The Merry Wives of Windsor
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Falstaffe, Bardolfe, Quickly, Ford.Enter Falstaff and Bardolph MW III.v.1
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Bardolfe I say.Bardolph, I say! MW III.v.1
Bar. BARDOLPH 
Heere Sir.Here, sir. MW III.v.2
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Go, fetch me a quart of Sacke, put a tost in't.Go fetch me a quart of sack – put a toast in't.sack (n.)

old form: Sacke
[type of] white wine		MW III.v.3
toast (n.)

old form: tost
piece of hot toast, sop
Exit Bardolph MW III.v.3
Haue I liu'd to be carried in a Basket like a barrow ofHave I lived to be carried in a basket like a barrow ofbarrow (n.)
barrowful, cartload		MW III.v.4
butchers Offall? and to be throwne in the Thames? Wel,butcher's offal? And to be thrown in the Thames? Well, MW III.v.5
if I be seru'd such another tricke, Ile haue my brainesif I be served such another trick, I'll have my brains MW III.v.6
'tane out and butter'd, and giue them to a dogge for ata'en out and buttered, and give them to a dog for a MW III.v.7
New-yeares gift. The rogues slighted me into the riuer with asnew-year's gift. The rogues slighted me into the river with asslight (v.)
throw contemptuously, slide scornfully		MW III.v.8
little remorse, as they would haue drown'de a blindelittle remorse as they would have drowned a blindremorse (n.)
pity, regret, sorrow		MW III.v.9
bitches Puppies, fifteene i'th litter: and you may knowbitch's puppies, fifteen i'th' litter. And you may know MW III.v.10
by my size, that I haue a kinde of alacrity in sinking: if theby my size that I have a kind of alacrity in sinking. If the MW III.v.11
bottome were as deepe as hell, I shold down. I had beenebottom were as deep as hell, I should down. I had been MW III.v.12
drown'd, but that the shore was sheluy and shallow:drowned but that the shore was shelvy and shallow – ashore (n.)
bank, edge		MW III.v.13
shelvy (adj.)

old form: sheluy
gently shelving, sloping; or: made of sandbanks
a death that I abhorre: for the water swelles a man; and whatdeath that I abhor, for the water swells a man, and what MW III.v.14
a thing should I haue beene, when I had beene swel'd?a thing should I have been when I had been swelled! MW III.v.15
I should haue beene a Mountaine of Mummie.I should have been a mountain of mummy.mummy (n.)

old form: Mummie
dead flesh, pulp		MW III.v.16
Enter Bardolph with sack MW III.v.17
Bar. BARDOLPH 
Here's M. Quickly Sir to speake withHere's Mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with MW III.v.17
you.you. MW III.v.18
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Come, let me poure in some Sack to the ThamesCome, let me pour in some sack to the Thames MW III.v.19
water: for my bellies as cold as if I had swallow'd water, for my belly's as cold as if I had swallowed MW III.v.20
snowbals, for pilles to coole the reines. Call her in.snowballs for pills to cool the reins. Call her in.rein (n.)

old form: reines
(plural) loins, kidneys		MW III.v.21
Bar. BARDOLPH 
Come in woman.Come in, woman. MW III.v.22
Enter Mistress Quickly MW III.v.23
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
By your leaue: I cry you mercy?By your leave; I cry you mercy. MW III.v.23
Giue your worship good morrow.Give your worship good morrow.morrow (n.)
morning		MW III.v.24
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Take away these Challices: / Go, brew me aTake away these chalices. Go, brew me achalice (n.)

old form: Challices
small goblet, tiny tankard		MW III.v.25
pottle of Sacke finely.pottle of sack finely.pottle, pottle-pot (n.)
drinking vessel containing two quarts		MW III.v.26
finely (adv.)
nicely, delicately, subtly
sack (n.)

old form: Sacke
[type of] white wine
Bard. BARDOLPH 
With Egges, Sir?With eggs, sir? MW III.v.27
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Simple of it selfe: Ile no Pullet-Spersme in mySimple of itself. I'll no pullet-sperm in mypullet-sperm (n.)

