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Enter PAGE, FORD, MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and SIR HUGH EVANS.
Enter PAGE, FORD, MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and SIR HUGH EVANS.
SIR HUGH
’Tis one of the best discretions of a ’oman as
ever I did look upon.
SIR HUGH
’Tis one of the best discretions of a ’oman as
ever I did look upon.
PAGE
And did he send you both these letters at an
instant?
PAGE
And did he send you both these letters at an
instant?
MISTRESS PAGE
5
Within a quarter of an hour.
MISTRESS PAGE
5
Within a quarter of an hour.
FORD
Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt.
I rather will suspect the sun with cold
Than thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honor
stand,
10
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith.
FORD
Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt.
I rather will suspect the sun with cold
Than thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honor
stand,
10
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith.
PAGE
’Tis well, ’tis well. No more.
Be not as extreme in submission as in offense.
But let our plot go forward. Let our wives
15
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,
Where we may take him and disgrace him for it.
PAGE
’Tis well, ’tis well. No more.
Be not as extreme in submission as in offense.
But let our plot go forward. Let our wives
15
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,
Where we may take him and disgrace him for it.
FORD
There is no better way than that they spoke of.
FORD
There is no better way than that they spoke of.
PAGE
How, to send him word they’ll meet him in the
20
park at midnight? Fie, fie, he’ll never come.
PAGE
How, to send him word they’ll meet him in the
20
park at midnight? Fie, fie, he’ll never come.
SIR HUGH
You say he has been thrown in the rivers
and has been grievously peaten as an old ’oman.
Methinks there should be terrors in him, that he
should not come. Methinks his flesh is punished;
25
he shall have no desires.
SIR HUGH
You say he has been thrown in the rivers
and has been grievously peaten as an old ’oman.
Methinks there should be terrors in him, that he
should not come. Methinks his flesh is punished;
25
he shall have no desires.
PAGE
So think I too.
PAGE
So think I too.
MISTRESS FORD
Devise but how you’ll use him when he comes,
And let us two devise to bring him thither.
MISTRESS FORD
Devise but how you’ll use him when he comes,
And let us two devise to bring him thither.
MISTRESS PAGE
There is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter,
30
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the wintertime, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a
35
chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Received and did deliver to our age
40
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
MISTRESS PAGE
There is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter,
30
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the wintertime, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a
35
chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Received and did deliver to our age
40
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
PAGE
Why, yet there want not many that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Herne’s oak.
But what of this?
PAGE
Why, yet there want not many that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Herne’s oak.
But what of this?
MISTRESS FORD
Marry, this is our device,
45
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us,
Disguised like Herne, with huge horns on his head.
MISTRESS FORD
Marry, this is our device,
45
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us,
Disguised like Herne, with huge horns on his head.
PAGE
Well, let it not be doubted but he’ll come.
And in this shape when you have brought him
thither,
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?
PAGE
Well, let it not be doubted but he’ll come.
And in this shape when you have brought him
thither,
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?
MISTRESS PAGE
50
That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:
Nan Page my daughter, and my little son,
And three or four more of their growth we’ll dress
Like urchins, aufs, and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads
55
And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden,
As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffusèd song. Upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly.
60
Then let them all encircle him about,
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight,
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
MISTRESS PAGE
50
That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:
Nan Page my daughter, and my little son,
And three or four more of their growth we’ll dress
Like urchins, aufs, and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads
55
And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden,
As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffusèd song. Upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly.
60
Then let them all encircle him about,
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight,
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
FORD
65
And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposèd fairies pinch him sound
And burn him with their tapers.
FORD
65
And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposèd fairies pinch him sound
And burn him with their tapers.
MISTRESS PAGE
The truth being known,
We’ll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
70
And mock him home to Windsor.
MISTRESS PAGE
The truth being known,
We’ll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
70
And mock him home to Windsor.
FORD
The children must
Be practiced well to this, or they’ll ne’er do ’t.
FORD
The children must
Be practiced well to this, or they’ll ne’er do ’t.
