Unless I Aatter with myself too much.

Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up, Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow : For 'tis thy rival. Othou senseless form, If that be all the difference in his love,

Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd; I'll get me such a colour'd periwig?.

And, were there fenfe in his idolatry,
Her eyes are grey as glass: and so are mine; My substance should be statue in thy stead.
Ay, but her 2 forehead's low ; and mine's as high. I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
What should it be, that he respects in her, That usd me so; or else; by Jove I vow,
But I can make respective 3 in myself,

I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
If this fond love were not a blinded god ? To make my master out of love with thee. [Exit.

Igl.

SCENE 1.

Jul. She needs not, when me knows it cowa Near tbe Friar's cell, in Milan.

ardice.

[-Afide. Enter Eglamour.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.
'HE sun begins to gild the western sky; Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [-Afide.

And now it is about the very hour Thu. Considers the my possessions ?
That Silvia, at friar Patrick's cell, should meet me. Pro. O, ay ; and pities them.
She will not fail ; for lovers break not hours, Thư. Wherefore?
Unless it be to come before their time;

Jul. That such an ass should owes them.[-Af.des So much they spur their expedition.

Pro. That they are out by lease. See, where she comes : Lady, a happy evening. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter Silvia.

Enter Duke. Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour, Duke. How now, fir Protheus? how no Out at the postern by the abbey-wall;

Thurio?
I fear, I am attended by some spies.

Which of you saw fır Eglamour of late ?
Egl. Fear not : the forest is not three leagues off; Tbu. Not I.
If we recover that, we are sure 4 enough. [Excuni. Pro. Nor I.
SCENE II.

Duke. Saw you my daughter?
Pio. Neither.

[Valentines An apartment in the Duke's palace.

Duke. Why, then The's filed unto that peasant Enter Thurin, Protbeus, and Julia. And Eglamour is in her company. Thu. Sir Protheus, what says Silvia to my suit ? 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,

Pro. Oh, fir, I find her milder than the was; As he in penance wander'd through the forest : And yet she takes exceptions at your perion. Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was the; Thu. What, that my leg is too long?

But, being mark’d, he was not sure of it : Pro. No; that it is too little. [rounder. Besides, the did intend confeilion Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat At Patrick's cell this even ; and there she was not : Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it These likelihoods confirm her fight from hence. loaths.

Therefore, I pray you, Itand not to discourse, Tbu. What says she to my face?

But mount you presently; and meet with me Pro. She says, it is a fair one.

Upon the rising of the mountain-foot Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies ; my face is black. That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:

Pro. But pearls are fair ; and the old saying is, Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. “ Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.”

[Exit Duke. Jul. 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes ; Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevith girl, For I had rather wink, than look on them. [-Afide. That flies her fortune wben it follows her : Th.. How likes she my discourse?

I'll after ; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Pro. I, when you talk of war. [peace? Than for the love of reckless Silvia. Tbu. But well, when I discourse of love, and Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. peace.

[-Aside. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Thu. What says she to my valour ?

Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. Pro. Oh, sir, the makes no doubt of that.

[Exeunt.

1 It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. These false coverings, however, were call'd criwi,s. 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time accounted a fcature eminently bcautiful, 3 That is, ropotiful or refpefiuile. + Sure mcans fafc. Śwn them,

SCENE

ܪ

SCENE IIL

(Rather than have false Protheus rescue me. The Foreft.

fon, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,

Whose life's as tender to me as my soul ;
Enter Silvia and Out-laws.

And full as much (for more there cannot be)
Oat. Come, come ;

I do deteft false perjur'd Protheus :
Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.
Sil. A thousand more mischances, than this one,

Pro. What dangerous actiongitood it next to deathg
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.

Would I not undergo for one calm look ? 2 0ui. Come, bring her 'away. [her? Oh, 'tis the curie in love, and itill approv'd, i Out. Where is the gentleman that was with When women cannot love, where they're belov’d.

3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run-us ; Sil. When Protheus cannot love, where he's belovicho Bui Moyses, and Valerius, follow him.

