OF

OBSERVATIONS.

F this play there is a tradition preserved by Mr. Rowe, that it was written at the command of Queen Elizabeth, who was fo delighted with the character of Falstaff, that she wished it to be diffused through more plays; but suspecting that it might pall by continued uniformity, directed the poet to diverfify his manner, by fhewing him in love. No tafk is harder than that of writing to the ideas of another. Shakespeare knew what the queen, if the ftory be true, feems not to have known, that by any real paffion of tenderness, the selfish craft, the careless jollity, and the lazy luxury of Falstaff must have suffered fo much abatement, that little of his former caft would have remained. Falstaff could not love, but by ceafing to be Falstaff. He could only counterfeit love, and his profeffions could be prompted, not by the hope of pleasure, but of money. Thus the poet approached as near as he could to the work enjoined him; yet having perhaps in the former plays completed his own idea, seems not to have been able to give Falstaff all his former power of entertainment.

This comedy is remarkable for the variety and number of the perfonages, who exhibit more characters appropriated and difcriminated, than perhaps can be found in any other play.

Whether Shakespeare was the first that produced upon the English ftage the effect of language distorted and depraved by provincial or foreign pronunciation, I cannot certainly decide. This mode of forming ridiculous characters can confer praise only on him, who originally discovered it, for it requires not much of either wit or judgment: its fuccefs must be derived almost wholly from the player, but its power in a skilful mouth, - even he that defpifes it, is unable to refift.

The conduct of this drama is deficient; the action begins and ends often before the conclufion, and the different parts might change places without inconvenience; but its general power, that power by which all works of genius shall finally be tried, is fuch, that perhaps it never yet had reader or spectator, who did not think it too foon at an end. JoHNSON.

Sir HUGH EVANS, a Welch Parfon.

Dr. CAIUS, a French Doctor.

BARDOLPH.

PISTOL

NYM.

ROBIN, Page to Falstaff.

WILLIAM PAGE, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page.

SIMPLE, Servant to Slender.

RUGBY, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Hoft of the Garter.

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.

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

ACT

ACT I. SCENE I..

Before PAGE's Houfe in Windfor. Enter Justice SHALLOW, SLENDER, and Sir HUGH EVANS.

Shallow.

IR Hugh, perfuade me not: I will make a Star-cham

ftaffs, he shall not abufe Robert Shallow, Efquire.

Slen. In the county of Gloucefter, juftice of peace, and coram.

Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and cuftalorum.

Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too ; and a gentleman born, mafter parfon; 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 done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.[1]

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 beast to man, and fignifies-love.

Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the falt fish is an old coat.[2]

Slen. I may quarter, coz.

Shal. You may by marrying.

Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit.

[1] Shakespeare, by hinting that the arms of the Shallo Lucys were the fame, thews he could not forget his old frien Lucy, pointing at him under the character of Juftice Shallow

kill'd my

[2] The family of the Charlcotts had for their arms a Sat inally; but when William, fon of Walter de Charlcott, affumedt time well of Lucy, in the time of Henry III. he took the arms of the Luc

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 Sir 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 vizaments in that.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the fword fhould end it.

Eva. It is petter that friends is the fword, and end it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot difcretions with it: there is Anne Page, which is daughter to mafter George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Miftrefs Anne Page? fhe has brown hair, and fpeaks fmall like a woman.

Eva. It is that very perfon, for all the 'orld, as just as you will defire; and feven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and filver, is her grandfire, upon his death's bed (Got deliver to a joyful refurrections!) give, when fhe is able to overtake feventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire a marriage between mafter Abraham and mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Did her grandfire leave her feven hundred pounds? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.. Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and poffibilities, is good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us fee honest mafter Page: is Falstaff there?

Shall I tell you a lie? I do defpife a liar as I do e that is false; or, as I defpife one that is not ne knight, Sir John, is there; and, I befeech ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the cks] for mafter Page. What, hoa! Got plefs fe here !

Enter PAGE.

Who's there?

:

Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your friend, and juftice Shallow and here is young mafter Slender; that, peradventures, fhall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings.

Page. I am glad to fee your worships well. I thank you for my venifon, mafter Shallow.

Shal. Mafter Page, I am glad to fee you; much good do it your good heart! I wish'd your venifon better; it was ill kill'd:-How doth good miftrefs Page ?-and I thank you always with my heart, la; with my heart. Page. Sir, I thank you.

Shal. Sir, I thank you :, by yea and no, I do. Page. I am glad to fee you, good mafter Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, Sir? I heard fay, he was out-run on Cotfale.

Page. It could not be judg'd, Sir.

Slen. You'll not confefs, you'll not confefs.

Shal. That he will not 'tis your fault, 'tis your fault-Tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, Sir.

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog: Can there be more faid? he is good and fair. Is Sir John Falstaff • here?

Page. Sir, he is within ;, and I would I could do a good office between you.

Eva. It is fpoke as a chriftians ought to speak..

Shal. He hath wrong'd me, mafter Page.

Page. Sir, he doth in fome fort confefs it.

Shal. If it be confefs'd, it is not redrefs'd; is not that fo, mafter Page? He hath wrong'd me ;-indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;-believe me :-Robert Shallow, Efquire, faith, he is wrong'd.

Page. Here comes Sir John.

Enter Sir JOHN FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYM, and PISTOL.

Fal. Now, mafter Shallow; you'll complain of me to the king?

Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, kill'd my deer, and broke open my lodge.[3]

Fal. But not kifs'd your keeper's daughter.

Shal. Tut, a pin this fhall be answer❜d.

[3] This probably alludes to fome real incident, at that time well known. JOHNSON,