Ford. O, understand my drift. She dwells so securely on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of my [soul] 220 dares not present itself: she is too bright to be looked against. Now, could I come to her with any detection in my hand, my desires had instance and argument to commend themselves: I could drive her then from the ward of her purity, her reputation, her marriage-vow, and a thousand II. 2.
225 [other her] defences, which now are [too, too] strongly embattled against me. What say you to’t, Sir John?
Fal. Master Brook, I will first make bold with your money; next, give me your hand; and last, as I am a gentleman, you shall, if you will, enjoy Ford’s wife.
230 Ford. O good sir!
Fal. [I say you shall.]
Ford. Want no money, Sir John; you shall want none.
Fal. Want no Mistress Ford, Master Brook; you shall want none. I shall be with her, I may tell you, by her 235 own appointment; even as you came in to me, her assistant, or go-between, parted from me: I say I shall be with her between ten and eleven; for at that time the jealous rascally knave her husband will be forth. Come you to me at night; you shall know how I speed.
240 Ford.. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know Ford, sir?
Fal. Hang him, poor [cuckoldly] knave! I know him not: —yet I wrong him to call him poor; they say the jealous wittolly knave hath masses of money; for the which his wife 245 seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the [cuckoldly rogue’s] coffer; and there’s my harvest-home.
Ford. I would you knew Ford, sir, that you might avoid him, if you saw him.
Fal. Hang him, mechanical salt-butter rogue! I will II. 2.
250 stare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel: it shall hang like a meteor o’er the cuckold’s horns. Master Brook, thou shalt know I will predominate over the peasant, and thou shalt lie with his wife. —Come to me soon at night. Ford’s a knave, and I will aggravate his 255 style; thou, Master Brook, shalt know him for knave and cuckold. Come to me soon at night. [Exit.]