Page 2490 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

FORD

Never.

FALSTAFF
Have you importuned her to such a purpose? [195]

FORD
Never.

FALSTAFF
Of what quality was your love, then?

FORD
Like a fair house built on another man’s ground, so that I have lost my edifice

by mistaking the place where I erected it. [200]

FALSTAFF

To what purpose have you unfolded this to me?

FORD
When I have told you that, I have told you all. Some say that though she
appear honest to me, yet in other places she enlargeth her mirth so far that
there is shrewd construction made of her. Now, Sir John, here is the heart
[205] of my purpose; you are a gentleman of excellent breeding, admirable

discourse, of great admittance, authentic in your place and person, generally
allowed for your many warlike, court-like, and learned preparations.

FALSTAFF
O sir! [210]

FORD
Believe it, for you know it. There is money; spend it, spend it, spend more;

spend all I have, only 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 [215] may as soon
as any.