Ford.

Well wife, heere take my hand, vpon my soule I loue thee dearer then I do my life, and ioy I hnue so true and constant wife, my iealousie shall neuer more offend thee.

Mi. For.
Sir I am glad, and that which I haue done,
Was nothing else but mirth and modestie.

Pa.
I misteris Ford, Falstaffe hath all the griefe,
And in this knauerie my wife was the chiefe.

Mi. Pa.
No knauery husband, it was honest mirth.

Hu.
Indeed it was good pastimes & merriments.

Mis. For.
But sweete heart shall wee leaue olde Falstaffe so?

Mis. Pa.
O by no meanes, send to him againe.

Pa.
I do not thinke heele come being so much deceiued.

For.

Let me alone, Ile to him once again like Brooke, and know his mind whether heele come or not.

Pa.
There must be some plot laide, or heele not come.

Mis. Pa.
Let vs alone for that. Heare my deuice.
Oft haue you heard since Horne the hunter dyed,
That women to affright their litle children,
Ses that he walkes in shape of a great stagge.
Now for that Falstaffe hath bene so deceiued,
As that he dares not venture to the house,
Weele send him word to meet vs in the field,
Disguised like Horne, with huge horns on his head,
The houre shalbe iust betweene twelue and one,
And at that time we will meet him both:
Then would I haue you present there at hand,
With litle boyes disguised and dressed like Fayries,
For to affright fat Falstaffe in the woods.
And then to make a period to the Iest,
Tell Falstaffe all, I thinke this will do best.

Pa.
Tis excellent, and my daughter Anne,
Shall like a litle Fayrie be disguised.

Mis. Pa.

And in that Maske Ile make the Doctor steale my daughter An, and ere my husband knowes it, to carrie her to Church, and marrie her.

Mis. For.
But who will buy the silkes to tyre the boyes?

Pa.
That will I do, and in a robe of white

Ile cloath my daughter, and aduertise Slender
To know her by that signe, and steale her thence,
And vnknowne to my wife, shall marrie her.

Hu.
So kad vdge me the deuises is excellent.
I will also be there, and will be like a Iackanapes,
And pinch him most cruelly for his lecheries.

Mis. Pa.
Why then we are reuenged sufficiently.
First he was carried and throwne in the Thames,
Next beaten well, I am sure youle witnes that.

Mi. For.
Ile lay my life this makes him nothing fat.

Pa.
Well lets about this stratagem, I long
To see deceit deceiued, and wrong haue wrong.

For.
Well send to Falstaffe, and if he come thither,
Twill make vs smile and laugh one moneth togither. Exit omnes.

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