The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 5 Scene 1 runs 29 lines of dialogue, spoken by 3 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 114 lines. This scene is part of Act 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Full Dialogue
Falstaff ♂
Prithee, no more prattling; go. I'll hold. This is
the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd
numbers. Away I go. They say there is divinity in
odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death. Away!
the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd
numbers. Away I go. They say there is divinity in
odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death. Away!
Mistress Quickly ♀
I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do what I can to
get you a pair of horns.
get you a pair of horns.
Falstaff ♂
Away, I say; time wears: hold up your head, and mince.
How now, Master Brook! Master Brook, the matter
will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the
Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, and you shall
see wonders.
How now, Master Brook! Master Brook, the matter
will be known to-night, or never. Be you in the
Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, and you shall
see wonders.
Ford ♂
Went you not to her yesterday, sir, as you told me
you had appointed?
you had appointed?
Falstaff ♂
I went to her, Master Brook, as you see, like a poor
old man: but I came from her, Master Brook, like a
poor old woman. That same knave Ford, her husband,
hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him,
Master Brook, that ever governed frenzy. I will tell
you: he beat me grievously, in the shape of a
woman; for in the shape of man, Master Brook, I fear
not Goliath with a weaver's beam; because I know
also life is a shuttle. I am in haste; go along
with me: I'll tell you all, Master Brook. Since I
plucked geese, played truant and whipped top, I knew
not what 'twas to be beaten till lately. Follow
me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave
Ford, on whom to-night I will be revenged, and I
will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow.
Strange things in hand, Master Brook! Follow.
old man: but I came from her, Master Brook, like a
poor old woman. That same knave Ford, her husband,
hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him,
Master Brook, that ever governed frenzy. I will tell
you: he beat me grievously, in the shape of a
woman; for in the shape of man, Master Brook, I fear
not Goliath with a weaver's beam; because I know
also life is a shuttle. I am in haste; go along
with me: I'll tell you all, Master Brook. Since I
plucked geese, played truant and whipped top, I knew
not what 'twas to be beaten till lately. Follow
me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave
Ford, on whom to-night I will be revenged, and I
will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow.
Strange things in hand, Master Brook! Follow.
29 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Falstaff | 25 | 86.2% |
| Ford | 2 | 6.9% |
| Mistress Quickly | 2 | 6.9% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 25 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 10 lines.
Total speakers on stage
3 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 5
This is Scene 1 of 5 in Act 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Scene length vs. play average
At 29 lines, this scene is shorter than the The Merry Wives of Windsor average scene in The Merry Wives of Windsor (~114 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 6 · Next: Act 5 Scene 2