The Merry Wives of Windsor

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Page, Ford, Mistris Page, Mistris Ford, and Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and MW IV.iv.1.1
Euans.Evans MW IV.iv.1.2
Eua. EVANS 
'Tis one of the best discretions of a o'man as euer'Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman as ever MW IV.iv.1
I did looke vpon.I did look upon. MW IV.iv.2
Page. PAGE 
And did he send you both these Letters at an instant?And did he send you both these letters at an instant?instant, at an
at the same time, simultaneously
MW IV.iv.3
Mist. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
Within a quarter of an houre.Within a quarter of an hour. MW IV.iv.4
Ford. FORD 
Pardon me (wife) henceforth do what yu wilt:Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt. MW IV.iv.5
I rather will suspect the Sunne with gold,I rather will suspect the sun with cold MW IV.iv.6
Then thee with wantonnes: Now doth thy honor standThan thee with wantonness. Now doth thy honour stand,wantonness (n.)

old form: wantonnes
lust, lasciviousness, promiscuity
MW IV.iv.7
(In him that was of late an Heretike)In him that was of late an heretic, MW IV.iv.8
As firme as faith.As firm as faith. MW IV.iv.9.1
Page. PAGE 
'Tis well, 'tis well, no more:'Tis well, 'tis well. No more. MW IV.iv.9.2
Be not as extreme in submission,Be not as extreme in submissionsubmission (n.)
compliance, deference, obedience
MW IV.iv.10
as in offence,As in offence. MW IV.iv.11
But let our plot go forward: Let our wiuesBut let our plot go forward. Let our wives MW IV.iv.12
Yet once againe (to make vs publike sport)Yet once again, to make us public sport,sport (n.)
recreation, amusement, entertainment
MW IV.iv.13
sport (n.)
subject of sport
Appoint a meeting with this old fat-fellow,Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, MW IV.iv.14
Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.Where we may take him and disgrace him for it. MW IV.iv.15
Ford. FORD 
There is no better way then that they spoke of.There is no better way than that they spoke of. MW IV.iv.16
Page. PAGE 
How? to send him word they'll meete him in theHow? To send him word they'll meet him in the MW IV.iv.17
Parke at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll neuer come.Park at midnight? Fie, fie, he'll never come. MW IV.iv.18
Eu. EVANS 
You say he has bin throwne in the Riuers: and hasYou say he has been thrown in the rivers, and has MW IV.iv.19
bin greeuously peaten, as an old o'man: me-thinkes there been grievously peaten as an old 'oman. Methinks theregrievously (adv.)

old form: greeuously
seriously, greatly
MW IV.iv.20
should be terrors in him, that he should not come:should be terrors in him, that he should not come.methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)

old form: Me-thinkes
it seems / seemed to me
MW IV.iv.21
Me-thinkes his flesh is punish'd, hee shall haue no desires. Methinks his flesh is punished; he shall have no desires. MW IV.iv.22
Page. PAGE 
So thinke I too.So think I too. MW IV.iv.23
M. Ford. MISTRESS FORD 
Deuise but how you'l vse him whẽ he comes,Devise but how you'll use him when he comes,use (v.)

old form: vse
treat, deal with, manage
MW IV.iv.24
And let vs two deuise to bring him thether.And let us two devise to bring him thither. MW IV.iv.25
Mis. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
There is an old tale goes, that Herne the HunterThere is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter, MW IV.iv.26
(sometime a keeper heere in Windsor Forrest)Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,sometime (adv.)
formerly, at one time, once
MW IV.iv.27
Doth all the winter time, at still midnightDoth all the winter-time, at still midnight, MW IV.iv.28
Walke round about an Oake, with great rag'd-hornes,Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns;ragged (adj.)

