'Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman as e2125ver I did look upon.

And did he send you both these letters at an 2127instant?

Within a quarter of an hour.

Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt.

2130I rather will suspect the sun with gold

2131Than thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honor stand,

2132In him that was of late an heretic,

2133As firm as faith.

'Tis well, 'tis well, no more.

2135Be not as extreme in submission as in offence,

2136But let our plot go forward. Let our wives

2137Yet once again, to make us public sport.

2138Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow,

2139Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.

There is no better way then that they spoke of.

How? To send him word they'll meet him in 2142the Park at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll never come.

You say he has been thrown in the rivers. and 2144has been grievously peaten, as an old 'oman. Methinks 2145there should be terrors in him, that he should not come. 2146Methinks his flesh is punished; he shall have no de2147sires.

So think I too.

Devise but how you'll use him when he comes,

2150And let us two devise to bring him thither.

There is an old tale goes that Herne the

2152Hunter, sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,

2153Doth all the winter time at still midnight

2154Walk round about an oak with great ragg'd horns,

2155And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,

2156And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain

2157In a most hideous and dreadful manner.

2158You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know

2159The superstitious idle-headed eld

2160Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age

2161This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.

Why yet there want not many that do fear

2163In deep of night to walk by this Herne's oak.

2164But what of this?

But what of this? Marry, this is our device:

2166That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us.

Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,

2168And in this shape. When you have brought him thither,

2169What shall be done with him? What is your plot?

That likewise have we thought upon, and thus:

2171Nan Page,my daughter, and my little son,

2172And three or four more of their growth, we'll dress

2173Like urchins, ouphes, and fairies, green and white,

2174With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads,

2175And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden,

2176As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met,

2177Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once

2178With some diffused song. Upon their sight

2179We two, in great amazedness, will fly.

2180Then let them all encircle him about,

2181And fairy-like to pinch the unclean knight;

2182And ask him why that hour of fairy revel,

2183In their so sacred paths, he dares to tread

2184In shape profane.

In shape profane. And till he tell the truth,

2186Let the supposèd fairies pinch him sound,

2187And burn him with their tapers.

And burn him with their tapers. The truth being known,

2189We'll all present ourselves, dishorn the spirit,

2190And mock him home to Windsor.

And mock him home to Windsor. The children must

2192Be practised well to this, or they'll ne'er do't.

I will teach the children their behaviors; and I 2194will be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight 2195with my taber.

That will be excellent, 2197I'll go buy them vizards.

My Nan shall be the queen of all the

2199fairies,

Finely attirèd in a robe of white.

That silk will I go buy, [Aside] and in that time

2201Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away,

2202And marry her at Eton. [To Mistress Page] Go, send to Falstaff straight.

Nay, I'll to him again in name of Broom.

2204He'll tell me all his purpose -- sure, he'll come.

Fear not you that. [To Page, Ford, and Evans] Go get us properties

2206And tricking for our fairies.

And tricking for our fairies. Let us about it. 2208It is admirable pleasures, and fery honest knaveries.

Go, Mistress Ford,

2210Send quickly to Sir John to know his mind.

2211I'll to the doctor. He hath my good will,

2212And none but he to marry with Nan Page.

2213That Slender, though well-landed, is an idiot.

2214And he, my husband best of all affects.

2215The doctor is well-moneyed, and his friends

2216Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her,

2217Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.