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood,

For whose dear fake thou didft then rend thy faith
There is our captain : we'll follow him chat's fled; Into a thousand orths; and all those ouths
The thicket is belet, he cannot 'scape.

Descended into perjuy, to love me.
i Out. Come, I must bring you to our cap- Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadít two,
cain's cave :

And that's far worse than none; better have nons Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,

Than plural faith, which is too much by one:
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!
Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

Pro. In love,

[Exeuni. Who respects friend?
SC EN E IV.

Sil. All men but Protheus.
The Oui-laws' cave in obe fuseft.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Enter Valentine,

Can no way change you to a milder form,
ral. How use doth breed a habit in a man ! I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms end;
This thudowy desert, unfrequented woods, And love you’gainst the nature of love, force you
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns : Sil. Oh heaven!
Here can I fit alone, unseen of any,

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire.
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,

Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch;
Tune my dittreises, and record !

my woes.

Thou friend of an ill fashion !
O thou that doft inhabit in my breast,

Pro. Valentine!

{love; Leave not the mansion so long tenantless ;

Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall, (For such is a friend now) treacherous man!
And leave no memory of what it was!

Thou hast beguild my hopes; nought but mine eye
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia ;

Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say,
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain ! I have one friend alive; thou wouldít disprove me.
Whæ hallooing, and what Itir is this to-day? Who should be truited, when one's own right hand
There are my mates, that make their wills their law, Is perjur'd to the brom? Protheus,
Have fome unhappy passenger in chace:

I am sorry, I must never trust thee more,
They love me well; yet I have much to do, But count the world a stranger for thy fake.
To keep them from uncivil outrages.

The private wound is deepest: Oh time, molt curft! Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes bere? 'Mongit all foes, that a friend Thould be the worst!

[Val. feps afide. Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.
Fnter Protheus, Silvia and Julia. Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty forrow
Pro. Madam, this service have 1 done for you, Be a sufficient rantom for offence,
(Though you respect not aught your servant doth) I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,

As e'er I did commit.
That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love. Val. Then I am paid;
Vouchsafe me for my meed 2 but one fair look;. And once again I do receive thee honest:
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,

Who by repentance is not satisfy'd,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;

Val. How like a dream is this, I fee, and hear ! By penitence the Eternal's wrathi's appeas'd :-
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Afide. And, that my love may appear plain and free,

Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am ! All, that was mine in Silvia, I give thce.
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came : Jul. Oh me unhappy!

[Faints. Bui, by my coming, I have made you happy. (py. Pro. Look to the boy.

[the matter?
Sil. By thy approach thou mak'it me most unhap Val. Why, boy! why wag! how now! what is
Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your Look up; speak.
presence.

[-Afide. Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd me
Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, To deliver a ring to madam Silvia;
would have been a breakfast to the bealt, 'Which, out of my neglect, was never done.
I

1 To record anciently signified to fing. Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to ex, res the first ellays of a bird in linging. 2 That is, reward,

Pra.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?

I hold him but a fool, that will endanget Fu. Here 'tis : this is it. [Gives a ring. His body for a girl that loves him not : Pro. How ! let me see:

I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. "Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, fir, I have mistook: To make such means for her as thou hast done,
This is the ring you fent to Silvia. (Sbews another ring. And leave her on such Night conditions.-
Pro. But how cam't thou by this ring? At my depart, Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I gave this unto Julia.

I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And think thee worthy of an empress' love.
And Julia berself hath brought it hither.

Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Pro. How! Julia?

Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: To which I thus subscribe, -Sir Valentine, How oft haft thou with perjury cleft the root? Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd ; Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush ! Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her. Be thou atham'd, that I have took upon me

Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me Such an immodeft rayment; if Ihame live

happy. In a disguise of love:

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

To grant one boon that I Thall ask of you. Women to change their fhapes, than men their minds. Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be. Pro. Than men their minds ! 'tis true: oh heaven! Val. These banith'd men, that I have kept were man

withai, But constant, he were perfect: that one error Are men endu'd with worthy qualities ; Fills him with faults; makes him run through all sins: Forgive them what they have committed here, Inconftancy falls off, ere it begins:

And let them be recall'd from their exile : What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy

They are reformd, civil, full of good, More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye? And fit for great employment, worthy lord. Val. Come, come, a hand from either :

Duke. Thou hast prevailid : I pardon them, and Let me be blest to make this happy close ; 'Twere pity two such friends should long be foes. Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. P:-o. Bear witness, heaven,

Come, let us go; we will include 2 all jars I have my with for ever.

