, here is
the heart of my purpose: you are a gentleman of excellent
breeding, admirable discourse, of great admittance, authentic 205
in your place and person, generally allowed for your
many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations.

_Fal._ O, sir!

_Ford._ Believe it, for you know it. There is money;
spend it, spend it; spend more; spend all I have; only 210
give me so much of your time in exchange of it, as to lay
an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife: use
your art of wooing; win her to consent to you: if any man
may, you may as soon as any.

_Fal._ Would it apply well to the vehemency of your 215
affection, that I should win what you would enjoy? Methinks
you prescribe to yourself very preposterously.

_Ford._ O, understand my drift. She dwells so securely
on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of my soul
dares not present itself: she is too bright to be looked 220
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
other her defences, which now are too, too strongly 225
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.

_Ford._ O good sir! 230

_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
own appointment; even as you came in to me, her assistant, 235
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.

_Ford._. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know 240
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
seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the 245
cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my harvest-home.

_Ford._ I would you knew Ford, sir, that you might
avoid him