MRS. PAGE. O mistress Ford, what have you done? You're shamed, you are overthrown, you are undone for ever.

MRS. FORD. What's the matter, good mistress Page?

MRS. PAGE. O well-a-day, mistress Ford! having an honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of suspicion !

MRS. FORD. What cause of suspicion ? MRS. PAGE. What cause of suspicion ?-Out upon you! how am I mistook in you?

MRS. FORD. Why, alas! what's the matter?

MRS. PAGE. Your husband's coming hither, woman, with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman, that, he says, is here now in the house, by your consent, to take an ill advantage of his absence: You are undone.

MRS. FORD. Speak louder.-[Aside.] - 'Tis not so, I hope.

MRS. PAGE. Pray heaven it be not so, that you have such a man here; but 'tis most certain your husband's coming with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one. I come before to tell you: If you know yourself clear, why I am glad of it: but if you have a friend here, convey, convey him out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to you; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good life for ever.

MRS. FORD. What shall I do?-There is a gen. tleman, my dear friend; and I fear not mine own

Speak louder.] i. e. that Falstaff, who is retired, may hear. This passage is only found in the two elder quartos. STEEVENS,

shame, so much as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound, he were out of the house.

MRS. PAGE. For shame, never stand you had rather, and you had rather; your husband's here at hand, bethink you of some conveyance: in the house you cannot hide him. O, how have you deceived me!-Look, here is a basket; if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep in here; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going to bucking: Or, it is whiting-time, send him by your two men to Datchet mead.

MRS. FORD. He's too big to go in there : What shall I do?

Re-enter FALTAFF.

FAL. Let me see't, let me see't! Olet me see't! I'll in, I'll in;-follow your friend's counsel ;I'll in.

MRS. PAGE. What! sir John Falstaff! Are these your letters, knight?

FAL. I love thee, and none but thee; help me away: let me creep in here; I'll never

[He goes into the basket; they cover him with foul linen.

MRS. PAGE. Help to cover your master, boy: Call your men, mistress Ford:--You dissembling knight!

7

whiting-time,] Bleaching time; spring. The season when" maidens bleach their summer smocks." HOLT WHITE. and none but thee;] These words, which are characteristick, and spoken to Mrs. Page aside, deserve to be restored from the old quarto. He had used the same words before to Mrs. Ford. MALONE.

"

: