QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: The Merry Wives of Windsor
ACT/SCENE:
SPEAKER: Falstaff
CONTEXT:
MISTRESS PAGE
If you go out in your own semblance, you die, Sir
John. Unless you go out disguised.
MISTRESS FORD
How might we disguise him?
MISTRESS PAGE
Alas the day, I know not! There is no woman’s gown
big enough for him otherwise he might put on a hat,
a muffler and a kerchief, and so escape.
FALSTAFF
Good hearts, devise something: any extremity rather
than a mischief.

DUTCH:
Lieve vrouwtjens, bedenkt toch iets; het onmoog’lijkste
nog eer dan een ongeluk.

MORE:
Own semblance=Looking like yourself
Extremity=Extreme measure
Mischief=Disaster
Compleat:
Semblance=Gelykenis, schyn
Extremity=het Uyterste, ‘t uyterste eynd, de uyterste nood, uytendigheyd
Mischief=Onheyl, quaad, ongeluk, ramp, verderf, heylloosheyd

Topics: appearance|deceit|secrecy