from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera
Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Arrigo Boito
Role: Sir John Falstaff, a fat knight
Voice Part: baritone Fach: heavy bass
Setting: Inside the Garter Inn, Windsor, England, early 15th century
Synopsis: After the shiftless Bardolph and Pistol surprisingly refuse to help Falstaff trick Mistress Ford and Mistress Page out of their money because of their "honor", Falstaff lectures them of the meaningless of "honor". Honor, he says, is nothing but a word. It means nothing after life is over and cannot heal broken bones or wounds. He finally chases the two of them out of the inn.