old form: rag'd
broken, jagged, fragmented
MW IV.iv.29
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,take (v.)
bewitch, take possession of, take into one's power
MW IV.iv.30
blast (v.)
blight, wither, destroy
And make milch-kine yeeld blood, and shakes a chaineAnd makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chainmilch-kine (n.)
dairy-milk cows
MW IV.iv.31
In a most hideous and dreadfull manner.In a most hideous and dreadful manner. MW IV.iv.32
You haue heard of such a Spirit, and well you knowYou have heard of such a spirit, and well you know MW IV.iv.33
The superstitious idle-headed-EldThe superstitious idle-headed eldeld (n.)
men of old, people from former times
MW IV.iv.34
idle-headed (adj.)
ignorant, foolish, superstitious
Receiu'd, and did deliuer to our ageReceived and did deliver to our age MW IV.iv.35
This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth.This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth. MW IV.iv.36
Page. PAGE 
Why yet there want not many that do feareWhy, yet there want not many that do fearwant (v.)
lack, need, be without
MW IV.iv.37
In deepe of night to walke by this Hernes Oake:In deep of night to walk by this Herne's Oak.deep (n.)

old form: deepe
depths, middle
MW IV.iv.38
But what of this?But what of this? MW IV.iv.39.1
Mist. Ford. MISTRESS FORD 
Marry this is our deuise,Marry, this is our device:marry (int.)
[exclamation] by Mary
MW IV.iv.39.2
device (n.)

old form: deuise
plot, stratagem, trick
That Falstaffe at that Oake shall meete with vs.That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us, MW IV.iv.40
Disguised like Herne, with huge horns on his head. MW IV.iv.41
Page. PAGE 
Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come,Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come. MW IV.iv.42
And in this shape, when you haue brought him thether,And in this shape, when you have brought him thither, MW IV.iv.43
What shall be done with him? What is your plot?What shall be done with him? What is your plot? MW IV.iv.44
Mist.Pa. MISTRESS PAGE 
That likewise haue we thoght vpon: & thus:That likewise have we thought upon, and thus: MW IV.iv.45
Nan Page (my daughter) and my little sonne,Nan Page my daughter, and my little son, MW IV.iv.46
And three or foure more of their growth, wee'l dresseAnd three or four more of their growth, we'll dress MW IV.iv.47
Like Vrchins, Ouphes, and Fairies, greene and white,Like urchins, ouphes, and fairies, green and white,ouph, oaf (n.)

old form: Ouphes
elf, elfen child, changeling
MW IV.iv.48
urchin (n.)

old form: Vrchins
spirit in hedgehog form, goblin
With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads,With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads,round (n.)
circlet, ring, crown
MW IV.iv.49
taper (n.)
candle
And rattles in their hands; vpon a sodaine,And rattles in their hands. Upon a sudden, MW IV.iv.50
As Falstaffe, she, and I, are newly met,As Falstaff, she, and I are newly met, MW IV.iv.51
Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at onceLet them from forth a sawpit rush at oncesawpit (n.)

old form: saw-pit
pit used for sawing wood
MW IV.iv.52
With some diffused song: Vpon their sightWith some diffused song. Upon their sight,diffused (adj.)
disorderly, mixed-up, jumbled
MW IV.iv.53
We two, in great amazednesse will flye:We two in great amazedness will fly. MW IV.iv.54
Then let them all encircle him about,Then let them all encircle him about, MW IV.iv.55
And Fairy-like to pinch the vncleane Knight;And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight, MW IV.iv.56
And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell,And ask him why, that hour of fairy revel, MW IV.iv.57
In their so sacred pathes, he dares to treadIn their so sacred paths he dares to tread MW IV.iv.58
In shape prophane.In shape profane. MW IV.iv.59.1
Ford. MISTRESS FORD 
And till he tell the truth,And till he tell the truth, MW IV.iv.59.2
Let the supposed Fairies pinch him, sound,Let the supposed fairies pinch him soundsupposed (adj.)
pretended, false, counterfeit
MW IV.iv.60
sound (adv.)
soundly, heartily, vigorously
And burne him with their Tapers.And burn him with their tapers. MW IV.iv.61.1
Mist. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
The truth being knowne,The truth being known, MW IV.iv.61.2
We'll all present our selues; dis-horne the spirit,We'll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit, MW IV.iv.62
And mocke him home to Windsor.And mock him home to Windsor. MW IV.iv.63.1
Ford. FORD 
The children mustThe children must MW IV.iv.63.2
Be practis'd well to this, or they'll neu'r doo't.Be practised well to this, or they'll ne'er do't. MW IV.iv.64
Eua. EVANS 
I will teach the children their behauiours: and II will teach the children their behaviours, and I MW IV.iv.65
will be like a Iacke-an-Apes also, to burne the Knight withwill be like a jackanapes also, to burn the knight withjackanapes, jackanape, jack'nape (n.)

