me well, Master
Ford, do you?

FORD.
Ay, I do so.

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.

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 judgment!