old form: Pullet-Spersme
[contemptuous] poultry-seed, egg		MW III.v.28
simple (adj.)
unmixed, without addition, plain
brewage.brewage.brewage (n.)
[drink] brew, concoction, mixture		MW III.v.29
Exit Bardolph MW III.v.29
How now?How now? MW III.v.30
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
Marry Sir, I come to your worshipMarry, sir, I come to your worshipmarry (int.)
[exclamation] by Mary		MW III.v.31
from M. Ford.from Mistress Ford. MW III.v.32
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Mist. Ford? I haue had Ford enough: IMistress Ford? I have had ford enough. I MW III.v.33
was thrown into the Ford; I haue my belly full of Ford.was thrown into the ford. I have my belly full of ford. MW III.v.34
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
Alas the day, (good-heart) that wasAlas the day, good heart, that was MW III.v.35
not her fault: she do's so take on with her men; theynot her fault. She does so take on with her men; theytake on (v.)
behave, act; or: rage, rant		MW III.v.36
mistooke their erection.mistook their erection.erection (n.)
malapropism for ‘direction’		MW III.v.37
Fal. FALSTAFF 
So did I mine, to build vpon a foolish WomansSo did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's MW III.v.38
promise.promise. MW III.v.39
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
Well, she laments Sir for it, thatWell, she laments, sir, for it, that MW III.v.40
it would yern your heart to see it: her husband goesit would yearn your heart to see it. Her husband goesyearn (v.)

old form: yern
grieve, make mourn, move with pity		MW III.v.41
this morning a birding; she desires you once more tothis morning a-birding. She desires you once more tobirding (n.)
hunting small birds		MW III.v.42
come to her, betweene eight and nine: I must carry hercome to her between eight and nine. I must carry her MW III.v.43
word quickely, she'll make you amends I warrant you.word quickly. She'll make you amends, I warrant you.warrant (v.)
assure, promise, guarantee, confirm		MW III.v.44
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Well, I will visit her, tell her so: and bidde herWell, I will visit her. Tell her so, and bid her MW III.v.45
thinke what a man is: Let her consider his frailety, andthink what a man is. Let her consider his frailty, and MW III.v.46
then iudge of my merit.then judge of my merit. MW III.v.47
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
I will tell her.I will tell her. MW III.v.48
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Do so. Betweene nine and ten saist thou?Do so. Between nine and ten, sayest thou? MW III.v.49
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
Eight and nine Sir.Eight and nine, sir. MW III.v.50
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Well, be gone: I will not misse her.Well, be gone. I will not miss her.miss (v.)

old form: misse
fail to meet, let down		MW III.v.51
Qui. MISTRESS QUICKLY 
Peace be with you Sir.Peace be with you, sir. MW III.v.52
Exit MW III.v.52
Fal. FALSTAFF 
I meruaile I heare not of Mr Broome: he sentI marvel I hear not of Master Brook. He sent MW III.v.53
me word to stay within: I like his money well. Oh, heereme word to stay within. I like his money well. O, here MW III.v.54
be comes.he comes. MW III.v.55
Enter Ford disguised as Brook MW III.v.56
Ford. FORD 
Blesse you Sir.Bless you, sir. MW III.v.56
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Now M. Broome, you come to know / WhatNow, Master Brook, you come to know what MW III.v.57
hath past betweene me, and Fords wife.hath passed between me and Ford's wife? MW III.v.58
Ford. FORD 
That indeed (Sir Iohn) is my businesse.That, indeed, Sir John, is my business. MW III.v.59
Fal. FALSTAFF 
M. Broome I will not lye to you, / I was at herMaster Brook, I will not lie to you. I was at her MW III.v.60
house the houre she appointed me.house the hour she appointed me. MW III.v.61
Ford. FORD 
And sped you Sir?And sped you, sir?speed (v.)
meet with success, prosper, flourish		MW III.v.62
Fal. FALSTAFF 
very ill-fauouredly M. Broome.Very ill-favouredly, Master Brook.ill-favouredly (adv.)

