First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Falstaffe, Host, Bardolfe, Nym, Pistoll, | Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and | | MW I.iii.1.1 | |
Page. | Robin | | MW I.iii.1.2 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Mine Host of the Garter? | Mine host of the Garter – | | MW I.iii.1 | |
Ho. | HOST | | | |
What saies my Bully Rooke? speake schollerly, and | What says my bully rook? Speak scholarly and | bully rook (n.)merry comrade, good mate, old rogue | MW I.iii.2 | |
wisely. | wisely. | | MW I.iii.3 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Truely mine Host; I must turne away some of | Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of | turn away (v.)send away, dismiss from service | MW I.iii.4 | |
my followers. | my followers. | | MW I.iii.5 | |
Ho. | HOST | | | |
Discard, (bully Hercules) casheere; let them wag; | Discard, bully Hercules, cashier. Let them wag; | wag (v.)go off, depart, go on one's way | MW I.iii.6 | |
| | Hercules (n.)[Roman form of Heracles] proverbial for his mythical physical strength and miraculous achievements | | |
| | bully (n./adj.)[especially as a warm form of address] fine fellow, good friend | | |
| | cashier (v.)discharge, dismiss [from service] | | |
trot, trot. | trot, trot. | | MW I.iii.7 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
I sit at ten pounds a weeke. | I sit at ten pounds a week. | sit (v.)lodge, live, stay | MW I.iii.8 | |
Ho. | HOST | | | |
Thou'rt an Emperor (Cesar, Keiser and Pheazar) | Thou'rt an emperor – Caesar, Keisar, and Pheazar. | pheazar (n.)[unclear meaning] vizier, person of great stature | MW I.iii.9 | |
| | keisar (n.)kaiser, emperor | | |
I will entertaine Bardolfe: he shall draw; he shall tap; | I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap. | entertain (v.)hire, employ, maintain, take into service | MW I.iii.10 | |
| | tap (v.)work as a tapster | | |
| | draw (v.)draw liquor [from barrels] | | |
said I well (bully Hector?) | Said I well, bully Hector? | Hector (n.)son of Priam, married to Andromache; the bravest Trojan, who led out their army to battle | MW I.iii.11 | |
| | bully (n./adj.)[especially as a warm form of address] fine fellow, good friend | | |
Fa. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Doe so (good mine Host. | Do so, good mine host. | | MW I.iii.12 | |
Ho. | HOST | | | |
I haue spoke; let him follow; let me | I have spoke. Let him follow. (To Bardolph) Let me | | MW I.iii.13 | |
see thee froth, and liue: I am at a word: follow. | see thee froth and lime. I am at a word. Follow. | word, at awithout more ado, at once, forthwith | MW I.iii.14 | |
| | lime (v.)mix wine with lime [to add to its sparkle] | | |
| | froth (v.)make beer foam up [so that not so much is sold] | | |
| Exit | | MW I.iii.14 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Bardolfe, follow him: a Tapster is a good trade: | Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade. | tapster (n.)inn waiter, drawer of ale | MW I.iii.15 | |
an old Cloake, makes a new Ierkin: a wither'd Seruingman, | An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered servingman | jerkin (n.)male upper garment, close-fitting jacket [often made of leather] | MW I.iii.16 | |
a fresh Tapster: goe, adew. | a fresh tapster. Go, adieu. | | MW I.iii.17 | |
Ba. | BARDOLPH | | | |
It is a life that I haue desir'd: I will thriue. | It is a life that I have desired. I will thrive. | | MW I.iii.18 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
O base hungarian wight: wilt yu the spigot wield. | O base Hungarian wight! Wilt thou the spigot wield? | Hungarian (adj.)[pun on ‘hungry’] beggarly, thievish | MW I.iii.19 | |
| | spigot (v.)wooden peg, tap [in a barrel] | | |
| | wight (n.)[archaism] person, human being | | |
| | base (adj.)dishonourable, low, unworthy | | |
| Exit Bardolph | | MW I.iii.19 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
He was gotten in drink: is not the humor | He was gotten in drink. Is not the humour | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | MW I.iii.20 | |
| | humour (n.)sentiment, turn of phrase, manner of expression | | |
| | get (v.)beget, conceive, breed | | |
cõceited? | conceited? | conceited (adj.)ingenious, clever, well-devised | MW I.iii.21 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
I am glad I am so acquit of this Tinderbox: his | I am glad I am so acquit of this tinderbox. | acquit (adj.)rid, free, relieved | MW I.iii.22 | |
