From what precedes, we might conjecture burn.
"To repay that money will be a biting affliction."
I have, after Theobald, added here from the 4tos the following lines, of which, however, he did not give the last:—
"Mrs. Ford. Nay, husband, let that go to make amends,
Forgive that sum and so we'll all be friends.
Ford. Well, here's my hand; all is forgiven at last.
Fal. It hath cost me well. I've been well pinch'd and wash'd."
The play is thus made to end more agreeably, and Falstaff can accept the invitation to supper with a better grace. These lines, it is true, rime, and so are not quite in harmony with the other speeches, whence it seems to follow that the omission was made by the poet. But his judgement in this case must have fallen asleep; for Ford had no right to be so hard on the poor knight, as he had given him the money, or rather we might say forced it on him. As to the rime, we have two other couplets toward the end of the play.