SIR HUGH
I will teach the children their behaviors, and
I will be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight
75
with my taber.         
SIR HUGH
I will teach the children their behaviors, and
I will be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight
75
with my taber.         
FORD
That will be excellent. I’ll go buy them vizards.
FORD
That will be excellent. I’ll go buy them vizards.
MISTRESS PAGE
My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies,
Finely attirèd in a robe of white.
MISTRESS PAGE
My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies,
Finely attirèd in a robe of white.
PAGE
That silk will I go buy. (Aside.) And in that time
80
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away
And marry her at Eton.—Go, send to Falstaff
straight.
PAGE
That silk will I go buy. (Aside.) And in that time
80
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away
And marry her at Eton.—Go, send to Falstaff
straight.
FORD
Nay, I’ll to him again in name of Brook.
He’ll tell me all his purpose. Sure he’ll come.
FORD
Nay, I’ll to him again in name of Brook.
He’ll tell me all his purpose. Sure he’ll come.
MISTRESS PAGE
85
Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
MISTRESS PAGE
85
Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
SIR HUGH
Let us about it. It is admirable pleasures and
fery honest knaveries.
SIR HUGH
Let us about it. It is admirable pleasures and
fery honest knaveries.
PAGE , FORD, and SIR HUGH exit.
PAGE , FORD, and SIR HUGH exit.
MISTRESS PAGE
Go, Mistress Ford,
90
Send quickly to Sir John to know his mind.
MISTRESS FORD exits.
I’ll to the doctor. He hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well-landed, is an idiot,
And he my husband best of all affects.
95
The doctor is well-moneyed, and his friends
Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.
MISTRESS PAGE
Go, Mistress Ford,
90
Send quickly to Sir John to know his mind.
MISTRESS FORD exits.
I’ll to the doctor. He hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well-landed, is an idiot,
And he my husband best of all affects.
95
The doctor is well-moneyed, and his friends
Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.
She exits.
She exits.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter PAGE, FORD, MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and SIR HUGH EVANS.
Enter PAGE, FORD, MISTRESS PAGE, MISTRESS FORD, and SIR HUGH EVANS.
SIR HUGH
’Tis one of the best discretions of a ’oman as
ever I did look upon.
SIR HUGH
’Tis one of the best discretions of a ’oman as
ever I did look upon.
PAGE
And did he send you both these letters at an
instant?
PAGE
And did he send you both these letters at an
instant?
MISTRESS PAGE
5
Within a quarter of an hour.
MISTRESS PAGE
5
Within a quarter of an hour.
FORD
Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt.
I rather will suspect the sun with cold
Than thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honor
stand,
10
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith.
FORD
Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt.
I rather will suspect the sun with cold
Than thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honor
stand,
10
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith.
PAGE
’Tis well, ’tis well. No more.
Be not as extreme in submission as in offense.
But let our plot go forward. Let our wives
15
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,
Where we may take him and disgrace him for it.
PAGE
’Tis well, ’tis well. No more.
Be not as extreme in submission as in offense.
But let our plot go forward. Let our wives
15
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,
Where we may take him and disgrace him for it.
FORD
There is no better way than that they spoke of.
FORD
There is no better way than that they spoke of.
PAGE
How, to send him word they’ll meet him in the
20
park at midnight? Fie, fie, he’ll never come.
PAGE
How, to send him word they’ll meet him in the
20
park at midnight? Fie, fie, he’ll never come.
SIR HUGH
You say he has been thrown in the rivers
and has been grievously peaten as an old ’oman.
Methinks there should be terrors in him, that he
should not come. Methinks his flesh is punished;
25
he shall have no desires.
SIR HUGH
You say he has been thrown in the rivers
and has been grievously peaten as an old ’oman.
Methinks there should be terrors in him, that he
should not come. Methinks his flesh is punished;
25
he shall have no desires.
PAGE
So think I too.
PAGE
So think I too.
MISTRESS FORD
Devise but how you’ll use him when he comes,
And let us two devise to bring him thither.
MISTRESS FORD
Devise but how you’ll use him when he comes,
And let us two devise to bring him thither.
MISTRESS PAGE
There is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter,
30
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the wintertime, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a
35
chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Received and did deliver to our age
40
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
MISTRESS PAGE
There is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter,
30
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the wintertime, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a
35
chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Received and did deliver to our age
40
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
PAGE
Why, yet there want not many that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Herne’s oak.
But what of this?
PAGE
Why, yet there want not many that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Herne’s oak.
But what of this?
MISTRESS FORD
Marry, this is our device,
45
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us,
Disguised like Herne, with huge horns on his head.
MISTRESS FORD
Marry, this is our device,
45
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us,
Disguised like Herne, with huge horns on his head.
PAGE
Well, let it not be doubted but he’ll come.
And in this shape when you have brought him
thither,
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?
PAGE
Well, let it not be doubted but he’ll come.
And in this shape when you have brought him
thither,
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?
MISTRESS PAGE
50
That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:
Nan Page my daughter, and my little son,
And three or four more of their growth we’ll dress
Like urchins, aufs, and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads
55
And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden,
As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffusèd song. Upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly.
60
Then let them all encircle him about,
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight,
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
MISTRESS PAGE
50
That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:
Nan Page my daughter, and my little son,
And three or four more of their growth we’ll dress
Like urchins, aufs, and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads
55
And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden,
As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffusèd song. Upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly.
60
Then let them all encircle him about,
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight,
And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
FORD
65
And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposèd fairies pinch him sound
And burn him with their tapers.
FORD
65
And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposèd fairies pinch him sound
And burn him with their tapers.
MISTRESS PAGE
The truth being known,
We’ll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
70
And mock him home to Windsor.
MISTRESS PAGE
The truth being known,
We’ll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
70
And mock him home to Windsor.
FORD
The children must
Be practiced well to this, or they’ll ne’er do ’t.
FORD
The children must
Be practiced well to this, or they’ll ne’er do ’t.
SIR HUGH
I will teach the children their behaviors, and
I will be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight
75
with my taber.         
SIR HUGH
I will teach the children their behaviors, and
I will be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight
75
with my taber.         
FORD
That will be excellent. I’ll go buy them vizards.
FORD
That will be excellent. I’ll go buy them vizards.
MISTRESS PAGE
My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies,
Finely attirèd in a robe of white.
MISTRESS PAGE
My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies,
Finely attirèd in a robe of white.
PAGE
That silk will I go buy. (Aside.) And in that time
80
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away
And marry her at Eton.—Go, send to Falstaff
straight.
PAGE
That silk will I go buy. (Aside.) And in that time
80
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away
And marry her at Eton.—Go, send to Falstaff
straight.
FORD
Nay, I’ll to him again in name of Brook.
He’ll tell me all his purpose. Sure he’ll come.
FORD
Nay, I’ll to him again in name of Brook.
He’ll tell me all his purpose. Sure he’ll come.
MISTRESS PAGE
85
Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
MISTRESS PAGE
85
Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
SIR HUGH
Let us about it. It is admirable pleasures and
fery honest knaveries.
SIR HUGH
Let us about it. It is admirable pleasures and
fery honest knaveries.
PAGE , FORD, and SIR HUGH exit.
PAGE , FORD, and SIR HUGH exit.
MISTRESS PAGE
Go, Mistress Ford,
90
Send quickly to Sir John to know his mind.
MISTRESS FORD exits.
I’ll to the doctor. He hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well-landed, is an idiot,
And he my husband best of all affects.
95
The doctor is well-moneyed, and his friends
Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.
MISTRESS PAGE
Go, Mistress Ford,
90
Send quickly to Sir John to know his mind.
MISTRESS FORD exits.
I’ll to the doctor. He hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well-landed, is an idiot,
And he my husband best of all affects.
95
The doctor is well-moneyed, and his friends
Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.
She exits.
She exits.
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