old form: Iacke-an-Apes
upstart, buffoon, monkey
MW IV.iv.66
my Taber.my taber. MW IV.iv.67
Ford. FORD 
That will be excellent, / Ile go buy them vizards.That will be excellent. I'll go buy them vizards.vizard (n.)
mask, visor
MW IV.iv.68
Mist. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
My Nan shall be the Queene of all the Fairies, My Nan shall be the Queen of all the Fairies, MW IV.iv.69
finely attired in a robe of white.Finely attired in a robe of white. MW IV.iv.70
Page. PAGE 
That silke will I go buy, and in that timeThat silk will I go buy. (Aside) And in that time MW IV.iv.71
Shall M. Slender steale my Nan away,Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away MW IV.iv.72
And marry her at Eaton: go, send to Falstaffe straight.And marry her at Eton. (To them) Go, send to Falstaff straight.straight (adv.)
straightaway, immediately, at once
MW IV.iv.73
Ford. FORD 
Nay, Ile to him againe in name of Broome,Nay, I'll to him again in name of Brook. MW IV.iv.74
Hee'l tell me all his purpose: sure hee'l come.He'll tell me all his purpose. Sure, he'll come.purpose (n.)
intention, aim, plan
MW IV.iv.75
Mist. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
Feare not you that: Go get vs propertiesFear not you that. Go get us propertiesproperty (n.)
(plural) stage requisites, accessories, props
MW IV.iv.76
And tricking for our Fayries.And tricking for our fairies.tricking (n.)
costumes, ornamentation, decking out, costumery
MW IV.iv.77
Euans. EVANS 
Let vs about it, / It is admirable pleasures, and ferryLet us about it. It is admirable pleasures and fery MW IV.iv.78
honest knaueries.honest knaveries. MW IV.iv.79
Exeunt Page, Ford, and Evans MW IV.iv.79
Mis. Page. MISTRESS PAGE 
Go Mist. Ford,Go, Mistress Ford, MW IV.iv.80
Send quickly to Sir Iohn, to know his minde:Send Quickly to Sir John, to know his mind. MW IV.iv.81
Exit Mistress Ford MW IV.iv.81
Ile to the Doctor, he hath my good will,I'll to the doctor. He hath my good will, MW IV.iv.82
And none but he to marry with Nan Page:And none but he, to marry with Nan Page. MW IV.iv.83
That Slender (though well landed) is an Ideot:That Slender, though well landed, is an idiot;landed (adj.)
possessed of land, having property
MW IV.iv.84
And he, my husband best of all affects:And he my husband best of all affects. MW IV.iv.85
The Doctor is well monied, and his friendsThe doctor is well moneyed, and his friends MW IV.iv.86
Potent at Court: he, none but he shall haue her,Potent at court. He, none but he, shall have her, MW IV.iv.87
Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her.Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her.worthy (adj.)
of worth, of value, deserving
MW IV.iv.88
crave (v.)

old form: craue
beg, entreat, request
Exit MW IV.iv.88
 Previous Act IV, Scene IV Next  
x

Jump directly to