old form: ill-fauouredly
badly, unpleasingly, offensively		MW III.v.63
Ford. FORD 
How so sir, did she change her determination?How so, sir? Did she change her determination?determination (n.)
mind, decision, resolution		MW III.v.64
Fal. FALSTAFF 
No (M. Broome) but the peaking CurnutoNo, Master Brook, but the peaking cornutopeaking (adj.)
sneaking, skulking, lurking		MW III.v.65
cornuto (n.)

old form: Curnuto
beast with horns; cuckold
her husband (M. Broome) dwelling in a continualher husband, Master Brook, dwelling in a continualdwell (v.)
exist, continue, persist		MW III.v.66
larum of ielousie, coms me in the instant of our'larum of jealousy, comes me in the instant of ouralarm, alarum, 'larm, 'larum (n.)

old form: larum
alarm, agitation, excited feeling		MW III.v.67
encounter, after we had embrast, kist, protested,encounter, after we had embraced, kissed, protested,encounter (n.)
liaison, intercourse, amorous affair		MW III.v.68
protest (v.)
declare love
& (as it were) spoke the prologue of our Comedy: andand, as it were, spoke the prologue of our comedy; and MW III.v.69
at his heeles, a rabble of his companions, thither prouokedat his heels a rabble of his companions, thither provokedrabble (n.)
crowd, pack, mob		MW III.v.70
and instigated by his distemper, and (forsooth) to and instigated by his distemper, and, forsooth, todistemper (n.)
bad temper, cross mood		MW III.v.71
forsooth (adv.)
in truth, certainly, truly, indeed
serch his house for his wiues Loue.search his house for his wife's love. MW III.v.72
Ford. FORD 
What? While you were there?What? While you were there? MW III.v.73
Fal. FALSTAFF 
While I was there.While I was there. MW III.v.74
For. FORD 
And did he search for you, & could not find you?And did he search for you, and could not find you? MW III.v.75
Fal. FALSTAFF 
You shall heare. As good lucke would haue it,You shall hear. As good luck would have it, MW III.v.76
comes in one Mist. Page, giues intelligence of Fords comes in one Mistress Page, gives intelligence of Ford'sintelligence (n.)
information, news, communication		MW III.v.77
approch: and in her inuention, and Fords wiuesapproach, and, in her invention and Ford's wife'sinvention (n.)

old form: inuention
inventiveness, imagination, creative faculty		MW III.v.78
distraction, they conuey'd me into a bucke-basket.distraction, they conveyed me into a buck-basket.distraction (n.)
perturbation, agitation, frenzied state		MW III.v.79
buck-basket (n.)

old form: bucke-basket
basket for dirty laundry
Ford. FORD 
A Buck-basket?A buck-basket? MW III.v.80
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Yes: a Buck-basket: ram'd mee inBy the Lord, a buck-basket! Rammed me in MW III.v.81
with foule Shirts and Smockes, Socks, foule Stockings,with foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings,smock (n.)

old form: Smockes
woman's undergarment, shift, slip, chemise		MW III.v.82
greasie Napkins, that (Master Broome) there was thegreasy napkins, that, Master Brook, there was the MW III.v.83
rankest compound of villanous smell, that euer offendedrankest compound of villainous smell that ever offendedrank (adj.)
foul-smelling, stinking		MW III.v.84
nostrill. nostril. MW III.v.85
Ford. FORD 
And how long lay you there?And how long lay you there? MW III.v.86
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Nay, you shall heare (Master Broome) what INay, you shall hear, Master Brook, what I MW III.v.87
haue sufferd, to bring this woman to euill, for your good:have suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. MW III.v.88
Being thus cram'd in the Basket, a couple of Fords Being thus crammed in the basket, a couple of Ford's MW III.v.89
knaues, his Hindes, were cald forth by their Mistris, toknaves, his hinds, were called forth by their mistress toknave (n.)

