The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 4 Scene 2 runs 197 lines of dialogue, spoken by 9 speakers. That is longer than the play’s average scene length of about 114 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Full Dialogue
Falstaff ♂
Mistress Ford, your sorrow hath eaten up my
sufferance. I see you are obsequious in your love,
and I profess requital to a hair's breadth; not
only, Mistress Ford, in the simple
office of love, but in all the accoutrement,
complement and ceremony of it. But are you
sure of your husband now?
sufferance. I see you are obsequious in your love,
and I profess requital to a hair's breadth; not
only, Mistress Ford, in the simple
office of love, but in all the accoutrement,
complement and ceremony of it. But are you
sure of your husband now?
Mistress Ford ♀
He's a-birding, sweet Sir John.
Mistress Page ♂
[Within] What, ho, gossip Ford! what, ho!
Mistress Ford ♀
Step into the chamber, Sir John.
Mistress Page ♂
How now, sweetheart! who's at home besides yourself?
Mistress Ford ♀
Why, none but mine own people.
Mistress Page ♂
Indeed!
Mistress Ford ♀
No, certainly.
Speak louder.
Speak louder.
Mistress Page ♂
Truly, I am so glad you have nobody here.
Mistress Ford ♀
Why?
Mistress Page ♂
Why, woman, your husband is in his old lunes again:
he so takes on yonder with my husband; so rails
against all married mankind; so curses all Eve's
daughters, of what complexion soever; and so buffets
himself on the forehead, crying, 'Peer out, peer
out!' that any madness I ever yet beheld seemed but
tameness, civility and patience, to this his
distemper he is in now: I am glad the fat knight is not here.
he so takes on yonder with my husband; so rails
against all married mankind; so curses all Eve's
daughters, of what complexion soever; and so buffets
himself on the forehead, crying, 'Peer out, peer
out!' that any madness I ever yet beheld seemed but
tameness, civility and patience, to this his
distemper he is in now: I am glad the fat knight is not here.
Mistress Ford ♀
Why, does he talk of him?
Mistress Page ♂
Of none but him; and swears he was carried out, the
last time he searched for him, in a basket; protests
to my husband he is now here, and hath drawn him and
the rest of their company from their sport, to make
another experiment of his suspicion: but I am glad
the knight is not here; now he shall see his own foolery.
last time he searched for him, in a basket; protests
to my husband he is now here, and hath drawn him and
the rest of their company from their sport, to make
another experiment of his suspicion: but I am glad
the knight is not here; now he shall see his own foolery.
Mistress Ford ♀
How near is he, Mistress Page?
Mistress Page ♂
Hard by; at street end; he will be here anon.
Mistress Ford ♀
I am undone! The knight is here.
Mistress Page ♂
Why then you are utterly shamed, and he's but a dead
man. What a woman are you!–Away with him, away
with him! better shame than murder.
man. What a woman are you!–Away with him, away
with him! better shame than murder.
Ford ♂
Which way should be go? how should I bestow him?
Shall I put him into the basket again?
Shall I put him into the basket again?
Falstaff ♂
No, I'll come no more i' the basket. May I not go
out ere he come?
out ere he come?
Mistress Page ♂
Alas, three of Master Ford's brothers watch the door
with pistols, that none shall issue out; otherwise
you might slip away ere he came. But what make you here?
with pistols, that none shall issue out; otherwise
you might slip away ere he came. But what make you here?
Falstaff ♂
What shall I do? I'll creep up into the chimney.
Mistress Ford ♀
There they always use to discharge their
birding-pieces. Creep into the kiln-hole.
birding-pieces. Creep into the kiln-hole.
Falstaff ♂
Where is it?
Mistress Ford ♀
He will seek there, on my word. Neither press,
coffer, chest, trunk, well, vault, but he hath an
abstract for the remembrance of such places, and
goes to them by his note: there is no hiding you in the house.
coffer, chest, trunk, well, vault, but he hath an
abstract for the remembrance of such places, and
goes to them by his note: there is no hiding you in the house.
Falstaff ♂
I'll go out then.
Mistress Page ♂
If you go out in your own semblance, you die, Sir
John. Unless you go out disguised–
John. Unless you go out disguised–
Mistress Ford ♀
How might we disguise him?
Mistress Page ♂
Alas the day, I know not! There is no woman's gown
big enough for him otherwise he might put on a hat,
a muffler and a kerchief, and so escape.
big enough for him otherwise he might put on a hat,
a muffler and a kerchief, and so escape.
Falstaff ♂
Good hearts, devise something: any extremity rather
than a mischief.
than a mischief.
Mistress Ford ♀
My maid's aunt, the fat woman of Brentford, has a
gown above.
gown above.
Mistress Page ♂
On my word, it will serve him; she's as big as he
is: and there's her thrummed hat and her muffler
too. Run up, Sir John.
is: and there's her thrummed hat and her muffler
too. Run up, Sir John.
