The Merry Wives of Windsor — Act 4, Scene 3: A room in the Garter Inn.

At the Garter Inn, Bardolph tells the Host that some German gentlemen want to hire three of the Host’s horses because their duke will be at court the next day and they are riding out to meet him. The Host is surprised, since he has heard nothing about this duke, and asks whether the men speak English. Bardolph says they do and offers to call them. The Host agrees to lend the horses, but only with the intention of charging them well for the favor. He grumbles that they have kept his house for a week and driven away other guests, and he goes to deal with them.

Sir, the Germans desire to have three of your

horses: the duke himself will be to-morrow at

court, and they are going to meet him.

What duke should that be comes so secretly? I hear

not of him in the court. Let me speak with the

gentlemen: they speak English?

Ay, sir; I'll call them to you.

They shall have my horses; but I'll make them pay;

I'll sauce them: they have had my house a week at

command; I have turned away my other guests: they

must come off; I'll sauce them. Come.