38 Jul. Ay, madam. Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there. [Picture brought Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again. I will not look upon your master's lines : Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. What say'st thou ? Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself: Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus has forsook her. Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: Sil. How tall was she? Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!- I weep myself, to think upon thy words. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful. Alas, how love can trifle with itself! My substance should be statue in thy stead. I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, w ACT V. [Exit. SCENE I.-The same. An abbey. Enter Eglamour. Eglamour. THE sun begins to gild the western sky; And now, it is about the very hour That Silvia, at Patrick's cell, should meet me. See, where she comes :-Lady, a happy evening! Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour! I fear, I am attended by some spies. Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II-The same. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was ; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. She says, it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. [Aside Thu. How likes she my discourse? Thu. What says she to my valour? Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!— What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chace : They love me well; yet I have much to do, [Aside. To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here ? [Steps aside. Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell, this even; and there she was not: Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us, But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, And will not use a woman lawlessly. Sti. O Valentine, this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Enter Valentine. Fel. How use doth breed a habit in a man! Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. That would have forc'd your honour and your love. And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. [Aside. Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Sil. By thy approach thou makʼst me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your presence. [Aside. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Therefore be gone, solicit me no more. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo, for one calm look? O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv❜d, When women cannot love where they're belov'd! Sil. When Proteus cannot love, where he's belov❜d, Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, Pro. Who respects friends? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end; Pro. Valentine! Pro. Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me. I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death; Come not within the measure of my wrath: Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands, Take but possession of her with a touch ;I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I; [Faints. I hold him but a fool, that will endanger His body for a girl that loves him not: Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? Pro. But, how eam'st thou by this ring? at my depart, I gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. happy. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal, Are men endued with worthy qualities; thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy. That you Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; SIR Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot discretions with it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman. Eva. It is that fery person, for all the 'orld, as just chamber matter of it: If he were twenty sir John as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monFalstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, Esquire.ies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his Sen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and death's bed (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) Sha!. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum. Slen. Ay, and ratelorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero ; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armige Shal. Ay, that we do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Sten. All his successors, gone before him, have det; and all his ancestors, that come after him, tay: they may give the dozen white luces in their Shel. It is an old coat. Esa. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies-love. give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham, and mistress Anne Page. Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter peuny. gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts. Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise one that is not true. The knight, sir John, is there; and, I Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat of your Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter sat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but this is all one: If sir John Faltaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, ⚫ make atonements and compromises between you. Shal. The council shall hear it; it is a riot. Eva. It is not meet the council hear a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that. Stal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the and should end it. . It is petter that friends is the sword, and end the door [knocks] for master Page.-What, hoa! Got pless your house here! Enter Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow : and here young master Slender ; that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings. Page. I am glad to see your worships well: I thank you for my venison, master Shallow. Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you: Much good do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it was ill kill'd:-How doth good mistress Page?-and I love 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 see you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say, he was outrun on Cotsale. Page. It could not be judg'd, sir. Sten. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. 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 said? 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 spoke as a christians ought to speak. Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me;-indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;-believe me; Robert Shallow, Esquire, saith, he is wrong'd. Page. Here comes sir John. Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. Fal. Now, master Shallow; you'll complain of me to the king? Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, deer, and broke open my lodge. killed my Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter. Fal. I will answer it strait ;-I have done all this :That is now answer'd. Shal. The council shall know this. Fal. "Twere better for you, if it were known in counsel; you'll be laugh'd at. Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, good worts. Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke your head: What matter have you against me? Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket. Bard. You Banbury cheese! Sten. Ay, it is no matter. Pist. How now, Mephostophilus? Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Nym. Slice, I say; pauca, pauca; slice! that's my humour. Slen. Where's Simple, my man? can you tell, cous. in? Eva. Peace, I pray you! Now let us understand: There is three umpires in this matter, as I understand: that is, master Page, fidelicet, master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter. Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them. Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards 'ork upon the cause with as great discreetly as we can. Fal. Pistol Pist. He hears with ears. Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner!-Sir John, and master mine, I combat challenge of this latten bilbo : Slen. By these gloves, then, 'twas he Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humours: I will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nuthook's humour on me; that is the very note of it. Slen. By this hat, then he in the red face had it: for though I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John? Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences. Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is! Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires. Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst 1 live again, but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind. Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it. Enter Mistress Anne Page, with wine; Mistress Ford and Mistress Page following. Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within. [Exit Ame Page. Sten. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. Page. How now, Mrs. Ford? Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met: by your leave, good mistress. [Kissing her. Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome :-Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hop. we shall drink down all unkindness, [Exeunt all but Shal. Slend. and Evans. Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book of songs and sonnets here: Enter Simple. How now, Simple! Where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not The Book of Riddles about you, have you? Sim. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake, upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas? A Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. word with you, coz: marry, this, coz; There is, as 'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by sir Hugh here;-Do you understand me? Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so, I shall do that that is reason. Shal. Nay, but understand me. Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I Evn. The tevil and his tam! What phrase is this, pray you, pardon me; he's a justice' of peace in his He hears with ear? Why, it is affectations. Fa!. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, (or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else,) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-bards, that cost me two shilling and two-pence apiece of Yead Miller, by these gloves. Fal. Is this true, Pistol? Lea. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse. country, simple though I stand here. Eva. But this is not the question; the question is concerning your marriage. Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir. Eva. Marry is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page. Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon any reasonable demands. Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us com |