Mistress Ford ♀
Go, go, sweet Sir John: Mistress Page and I will
look some linen for your head.
look some linen for your head.
Mistress Page ♂
Quick, quick! we'll come dress you straight: put
on the gown the while.
on the gown the while.
Mistress Ford ♀
I would my husband would meet him in this shape: he
cannot abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears
she's a witch; forbade her my house and hath
threatened to beat her.
cannot abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears
she's a witch; forbade her my house and hath
threatened to beat her.
Mistress Page ♂
Heaven guide him to thy husband's cudgel, and the
devil guide his cudgel afterwards!
devil guide his cudgel afterwards!
Mistress Ford ♀
But is my husband coming?
Mistress Page ♂
Ah, in good sadness, is he; and talks of the basket
too, howsoever he hath had intelligence.
too, howsoever he hath had intelligence.
Mistress Ford ♀
We'll try that; for I'll appoint my men to carry the
basket again, to meet him at the door with it, as
they did last time.
basket again, to meet him at the door with it, as
they did last time.
Mistress Page ♂
Nay, but he'll be here presently: let's go dress him
like the witch of Brentford.
like the witch of Brentford.
Mistress Ford ♀
I'll first direct my men what they shall do with the
basket. Go up; I'll bring linen for him straight.
basket. Go up; I'll bring linen for him straight.
Mistress Page ♂
Hang him, dishonest varlet! we cannot misuse him enough.
We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do,
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too:
We do not act that often jest and laugh;
'Tis old, but true, Still swine eat all the draff.
We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do,
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too:
We do not act that often jest and laugh;
'Tis old, but true, Still swine eat all the draff.
Mistress Ford ♀
Go, sirs, take the basket again on your shoulders:
your master is hard at door; if he bid you set it
down, obey him: quickly, dispatch.
your master is hard at door; if he bid you set it
down, obey him: quickly, dispatch.
First Servant ♂
Come, come, take it up.
Second Servant ♂
Pray heaven it be not full of knight again.
First Servant ♂
I hope not; I had as lief bear so much lead.
Ford ♂
Ay, but if it prove true, Master Page, have you any
way then to unfool me again? Set down the basket,
villain! Somebody call my wife. Youth in a basket!
O you panderly rascals! there's a knot, a ging, a
pack, a conspiracy against me: now shall the devil
be shamed. What, wife, I say! Come, come forth!
Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!
way then to unfool me again? Set down the basket,
villain! Somebody call my wife. Youth in a basket!
O you panderly rascals! there's a knot, a ging, a
pack, a conspiracy against me: now shall the devil
be shamed. What, wife, I say! Come, come forth!
Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!
Page ♂
Why, this passes, Master Ford; you are not to go
loose any longer; you must be pinioned.
loose any longer; you must be pinioned.
Sir Hugh Evans ♂
Why, this is lunatics! this is mad as a mad dog!
Shallow ♂
Indeed, Master Ford, this is not well, indeed.
Ford ♂
So say I too, sir.
Come hither, Mistress Ford; Mistress Ford the honest
woman, the modest wife, the virtuous creature, that
hath the jealous fool to her husband! I suspect
without cause, mistress, do I?
Come hither, Mistress Ford; Mistress Ford the honest
woman, the modest wife, the virtuous creature, that
hath the jealous fool to her husband! I suspect
without cause, mistress, do I?
Mistress Ford ♀
Heaven be my witness you do, if you suspect me in
any dishonesty.
any dishonesty.
Ford ♂
Well said, brazen-face! hold it out. Come forth, sirrah!
Page ♂
This passes!
Mistress Ford ♀
Are you not ashamed? let the clothes alone.
Ford ♂
I shall find you anon.
Sir Hugh Evans ♂
'Tis unreasonable! Will you take up your wife's
clothes? Come away.
clothes? Come away.
Ford ♂
Empty the basket, I say!
Mistress Ford ♀
Why, man, why?
Ford ♂
Master Page, as I am a man, there was one conveyed
out of my house yesterday in this basket: why may
not he be there again? In my house I am sure he is:
my intelligence is true; my jealousy is reasonable.
Pluck me out all the linen.
out of my house yesterday in this basket: why may
not he be there again? In my house I am sure he is:
my intelligence is true; my jealousy is reasonable.
Pluck me out all the linen.
Mistress Ford ♀
If you find a man there, he shall die a flea's death.
Page ♂
Here's no man.
Shallow ♂
By my fidelity, this is not well, Master Ford; this
wrongs you.
wrongs you.
Sir Hugh Evans ♂
Master Ford, you must pray, and not follow the
imaginations of your own heart: this is jealousies.
imaginations of your own heart: this is jealousies.
Ford ♂
Well, he's not here I seek for.
Page ♂
No, nor nowhere else but in your brain.
