Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal, Forgive them what they have committed here, Duke. Thou haft prevail'd: I pardon them, and thee; Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile. What think you of this page, my lord? Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord; more grace than boy. Duke. What mean you by that faying? Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; * include]-conclude. [Exeunt omnes. MERRY ROBIN, Page to FALSTAFF. WILLIAM PAGE, a Boy, Son to Mr. PAGE. SIMPLE, Servant to SLENDER. RUGBY, Servant to Dr. CAIUS. MRS. PAGE. MRS. FORD. MRS. ANNE PAGE, Daughter to Mr. PAGE, in love with FENTON. MRS. QUICKLY, Servant to Dr. CAIUS. Servants to PAGE, FORD, &c. SCENE-Windfor; and the Parts adjacent. THIS PLAY is faid to have been written at the command of Queen Elizabeth, who, delighted with the character of Falstaff, wished to have him fhewn in love: the firft imperfect ketch of it appeared in print in the year 1602; the alterations and additions were probably made about the year 1611. Some of the incidents seem to have been taken from Tarleton's " Two Lovers of Pifa"-and the tale of "The fortunate, the deceived, and unfortunate Lovers.”, MERRY WIVES O F WINDS O R. 1 ACT I. SCENE I. Before Page's House in Windfor. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. Shal. Sir Hugh, perfuade me not: I will make a 'Starchamber matter of it: if he were twenty fir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, efquire. Slen. In the county of Glofter, juftice of peace, and coram. d Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and cuftos.- a Sir Hugh,]-The title of Sir is annexed in our universities to perfons that have taken the firft degree in arts: it is also an ancient defignation of the clergy, and still applied to them in North Wales. Bachelor may perhaps be derived from bas chevalier. Star-chamber]-a court which took cognizance of atrocious crimes, compofed chiefly of the King's council, fitting in a chamber at West-, minster, the roof whereof was deck'd with gilded ftars: abolished in the year 1641. coram]-of the quorum. and cuftalorum.-Slender takes the words cuftos rotulorum to mean two diftin&t offices. master parson; who writes, himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero. Shal. Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his fucceffors, gone before him, have don't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen white loufes do become an old coat well; it agrees well, paffant: it is a familiar beaft to man, and fignifies-love. с Shal. The luce is the fresh fifh; the falt fifh is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz. Shal. You may, " by marrying. Eva. It is marrying, indeed, if he quarter it. Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my fimple conjectures: but that is all one: If fir John Falstaff have committed difparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you. Shal. The council fhall hear it; it is a riot. Eva. It is not meet the council hear of a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, fhall defire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your 1 vizaments in that. The luce]-The luce-from lucias, a pike or jack. Eva. The falt fifh is an old coat-Would be a furer mark of the antiquity of your coat. h mily. quarter]-bear the luces-in addition to my own arms. by marrying.]-by your ancestors having intermarried with my faivizaments]-fome advice. Shal. |