With triumphs, mirth, and rare folemnity. Jul. And I mine.

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. With our discourse to make your grace to smile. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! [duke. What think you of this page, my lord ?

Val. Forbear, forbear, 1 say; it is my lord the Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him ; he Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,

blushes.

(boy. Banished Valentine.

Val. I warrant you, my lord ; more grace than Duke. Sir Valentine !

Duke. What mean you by that saying? Thu. Yonder is Silvia ; and Silvia's mine. [death ; Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,

Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy That you will wonder, what hath fortuned.-Come not within the measure of my wrath : Come, Protheus : 'tis your penance, but to hear Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,

The story of your loves discovered : Milan Thall not behold thee. Here the stands, That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; Take but pofleffion of her with a touch ; One fealt, one houle, one mutual happiness. I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

[Exeunt omnc. Tbu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

thee ;

? That is, the reach of my anger.

2 To include is to shut up, to conclude,

MERRY

OF

iW I N D SOR.

PERSONS REPRESENTED..

Mr.PARE; } two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor.

Sir John FALSTAFF.

Nym. FEXTON.

ROBIN, page to Falstaff. SHALLOW, a country justice.

William PAGE, a boy, son to Mr. Pagr. SLENDER, coulin to Sballow,

SIMPLE, servant to Slender.

RUGBY, servant to Dr. Caius.
Mr.
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch parfor.

Mrs. Pag E.
Dr. Caius, a French doftor.

Mrs. FORD.
HOST OF
THE GARTER.

Mrs. Ann Page, daughter to Mr. Page, in BARDOLPH.

love with Fonton. PISTOLE

Mrs. QUICKLY, servant to Dr. Caius.
Servants to Page, Ford, &c.
SCENE, Windsor; and the parts adjaceni.

5 CE NE I.

Shal. Ay, that I do; and have done any time

theic three hundred years. Before Page's house in Windsor.

Slen. All his fucceffors, gone before him, have, Enter Jufrice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, Ebal.

Smaken a ser chambele matter of it if corak

IR Hugh”, persuade me not: I will may: they may give the dozen white luces in their he were twenty fir John Falstatís, he shall not abure Sbal. It is an old coat. Robert Shallow, esquire.

Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old Sler. In the county of Glofter, justice of peace, coat well; it agrees well, patiant: it is a familiar and coram.

beast toʻman, and signifies-love. Sbal. Ay, cousin Slender, and 4 custalorum. Shul. The luces is the fresh fish; the salt fifa

Sien. Ay, and raialorum too; and a gentleman is an old coat. born, master parfon; who writes himself armigero; Slen. I may quarter, coz. in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ar Shal. You may, by marrying. migcro.

Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.

i Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleased with the admirable character of Falstaff in the Twe Parts of Henry IV, that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, the commanded Snak(peale to continue it for one play more, and to shew him in love. To this command we owe The Merry Wives of Windsor : which, Mr. Gildon says, he was very well aisured our author finished in a fortnight. 2 This is the first, ot lundry initances in our poet, where a parfon is called fir; upon which it may be observed, chat anciently it was the common delignation both of one in holy orders and a knight. 3 The Star-chamber had a right to take cognizance of routs and riots. 4 Probably intended for a corruption of Cufios Rotulorum. s The luce is a pike or jack. This passage is also supposed to point at Sir Thomas Lucy, who was the cause of Shakspeare's leaving Stratford.