Thefts were too open: his filching was like an | His thefts were too open. His filching was like an | open (adj.)public, exposed to general view | MW I.iii.23 | |
vnskilfull Singer, he kept not time. | unskilful singer – he kept not time. | | MW I.iii.24 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
The good humor is to steale at a minutes rest. | The good humour is to steal at a minute's rest. | rest (n.)interval, space, pause | MW I.iii.25 | |
| | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Conuay: the wise it call: Steale? foh: | ‘ Convey ’, the wise it call. ‘ Steal!’ Foh, | convey (v.)carry off, make away with, take by force | MW I.iii.26 | |
a fico for the phrase. | A fico for the phrase! | fico (n.)fig | MW I.iii.27 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Well sirs, I am almost out at heeles. | Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels. | heels, out atpenniless, destitute, in desperate straights | MW I.iii.28 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Why then let Kibes ensue. | Why then, let kibes ensue. | kibe (n.)chilblain, inflamed heel | MW I.iii.29 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
There is no remedy: I must conicatch, I must | There is no remedy – I must cony-catch, I must | cony-catch (v.)take to cheating, become a trickster | MW I.iii.30 | |
shift. | shift. | shift (v.)provide, look out, take care | MW I.iii.31 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Yong Rauens must haue foode. | Young ravens must have food. | | MW I.iii.32 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Which of you know Ford of this Towne? | Which of you know Ford of this town? | | MW I.iii.33 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
I ken the wight: he is of substance good. | I ken the wight. He is of substance good. | substance (n.)property, wealth, possessions, treasure | MW I.iii.34 | |
| | ken (v.)know, be acquainted with | | |
| | wight (n.)[archaism] person, human being | | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
My honest Lads, I will tell you what I am about. | My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about. | about (adv.)in the process of planning, up to | MW I.iii.35 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Two yards, and more. | Two yards, and more. | | MW I.iii.36 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
No quips now Pistoll: (Indeede I am in the | No quips now, Pistol. Indeed, I am in the | | MW I.iii.37 | |
waste two yards about: but I am now about no waste: | waist two yards about. But I am now about no waste – | about (adv.)round, in circumference | MW I.iii.38 | |
I am about thrift) briefely: I doe meane to make loue to | I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to | | MW I.iii.39 | |
Fords wife: I spie entertainment in her: shee discourses: | Ford's wife. I spy entertainment in her. She discourses, | entertainment (n.)hospitality, provision for needs | MW I.iii.40 | |
| | discourse (v.)talk, chat, converse | | |
shee carues: she giues the leere of inuitation: I can construe | she carves, she gives the leer of invitation. I can construe | leer (n.)glance, look, eye | MW I.iii.41 | |
| | carve (v.)be a generous hostess; or: speak in a charmingly affected way | | |
| | construe (v.)explain, expound | | |
the action of her familier stile, & the hardest voice | the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice | hard (adj.)unpleasant, harsh, cruel | MW I.iii.42 | |
| | familiar (adj.)friendly, congenial, welcoming | | |
| | voice (n.)authoritative opinion, judgement | | |
| | action (n.)performance, exercises, acts | | |
of her behauior (to be english'd rightly) is, I am | of her behaviour – to be Englished rightly – is ‘ I am | | MW I.iii.43 | |
Sir Iohn Falstafs. | Sir John Falstaff's.’ | | MW I.iii.44 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
He hath studied her will; and translated her will: | He hath studied her will, and translated her will – | translate (v.)change, transform, alter | MW I.iii.45 | |
| | will (n.)intent, purpose, design | | |
out of honesty, into English. | out of honesty into English. | honesty (n.)virtue, chastity | MW I.iii.46 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
The Anchor is deepe: will that humor passe? | The anchor is deep. Will that humour pass? | pass (v.)pass muster, stand up well | MW I.iii.47 | |
| | humour (n.)sentiment, turn of phrase, manner of expression | | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of | Now, the report goes she has all the rule of | | MW I.iii.48 | |