Ford ♂
Help to search my house this one time. If I find
not what I seek, show no colour for my extremity; let
me for ever be your table-sport; let them say of
me, 'As jealous as Ford, Chat searched a hollow
walnut for his wife's leman.' Satisfy me once more;
once more search with me.
not what I seek, show no colour for my extremity; let
me for ever be your table-sport; let them say of
me, 'As jealous as Ford, Chat searched a hollow
walnut for his wife's leman.' Satisfy me once more;
once more search with me.
Mistress Ford ♀
What, ho, Mistress Page! come you and the old woman
down; my husband will come into the chamber.
down; my husband will come into the chamber.
Ford ♂
Old woman! what old woman's that?
Mistress Ford ♀
Nay, it is my maid's aunt of Brentford.
Ford ♂
A witch, a quean, an old cozening quean! Have I not
forbid her my house? She comes of errands, does
she? We are simple men; we do not know what's
brought to pass under the profession of
fortune-telling. She works by charms, by spells,
by the figure, and such daubery as this is, beyond
our element we know nothing. Come down, you witch,
you hag, you; come down, I say!
forbid her my house? She comes of errands, does
she? We are simple men; we do not know what's
brought to pass under the profession of
fortune-telling. She works by charms, by spells,
by the figure, and such daubery as this is, beyond
our element we know nothing. Come down, you witch,
you hag, you; come down, I say!
Mistress Ford ♀
Nay, good, sweet husband! Good gentlemen, let him
not strike the old woman.
not strike the old woman.
Mistress Page ♂
Come, Mother Prat; come, give me your hand.
Ford ♂
I'll prat her.
Out of my door, you witch, you hag, you baggage, you
polecat, you runyon! out, out! I'll conjure you,
I'll fortune-tell you.
Out of my door, you witch, you hag, you baggage, you
polecat, you runyon! out, out! I'll conjure you,
I'll fortune-tell you.
Mistress Page ♂
Are you not ashamed? I think you have killed the
poor woman.
poor woman.
Mistress Ford ♀
Nay, he will do it. 'Tis a goodly credit for you.
Ford ♂
Hang her, witch!
Sir Hugh Evans ♂
By the yea and no, I think the 'oman is a witch
indeed: I like not when a 'oman has a great peard;
I spy a great peard under his muffler.
indeed: I like not when a 'oman has a great peard;
I spy a great peard under his muffler.
Ford ♂
Will you follow, gentlemen? I beseech you, follow;
see but the issue of my jealousy: if I cry out thus
upon no trail, never trust me when I open again.
see but the issue of my jealousy: if I cry out thus
upon no trail, never trust me when I open again.
Page ♂
Let's obey his humour a little further: come,
gentlemen.
gentlemen.
Mistress Page ♂
Trust me, he beat him most pitifully.
Mistress Ford ♀
Nay, by the mass, that he did not; he beat him most
unpitifully, methought.
unpitifully, methought.
Mistress Page ♂
I'll have the cudgel hallowed and hung o'er the
altar; it hath done meritorious service.
altar; it hath done meritorious service.
Mistress Ford ♀
What think you? may we, with the warrant of
womanhood and the witness of a good conscience,
pursue him with any further revenge?
womanhood and the witness of a good conscience,
pursue him with any further revenge?
Mistress Page ♂
The spirit of wantonness is, sure, scared out of
him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with
fine and recovery, he will never, I think, in the
way of waste, attempt us again.
him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with
fine and recovery, he will never, I think, in the
way of waste, attempt us again.
Mistress Ford ♀
Shall we tell our husbands how we have served him?
Mistress Page ♂
Yes, by all means; if it be but to scrape the
figures out of your husband's brains. If they can
find in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight
shall be any further afflicted, we two will still be
the ministers.
figures out of your husband's brains. If they can
find in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight
shall be any further afflicted, we two will still be
the ministers.
Mistress Ford ♀
I'll warrant they'll have him publicly shamed: and
methinks there would be no period to the jest,
should he not be publicly shamed.
methinks there would be no period to the jest,
should he not be publicly shamed.
Mistress Page ♂
Come, to the forge with it then; shape it: I would
not have things cool.
not have things cool.
197 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mistress Page | 63 | 32.0% |
| Mistress Ford | 53 | 26.9% |
| Ford | 46 | 23.4% |
| Falstaff | 14 | 7.1% |
| Sir Hugh Evans | 8 | 4.1% |
| Page | 7 | 3.6% |
| Shallow | 3 | 1.5% |
| First Servant | 2 | 1.0% |
| Second Servant | 1 | 0.5% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 63 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 22 lines.
Total speakers on stage
9 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 2 of 6 in Act 4 of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Scene length vs. play average
At 197 lines, this scene is longer than the The Merry Wives of Windsor average scene in The Merry Wives of Windsor (~114 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 1 · Next: Act 4 Scene 3
About Act 4 Scene 2 of The Merry Wives of Windsor
Who carries Act 4 Scene 2 of The Merry Wives of Windsor?
Mistress Page, with 63 lines — about 32% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 9 speakers and the lead holding 32% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.