old form: knaues
servant, menial, lackey		MW III.v.90
hind (n.)

old form: Hindes
servant, domestic, worker
carry mee in the name of foule Cloathes to Datchet-lane: carry me in the name of foul clothes to Datchet Lane. MW III.v.91
they tooke me on their shoulders: met the iealous knaueThey took me on their shoulders, met the jealous knaveknave (n.)

old form: knaues
scoundrel, rascal, rogue		MW III.v.92
their Master in the doore; who ask'd them once or twicetheir master in the door, who asked them once or twice MW III.v.93
what they had in their Basket? I quak'd for feare least thewhat they had in their basket. I quaked for fear lest the MW III.v.94
Lunatique Knaue would haue search'd it: but Fatelunatic knave would have searched it; but Fate, MW III.v.95
(ordaining he should be a Cuckold) held his hand: well, onordaining he should be a cuckold, held his hand. Well, oncuckold (n.)
[mocking name] man with an unfaithful wife		MW III.v.96
went hee, for a search, and away went I for foule Cloathes:went he for a search, and away went I for foul clothes. MW III.v.97
But marke the sequell (Master Broome) I suffered theBut mark the sequel, Master Brook. I suffered themark (v.)

old form: marke
note, pay attention [to], take notice [of]		MW III.v.98
pangs of three seuerall deaths: First, an intollerable fright,pangs of three several deaths: first, an intolerable frightseveral (adj.)

old form: seuerall
separate, different, distinct		MW III.v.99
to be detected with a iealious rotten Bell-weather:to be detected with a jealous rotten bell-wether;rotten (adj.)
diseased, infected, liver-rotten		MW III.v.100
bell-wether (n.)

old form: Bell-weather
leading sheep of a flock [wearing a bell]; cuckold [of a ram, because horned]
Next to be compass'd like a good Bilbo in the circumferencenext, to be compassed like a good bilbo in the circumferencebilbo (n.)
sword [from Bilbao, noted for its flexibility]		MW III.v.101
compass (v.)

old form: compass'd
bend into a circle, make to curve round
of a Pecke, hilt to point, heele to head. And then toof a peck, hilt to point, heel to head; and then, topeck (n.)

old form: Pecke
circular vessel capable of holding a peck [quarter bushel] of goods		MW III.v.102
be stopt in like a strong distillation with stinkingbe stopped in, like a strong distillation, with stinkingstop (v.)

old form: stopt
stopper, fasten, shut		MW III.v.103
Cloathes, that fretted in their owne grease: thinke of that, aclothes that fretted in their own grease. Think of that, afret (v.)
decay, fester, ferment		MW III.v.104
man of my Kidney; thinke of that, that am as subiect toman of my kidney – think of that – that am as subject tokidney (n.)
constitution, nature, type		MW III.v.105
heate as butter; a man of continuall dissolution, and thaw:heat as butter; a man of continual dissolution and thaw.dissolution (n.)
melting, liquefaction, dissolving		MW III.v.106
it was a miracle to scape suffocation. And in the heightIt was a miracle to 'scape suffocation. And in the heightscape, 'scape (v.)
escape, avoid		MW III.v.107
of this Bath (when I was more then halfe stew'd inof this bath, when I was more than half stewed in MW III.v.108
grease (like a Dutch-dish) to be throwne into the Thames,grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames, MW III.v.109
and coold, glowing-hot, in that serge like a Horse-shoo;and cooled, glowing hot, in that surge, like a horse-shoe. MW III.v.110
thinke of that; hissing hot: thinke of that (MasterThink of that – hissing hot – think of that, Master MW III.v.111
Broome.)Brook! MW III.v.112
Ford. FORD 
In good sadnesse Sir, I am sorry, that for my sakeIn good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for my sakesadness, in / in good

old form: sadnesse
in earnest, seriously		MW III.v.113
you haue sufferd all this. My suite then is desperate:you have suffered all this. My suit, then, is desperate?suit (n.)