her husbands Purse: he hath a legend of Angels. | her husband's purse. He hath a legion of angels. | legend (n.)probably a malapropism for ‘legion’ | MW I.iii.49 | |
| | angel (n.)gold coin [with the angel Michael depicted], value between a third and half of a pound | | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
As many diuels entertaine: and to her Boy say I. | As many devils entertain! And ‘ To her, boy,’ say I. | entertain (v.)hire, employ, maintain, take into service | MW I.iii.50 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
The humor rises: it is good: humor me the | The humour rises – it is good. Humour me the | humour (n.)sentiment, turn of phrase, manner of expression | MW I.iii.51 | |
| | humour (v.)like the mood of, find enjoyable, indulge | | |
| | humour (n.)mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids] | | |
angels. | angels. | | MW I.iii.52 | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
I haue writ me here a letter to her: & here | I have writ me here a letter to her; and here | | MW I.iii.53 | |
another to Pages wife, who euen now gaue mee good eyes | another to Page's wife, who even now gave me good eyes | | MW I.iii.54 | |
too; examind my parts with most iudicious illiads: | too, examined my parts with most judicious oeillades. | oeillade (n.)[pron: 'iliad, uh'yahd] ] amorous glance, look of love, ogle | MW I.iii.55 | |
| | part (n.)quality, attribute, gift, accomplishment [of mind or body] | | |
sometimes the beame of her view, guilded my foote: | Sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, | | MW I.iii.56 | |
sometimes my portly belly. | sometimes my portly belly. | portly (adj.)stately, majestic, dignified | MW I.iii.57 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
| (aside) | | MW I.iii.58 | |
Then did the Sun on dung-hill shine. | Then did the sun on dunghill shine. | | MW I.iii.58 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
| (aside) | | MW I.iii.59.1 | |
I thanke thee for that humour. | I thank thee for that humour. | humour (n.)sentiment, turn of phrase, manner of expression | MW I.iii.59 | |
| | humour (n.)sentiment, turn of phrase, manner of expression | | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
O she did so course o're my exteriors with | O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with | course over (v.)run an eye over, check out, go through | MW I.iii.60 | |
such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye, did | such a greedy intention that the appetite of her eye did | | MW I.iii.61 | |
seeme to scorch me vp like a burning-glasse: here's | seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass. Here's | | MW I.iii.62 | |
another letter to her: She beares the Purse too: She is a | another letter to her. She bears the purse too. She is a | | MW I.iii.63 | |
Region in Guiana: all gold, and bountie: I will be Cheaters | region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be cheaters | cheater (n.)deceiver, sharper, gamester; also: officer who looks after estates forfeited to the crown | MW I.iii.64 | |
to them both, and they shall be Exchequers to mee: they | to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me. They | | MW I.iii.65 | |
shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to | shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to | | MW I.iii.66 | |
them both: Goe, beare thou this Letter to | them both. (To Pistol) Go, bear thou this letter to | | MW I.iii.67 | |
Mistris Page; and thou this to Mistris Ford: | Mistress Page; (to Nym) and thou this to Mistress Ford. | | MW I.iii.68 | |
we will thriue (Lads) we will thriue. | We will thrive, lads, we will thrive. | | MW I.iii.69 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, | Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become – | Pandarus (n.)[pron: 'pandarus] Trojan prince, killed by Diomedes; Cressida's uncle and go-between | MW I.iii.70 | |
And by my side weare Steele? then Lucifer take all. | And by my side wear steel? Then Lucifer take all! | Lucifer (n.)in the Bible, the name of a principal devil; or, the Devil | MW I.iii.71 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
I will run no base humor: here take the humor-Letter; | I will run no base humour. Here, take the humour-letter. | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | MW I.iii.72 | |
| | humour-letter (n.)letter displaying a particular sentiment | | |
| | base (adj.)low-born, lowly, plebeian, of lower rank | | |
I will keepe the hauior of reputation. | I will keep the haviour of reputation. | reputation (n.)honour, esteem, integrity | MW I.iii.73 | |
