# Result number

Work The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets are treated as single work with 154 parts.

Character Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet, the character name is "Poet."

Line Shows where the line falls within the work.

The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not restart for each scene.

Text The line's full text, with keywords highlighted within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.

1

Merry Wives of Windsor
[I, 1]

Page

83

It could not be judged, sir.

2

Merry Wives of Windsor
[I, 1]

Page

91

Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good
office between you.

3

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 1]

Mistress Ford

605

Well, I do then; yet I say I could show you to the
contrary. O Mistress Page, give me some counsel!

4

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 1]

Mistress Ford

608

O woman, if it were not for one trifling respect, I
could come to such honour!

5

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 1]

Mistress Ford

612

If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment or so,
I could be knighted.

6

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 1]

Robert Shallow

779

Tut, sir, I could have told you more. In these times
you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and
I know not what: 'tis the heart, Master Page; 'tis
here, 'tis here. I have seen the time, with my long
sword I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats.

7

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 2]

Hostess Quickly

853

Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you
have brought her into such a canaries as 'tis
wonderful. The best courtier of them all, when the
court lay at Windsor, could never have brought her
to such a canary. Yet there has been knights, and
lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches, I warrant
you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift
after gift; smelling so sweetly, all musk, and so
rushling, I warrant you, in silk and gold; and in
such alligant terms; and in such wine and sugar of
the best and the fairest, that would have won any
woman's heart; and, I warrant you, they could never
get an eye-wink of her: I had myself twenty angels
given me this morning; but I defy all angels, in
any such sort, as they say, but in the way of
honesty: and, I warrant you, they could never get
her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of
them all: and yet there has been earls, nay, which
is more, pensioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.

8

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 2]

Ford

985

I have long loved her, and, I protest to you,
bestowed much on her; followed her with a doting
observance; engrossed opportunities to meet her;
fee'd every slight occasion that could but niggardly
give me sight of her; not only bought many presents
to give her, but have given largely to many to know
what she would have given; briefly, I have pursued
her as love hath pursued me; which hath been on the
wing of all occasions. But whatsoever I have
merited, either in my mind or, in my means, meed,
I am sure, I have received none; unless experience
be a jewel that I have purchased at an infinite
rate, and that hath taught me to say this:
'Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues;
Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues.'

9

Merry Wives of Windsor
[II, 2]

Ford

1029

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 against. Now, could I could 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
embattled against me. What say you to't, Sir John?

10

Merry Wives of Windsor
[III, 3]

Mistress Ford

1481

Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I could not
be in that mind.

11

Merry Wives of Windsor
[III, 3]

Ford

1548

Buck! I would I could wash myself of the buck!
Buck, buck, buck! Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck;
and of the season too, it shall appear.
[Exeunt Servants with the basket]
Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night; I'll tell you my
dream. Here, here, here be my keys: ascend my
chambers; search, seek, find out: I'll warrant
we'll unkennel the fox. Let me stop this way first.
[Locking the door]
So, now uncape.

12

Merry Wives of Windsor
[III, 3]

Ford

1589

I cannot find him: may be the knave bragged of that
he could not compass.

13

Merry Wives of Windsor
[III, 5]

Ford

1821

And did he search for you, and could not find you?

14

Merry Wives of Windsor
[IV, 5]

Simple

2331

I would I could have spoken with the woman herself;
I had other things to have spoken with her too from
him.

15

Merry Wives of Windsor
[V, 5]

Mistress Ford

2691

Sir John, we have had ill luck; we could never meet.
I will never take you for my love again; but I will
always count you my deer.

16

Merry Wives of Windsor
[V, 5]

Mistress Page

2720

Why Sir John, do you think, though we would have the
virtue out of our hearts by the head and shoulders
and have given ourselves without scruple to hell,
that ever the devil could have made you our delight?