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Act 4, Scene 2
The Merry Wives of Windsor Translation Act 4, Scene 3
Enter Host and BARDOLPH
BARDOLPH
Sir, the Germans desire to have three of yourhorses: the duke himself will be to-morrow atcourt, and they are going to meet him.
BARDOLPH
Sir, the Germans would like to use three of your horses. The duke will be at court tomorrow, and they're going there to see him.
HOST
What duke should that be comes so secretly? I hear5not of him in the court. Let me speak with thegentlemen: they speak English?
HOST
Who is this duke who's coming so secretly? I didn't hear anything about him at court. Let me speak with the gentlemen. Do they speak English?
BARDOLPH
Ay, sir; I'll call them to you.
BARDOLPH
Yes, sir. I'll call them in to see you.
HOST
They shall have my horses; but I'll make them pay; I'll sauce them: they have had my house a week at 10 command; I have turned away my other guests: they must come off; I'll sauce them. Come.
HOST
They can have my horses, but I'll make them pay, I'll make them pay a lot. They've taken over my house for the last week so that I had to turn away other guests. They need to pay up—I'll make them pay a lot. Let's go.
Exeunt
About the Translator: Maria Devlin
Maria Devlin received her Ph.D. in English Literature from Harvard University, where she specialized in Renaissance drama. She has worked as a bibliographical and editorial assistant for The Norton Anthology of English Literature and for The Norton Shakespeare. She is currently working with Stephen Greenblatt to design online courses on Shakespeare, including the modules "Hamlet's Ghost" and "Shylock's Bond" offered through HarvardX. She is writing a book on Renaissance comedy.
Maria Devlin wishes to credit the following sources, which she consulted extensively in composing her translations and annotations:
William Shakespeare. The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition. Eds. Gary Taylor et al. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
William Shakespeare. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed. Eds. Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W.W. Norton& Company, Inc., 2016.
