This section is Track 5 on the CD of music excerpts. Here is both the original Italian and English translation. FORD (solo) È sogno? o realtà?... Due rami enormi crescon sulla mia testa. È un sogno? Mastro Ford! Mastro Ford! Dormi? Svegliati! Su! Ti desta! Tua moglie sgarra e mette in mal’assetto l’onor tuo, la tua casa ed il tuo letto! L’ora è fissata, tramato l’inganno; sei gabbato e truffato! E poi diranno che un marito geloso è un insensato! Già dietro a me nomi d’infame conio fischian passando; mormora lo scherno. O matrimonio: Inferno! Donna: Demonio! Nella lor moglie abbian fede i babbei! Affiderei la mia birra a un tedesco, tutto il mio desco a un olandese lurco, la mia bottiglia d’acquavite a un turco, non mia moglie a sé stessa. O laida sorte! Quella brutta parola in cor mi torna: Le corna! Bue! Capron! le fusa torte! Ah! le corna! le corna! Ma non mi sfuggirai! no! sozzo, reo, dannato epicureo! Prima li accoppio e poi li colgo... Io scoppio! Vendicherò l’affronto! Laudata sempre sia nel fondo del mio cor la gelosia.
FORD (alone) Is this a dream? Or reality? Two enormous horns are sprouting on my head. Is this a dream? Master Ford! Master Ford! Are you asleep? Wake up! Come! Wake up! Your wife wantons, bringing shame upon your honor, your house, your bed! The hour is set, the betrayal planned. And you’re made a fool, a gullible fool! And yet they say a jealous husband’s a madman! Already, as I pass, the infamous names will sound behind me, the scornful laughter. Oh, marriage: a hell! Oh, woman: a devil! Let fools trust their wives! Better to trust a German with my beer, a greedy Dutchman with my table, a Turk with my aquavitae, but not my wife alone! O loathsome fate! That ugly word keeps coming back to my heart: cuckold! Ox! Goat! Twisted horns! Ah, cuckold! Cuckold! But you shall not escape! No! Filthy villain, damnable rake! I’ll get them together first, then I’ll catch them. I’m bursting! I’ll have revenge! Praised be forever jealousy, deep in my heart.
This section is just the English translation. (Falstaff enters. He is wearing a new jacket and a hat and carries a walking-stick.)
FORD No – you first.
FALSTAFF Here I am. I’m ready. Will you walk with me a way?
FALSTAFF It’s getting late – I must get on.
FORD I’ll see you on your road. (They start out. At the door, each tries to let the other pass.)
FORD Please, really.
FALSTAFF After you. FORD After you. FALSTAFF No – this is my house. Please pass.
FALSTAFF Please pass. FORD Please! FALSTAFF Please pass!
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