starting to pull clothes from the basket. He orders his servants to “Empty the basket,” but finds only clothes. Page, Shallow, and Evans suggest that it is all his jealous imagination. Mistress Ford calls Mistress Page to come down with “the old woman.” On learning that his maid’s aunt is in the house, Ford flies into another fury and takes up his cudgel. Mistress Ford begs the other men not to let him “strike the old woman.” Mistress Page then leads the disguised Falstaff through, and Ford beats him out of the house before inviting the others to search for Falstaff. They agree to “humour” him “a little further,” and follow. Alone, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page delight in the beating Falstaff has received. They agree that they have had their revenge and decide to tell their husbands everything in the hope that Falstaff will be “publicly shamed.”
ACT 4 SCENE 3
Bardolph informs the Host that some German noblemen wish to hire three of his horses. The Host agrees, intending to overcharge the Germans, but it seems likely that this is part of Caius and Evans’s plan for revenge.
ACT 4 SCENE 4
Mistress Ford and Mistress Page have told their husbands about Falstaff. Ford begs his wife’s pardon, promising that he will “suspect the sun with cold” rather than suspect her of “wantonness” in the future.Page says that they must publicly disgrace Falstaff. The women have suggested that they lure him to “the park at midnight,” and Mistress Page now reveals her plan. There is an oak in Windsor Forest, supposedly haunted by the spirit of Herne the Hunter. She proposes that they meet Falstaff there, asking him to come disguised as Herne. Then her children and several others, dressed “Like urchins, oafs and fairies,” with candles on their heads and “rattles in their hands,” will appear. Mistress Page and Mistress Ford will pretend to run away with fright, and the children, “fairy-like,” will encircle Falstaff, asking why “their so sacred paths he dares to tread.” They will then pinch him and burn him with their candles until he tells the truth, at which point the adults will appear and “mock him home to Windsor.” As they make plans for this, Page adds in an aside that this will be the ideal opportunity for Slender to steal Anne away and marry her. In a brief soliloquy, however, Mistress Page reveals that she is going to find Caius, determined that he shall marry Anne.
ACT 4 SCENE 5
Simple is looking for Falstaff, and the Host directs him to Falstaff’s chamber, but Simple says that he has seen “a fat woman” go up there. Falstaff emerges, and Simple inquires whether the woman in his chamber was “the wise woman of Brentford,” as he wishes to consult her on behalf of his master. Slender wants to know whether Nim has stolen a chain from him and whether he will marry Anne Page. Falstaff pretends that he has consulted the wise woman, and gives Simple ambiguous answers to both questions. Once Simple has gone, the Host questions Falstaff about the wise woman, also receiving ambiguous answers. They are interrupted by Bardolph, who reports that the Germans have stolen the Host’s horses. As the Host argues that “Germans are honest men,” Evans arrives. He warns the Host that “three cozen-germans” have been robbing hosts in other towns of their horses and money. Caius then comes to tell the Host that there is no “duke de Jamany” at court. The Host realizes that he is “undone” before rushing off, accompanied by Bardolph, and the audience understands that Evans and Caius have had their revenge. Falstaff reflects that he, too, has been “cozened”: by Mistress Page andMistress Ford. Mistress Quickly arrives, but Falstaff says that he has “suffered” enough for the sake of the two women. Mistress Quickly promises that she has news that will “content” him, and they go to his chamber.
ACT 4 SCENE 6
The Host is miserable and refuses to help Fenton any more in his
ACT 4 SCENE 3
Bardolph informs the Host that some German noblemen wish to hire three of his horses. The Host agrees, intending to overcharge the Germans, but it seems likely that this is part of Caius and Evans’s plan for revenge.
ACT 4 SCENE 4
Mistress Ford and Mistress Page have told their husbands about Falstaff. Ford begs his wife’s pardon, promising that he will “suspect the sun with cold” rather than suspect her of “wantonness” in the future.Page says that they must publicly disgrace Falstaff. The women have suggested that they lure him to “the park at midnight,” and Mistress Page now reveals her plan. There is an oak in Windsor Forest, supposedly haunted by the spirit of Herne the Hunter. She proposes that they meet Falstaff there, asking him to come disguised as Herne. Then her children and several others, dressed “Like urchins, oafs and fairies,” with candles on their heads and “rattles in their hands,” will appear. Mistress Page and Mistress Ford will pretend to run away with fright, and the children, “fairy-like,” will encircle Falstaff, asking why “their so sacred paths he dares to tread.” They will then pinch him and burn him with their candles until he tells the truth, at which point the adults will appear and “mock him home to Windsor.” As they make plans for this, Page adds in an aside that this will be the ideal opportunity for Slender to steal Anne away and marry her. In a brief soliloquy, however, Mistress Page reveals that she is going to find Caius, determined that he shall marry Anne.
ACT 4 SCENE 5
Simple is looking for Falstaff, and the Host directs him to Falstaff’s chamber, but Simple says that he has seen “a fat woman” go up there. Falstaff emerges, and Simple inquires whether the woman in his chamber was “the wise woman of Brentford,” as he wishes to consult her on behalf of his master. Slender wants to know whether Nim has stolen a chain from him and whether he will marry Anne Page. Falstaff pretends that he has consulted the wise woman, and gives Simple ambiguous answers to both questions. Once Simple has gone, the Host questions Falstaff about the wise woman, also receiving ambiguous answers. They are interrupted by Bardolph, who reports that the Germans have stolen the Host’s horses. As the Host argues that “Germans are honest men,” Evans arrives. He warns the Host that “three cozen-germans” have been robbing hosts in other towns of their horses and money. Caius then comes to tell the Host that there is no “duke de Jamany” at court. The Host realizes that he is “undone” before rushing off, accompanied by Bardolph, and the audience understands that Evans and Caius have had their revenge. Falstaff reflects that he, too, has been “cozened”: by Mistress Page andMistress Ford. Mistress Quickly arrives, but Falstaff says that he has “suffered” enough for the sake of the two women. Mistress Quickly promises that she has news that will “content” him, and they go to his chamber.
ACT 4 SCENE 6
The Host is miserable and refuses to help Fenton any more in his
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