At the Garter Inn Sir John Falstaff is ruing the embarrassment that has just happened to him. He declares that he will never again allow himself to be caught in such circumstances:
Well, if I be served such another trick, I’ll have my brains ta’en out and buttered and give them to a dog for a New Year’s gift. (5-7)
Falstaff regrets that he has become a fool. Even a man of wit may sometimes play the part of a fool. Moreover, Falstaff feels that he could have been drowned but that he was fortunate that he was dumped into a shallow part of the river. The fat knight imagines himself drowning in the cold Thames River and swelling up to an even larger size, to a “mountain of mummy” (15). The imagery frightens even him. Although he may not find it dishonorable to lie and steal, he does find it dishonorable to be caught in a foolish position or to be reduced to a dishonorable appearance. A theme involving honor is certainly a significant part of this play. Earlier, for example, Falstaff debated with Pistol regarding their positions of honor when Pistol refused to carry the love letters to the wives. Now Shakespeare is revealing that Falstaff has his pride and his own odd sense of honor.
Mistress Quickly enters the inn (at line 22) and tells Falstaff that Mistress Ford regrets the mishap that has occurred. The dialogue includes