how am I mistook in you! Why, alas, what's the matter? 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 assence: you are undone. 'Tis not so, I hope. 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. What shall I do? There is a gentleman my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame so much as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound he were out of the house. 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. He's too big to go in there. What shall I do? Let me see't, let me see't, O, let me see't! I'll in, I'll in. Follow your friend's counsel. I'll in. What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your letters, knight? I love thee. Help me away. Let me creep in here. I'll never-- [Gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen] Help to cover your master, boy. Call your men, Mistress Ford. You dissembling knight! What, John! Robert! John! Go take up these clothes here quickly. Where's the cowl-staff? look, how you drumble! Carry them to the laundress in Datchet-meat; quickly, come. Pray you, come near: if I suspect without cause, why then make sport at me; then let me be your jest; I deserve it. How now! whither bear you this? To the laundress, forsooth. Why, what have you to do whither they bear it? You were best meddle with buck-washing. Buck! I would I could wash myself of the buck! Buck, buck, buck! Ay,