At the Garter Inn, Simple, Slender’s servant, enters looking for the Witch of Brentford. He had seen her enter the inn earlier. Of course, the fat woman was really Falstaff in his disguise. Falstaff, now no longer in disguise, speaks with Simple. According to the servant, Slender wants to ask the witch if Nim had stolen his chain. Falstaff tells Simple that he has already spoken with the witch and has received her answer. Falstaff confirms that Nim did steal the chain.
Simple then asks a second question. He wants to know if Slender will successfully elope with Anne Page: “to know if it were my master’s fortune to have her or no” (38). Falstaff tells the simpleton that it is Slender’s fortune “to have her or no” (41). Falstaff is saying that either he will succeed or he will not, but the foolish Simple thinks he is saying that Slender will definitely succeed. The scene criticizes fortune tellers more generally (social criticism). Fortune tellers often give vague or purposely confusing responses to questions, and gullible customers interpret their responses as if these fortune tellers have great insight and are speaking with great wisdom.
After Simple exits, Bardolph appears and informs the Host that the German guests have cozened or stolen the Host’s horses. The Host assures Bardolph that the three men just rode to visit the German Duke, but then Hugh Evans enters the inn. Evans tells the Host that several Germans have