| | haviour (n.)behaviour, manner, demeanour | | |
Fal. | FALSTAFF | | | |
| (to Robin) | | MW I.iii.74.1 | |
Hold Sirha, beare you these Letters tightly, | Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters tightly; | sirrah (n.)sir [commanding, insulting, or familiar, depending on context] | MW I.iii.74 | |
Saile like my Pinnasse to these golden shores. | Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. | pinnace (n.)small speedy boat with a single mast | MW I.iii.75 | |
Rogues, hence, auaunt, vanish like haile-stones; goe, | Rogues, hence, avaunt! Vanish like hailstones, go! | avaunt (int.)be gone, go away, be off | MW I.iii.76 | |
Trudge; plod away ith' hoofe: seeke shelter, packe: | Trudge, plod away o'th' hoof, seek shelter, pack! | pack (v.)take [oneself] off, be off, depart | MW I.iii.77 | |
Falstaffe will learne the honor of the age, | Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | MW I.iii.78 | |
French-thrift, you Rogues, my selfe, and skirted Page. | French thrift, you rogues – myself and skirted page. | skirted (adj.)wearing a long coat | MW I.iii.79 | |
| Exeunt Falstaff and Robin | | MW I.iii.79 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Let Vultures gripe thy guts: for gourd, and Fullam holds: | Let vultures gripe thy guts! For gourd and fullam holds, | hold (v.)apply, be apt, remain valid | MW I.iii.80 | |
| | gourd (n.)type of loaded dice | | |
| | gripe (v.)clutch, grasp, seize | | |
| | fullam, fulham (n.)type of loaded dice | | |
& high and low beguiles the rich & poore, | And high and low beguiles the rich and poor. | beguile (v.)cheat, deceive, trick | MW I.iii.81 | |
Tester ile haue in pouch when thou shalt lacke, | Tester I'll have in pouch when thou shalt lack, | tester, testril (n.)sixpenny piece | MW I.iii.82 | |
Base Phrygian Turke. | Base Phrygian Turk! | Phrygia (n.)[pron: 'frijia] central plateau area of Asia Minor where Troy was situated | MW I.iii.83 | |
| | base (adj.)dishonourable, low, unworthy | | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
I haue opperations, / Which be humors of reuenge. | I have operations which be humours of revenge. | operation (n.)plan, active thought, working idea | MW I.iii.84 | |
| | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Wilt thou reuenge? | Wilt thou revenge? | | MW I.iii.85.1 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
By Welkin, and her Star. | By welkin and her star! | welkin (n.)sky, firmament, heavens | MW I.iii.85.2 | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
With wit, or Steele? | With wit or steel? | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | MW I.iii.86.1 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
With both the humors, I: | With both the humours, I. | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | MW I.iii.86.2 | |
I will discusse the humour of this Loue to Ford. | I will discuss the humour of this love to Page. | humour (n.)style, method, way, fashion | MW I.iii.87 | |
| | discuss (v.)disclose, make known, declare | | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
And I to Page shall eke vnfold | And I to Ford shall eke unfold | eke (adv.)[archaism] also, moreover, too | MW I.iii.88 | |
How Falstaffe (varlet vile) | How Falstaff, varlet vile, | varlet (n.)knave, rogue, rascal, ruffian | MW I.iii.89 | |
His Doue will proue; his gold will hold, | His dove will prove, his gold will hold, | prove (v.)test, try out, make trial [of] | MW I.iii.90 | |
And his soft couch defile. | And his soft couch defile. | | MW I.iii.91 | |
Ni. | NYM | | | |
My humour shall not coole: I will incense Ford to | My humour shall not cool. I will incense Page to | humour (n.)mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids] | MW I.iii.92 | |
deale with poyson: I will possesse him with yallownesse, for | deal with poison. I will possess him with yellowness, for | possess (v.)fill, imbue | MW I.iii.93 | |
| | yellowness (n.)jealousy | | |
| | deal with (v.)make use of, resort to | | |
the reuolt of mine is dangerous: that is my true humour. | the revolt of mine is dangerous. That is my true humour. | revolt (n.)rebellion, act of disobedience | MW I.iii.94 | |
| | humour (n.)mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids] | | |
Pist. | PISTOL | | | |
Thou art the Mars of Malecontents: I second thee: troope on. | Thou art the Mars of malcontents. I second thee. Troop on. | malcontent (n.)discontented individual, trouble-maker | MW I.iii.95 | |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | MW I.iii.95 | |