The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act 5, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 3 of The Merry Wives of Windsor from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor Caius. MISTRESS PAGE Master Doctor, my daughter is in green. When you see your time, take her by the hand; away with her to the deanery, and dispatch it quickly. Go before into the park. We two must go together. 5 DOCTOR CAIUS I know vat I have to do. Adieu. MISTRESS PAGE Fare you well, sir. Caius exits. My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff as he will chafe at the doctor’s marrying my daughter. But ’tis no matter. Better a little chiding 10 than a great deal of heartbreak. MISTRESS FORD Where is Nan now, and her troop of fairies, and the Welsh devil Hugh? MISTRESS PAGE They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne’s oak, with obscured lights, which, at the 15 very instant of Falstaff’s and our meeting, they will at once display to the night. MISTRESS FORD That cannot choose but amaze him. MISTRESS PAGE If he be not amazed, he will be mocked. If he be amazed, he will every way be 20 mocked. MISTRESS FORD We’ll betray him finely. MISTRESS PAGE Against such lewdsters and their lechery, Those that betray them do no treachery. MISTRESS FORD The hour draws on. To the oak, to the 25 oak! They exit.	Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor Caius also meet up near the park. Mistress Page tells Caius that Anne's going to be dressed in green that night and that he should grab her and run off to get married when he has the chance. We find out that Anne and the other "fairies" are waiting for Falstaff to show up at Herne's Oak, so everyone runs off to watch the fun.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor Caius.

MISTRESS PAGE
Master Doctor, my daughter is in
green. When you see your time, take her by the
hand; away with her to the deanery, and dispatch
it quickly. Go before into the park. We two must go
together. 5

DOCTOR CAIUS
I know vat I have to do. Adieu.

MISTRESS PAGE
Fare you well, sir.

Caius exits.

My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse
of Falstaff as he will chafe at the doctor’s marrying
my daughter. But ’tis no matter. Better a little chiding 10
than a great deal of heartbreak.

MISTRESS FORD
Where is Nan now, and her troop of
fairies, and the Welsh devil Hugh?

MISTRESS PAGE They are all couched in a pit hard by
Herne’s oak, with obscured lights, which, at the 15
very instant of Falstaff’s and our meeting, they will
at once display to the night.

MISTRESS FORD
That cannot choose but amaze him.

MISTRESS PAGE
If he be not amazed, he will be
mocked. If he be amazed, he will every way be 20
mocked.

MISTRESS FORD
We’ll betray him finely.

MISTRESS PAGE
Against such lewdsters and their lechery,
Those that betray them do no treachery.

MISTRESS FORD
The hour draws on. To the oak, to the 25
oak!

They exit.

Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor Caius also meet up near the park.

Mistress Page tells Caius that Anne's going to be dressed in green that night and that he should grab her and run off to get married when he has the chance.

We find out that Anne and the other "fairies" are waiting for Falstaff to show up at Herne's Oak, so everyone runs off to watch the fun.

The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act 5, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 3 of The Merry Wives of Windsor from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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