old form: suite
wooing, courtship		MW III.v.114
desperate (adj.)
despairing, hopeless, without hope
You'll vndertake her no more?You'll undertake her no more?undertake (v.)

old form: vndertake
approach, make overtures to, commit to deal with		MW III.v.115
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Master Broome: I will be throwne into Etna, asMaster Brook, I will be thrown into Etna, as MW III.v.116
I haue beene into Thames, ere I will leaue her thus; herI have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her MW III.v.117
Husband is this morning gone a Birding: I haue receiuedhusband is this morning gone a-birding. I have received MW III.v.118
from her another ambassie of meeting: 'twixt eightfrom her another embassy of meeting. 'Twixt eightembassy (n.)

old form: ambassie
message [especially via an ambassador]		MW III.v.119
and nine is the houre (Master Broome.)and nine is the hour, Master Brook. MW III.v.120
Ford. FORD 
'Tis past eight already Sir.'Tis past eight already, sir. MW III.v.121
Fal. FALSTAFF 
Is it? I will then addresse mee to my appointment:Is it? I will then address me to my appointment.address (v.)

old form: addresse
direct, apply, turn		MW III.v.122
Come to mee at your conuenient leisure, and you Come to me at your convenient leisure, and you MW III.v.123
shall know how I speede: and the conclusion shall beshall know how I speed; and the conclusion shall bespeed (v.)

old form: speede
meet with success, prosper, flourish		MW III.v.124
crowned with your enioying her: adiew: you shall hauecrowned with your enjoying her. Adieu. You shall have MW III.v.125
her (Master Broome) Master Broome, you shall cuckold her, Master Brook; Master Brook, you shall cuckoldcuckold (v.)
[mocking name] dishonour a man by making his wife unfaithful		MW III.v.126
Ford.Ford. MW III.v.127
Exit MW III.v.127
Ford. FORD 
Hum: ha? Is this a vision? Is this a dreame? doe I Hum! Ha! Is this a vision? Is this a dream? Do I MW III.v.128
sleepe? Master Ford awake, awake Master Ford:sleep? Master Ford, awake; awake, Master Ford! MW III.v.129
ther's a hole made in your best coate (Master Ford:) thisThere's a hole made in your best coat, Master Ford. This MW III.v.130
'tis to be married; this 'tis to haue Lynnen, and'tis to be married; this 'tis to have linen and MW III.v.131
Buck-baskets: Well, I will proclaime my selfe what I am: I willbuck-baskets! Well, I will proclaim myself what I am. I willbuck-basket (n.)
basket for dirty laundry		MW III.v.132
now take the Leacher: hee is at my house: hee cannot now take the lecher. He is at my house. He cannot MW III.v.133
scape me: 'tis impossible hee should: hee cannot creepe'scape me. 'Tis impossible he should. He cannot creepscape, 'scape (v.)
escape, avoid		MW III.v.134
into a halfe-penny purse, nor into a Pepper-Boxe: But least into a halfpenny purse, nor into a pepperbox. But, lest MW III.v.135
the Diuell that guides him, should aide him, I will searchthe devil that guides him should aid him, I will search MW III.v.136
impossible places: though what I am, I cannot auoide;impossible places. Though what I am I cannot avoid, MW III.v.137
yet to be what I would not, shall not make me tame: If Iyet to be what I would not shall not make me tame. If I MW III.v.138
haue hornes, to make one mad, let the prouerbe goe withhave horns to make one mad, let the proverb go with MW III.v.139
me, Ile be horne-mad. me – I'll be horn-mad.horn-mad (adj.)

old form: horne-mad
[as of horned beasts] furious, enraged, raving mad		MW III.v.140
Exeunt.Exit MW III.v.140
 Previous Act III, Scene V Next  
x

Jump directly to