Sbal,

Sbal. Not a whit.

tale, if matters grow to your likings. Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your Page. I am glad to see your worships well: 1 edat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my thank you for my venison, master Shallow. simple conjectures: but that is all one: If fir John Sbal. Master Page, I am glad to see you: Much F.Jitaff have committed disparagements unto you, good do it your good heart! I wish'd your venison I am of the church, and will be glad to do my bene- better; it was ill kill'di-How doth good mistrels volence, to make atonements and compromites be- Page:-and I thank you always with my heart, la; tween you.

with my heart. Shal. The council Thall hear it; it is a riot. Page. Sir, I thank you.

Eva. It is not meet the council hear of a riot ; Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. there is no fear of Got in a riot : the council, look Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. you, thall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, fw? I Bear a riots take your vizaments in that. heard say he was out-run on Cotrale 2.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the Page. It could not be judg'd, fır. sword should end it.

Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and Shal. That he will not ;-'tis your fault, 'tis your end it: and there is also another device in my fault:- Tis a good dog. prain, which, peradventure, prings goot discretions Page. A cur, fir. with it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can master George Page, which is pretty virginity. there be more said he is good, and fair.-Is fır

Slin. Mistress Anne Page? The has brown hair, John Falstaff here? and speaks small like a woman.

Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do Eva. It is that very person for all the 'orld, as a good office between you. just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak, monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandfire, upon Sbal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. his death's-bed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrec Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. tions !) give, when she is able to overtake seventeen Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redrefs'd; is not years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me;-inpuibbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between deed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath;-believe me; maíter Abraham and mistress Anne Page.

-Robert Shallow, esquire, faith, he is wrong'd. Slen. Did her grandfire leave her seven hundred Page. Here comes fir John. pounds ?

Enter Sir Johr: Falfieff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pifol. Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter Fal. Now, master Shallow ; you'll complain of permy.

me to the king? Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has Sbal. Knight, you have beaten my men, kill'd good gitis.

my deer, and broke open my lodge. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is Fal. But not kiss’d your keeper's daughter? good gifts.

Shal. Tut, a pin! this ihall be answer'd. Sbal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Fal. I will answer it strait :-1 have done an Falstaff there?

this:- That is now answer'd. Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a llar, as Shal. The council shall know this. I do despise one that is false; or, as I defpise one Fai. 'Twere better for you, if 'twere known in that is not true. The knight, fir John, is there ; council 3 ; you'll be laughed at. and, I beseech you, he ruled by your well-willers. Eva. Pauia ve: b1, fir John ; good woits. I will peat the door [ Knocks ] for master Page. What, Fal. Good worts 4! good cabbage :-Slender, I hoa! Got pless your house here!

broke your head ; What matter have you against me?

Sler. Marry, fir, I have matter in my head Page. Who's there?

against you ; and against your coneyecatching 5 rais Eva. Here is Got's plesling, and your friend, cals, Bardolph, Nym, and Piftol. and justice Shallow: and here is young master Bar. You Banbury cheese 6 ! Slender, that, peradventures, shall tell you another Slcr. Ay, it is no matter.

Ender Page.

Advisement is now an obsolete word, 2 He means Cotswold, in Gloucestershire ; where in the beginning of the reign of James the First, by permission of the king, Dover, a public-spirited! attorney of Barton on the Heath, in Warwickshire, initituted on the hills of Coffwold an annual celebration of games, consisting of rural sports and exerciles. These he conftantly conducted in person, well mounted, and accoutred in a suit of his majesty's old cloaths; and they were free quented above forty years by the nobility and gentry for sixiy miles round, till the grand rebellion abol fed every liberal eltablishment. The games were, chicily, wreitling, leaping, pitching the bar, handling the pike, dancing of women, various kinds of hunting, and particularly curing the hare with greyhounds. 3 Falstaff here probably quibbles between council and counjet ; tie latter fignifies fecrecy; and his meaning seems io be, Twere better for you if it were known only in fecrecy, i. c. among your friends. 4 !!'oris was the ancient name of all the cabbage kind, SA conex-catcher was, in the time of Elizabetn, a common name for a cheat or sharper. This alludes to the thin carcale of Slender.