}

extant.

And nightly, meadow-fairies, look, you sing, Become the forest better than the town?
Like to the Garter's compass, in a riag:

Ford. Now, fir, who's a cuckold now ? Mafter
The expressure that it bears, green let it be, Brook, Falstaff's a knave, a cuckoldly knave: here
More fertile-fresh than all the field to see; are his horns, master Brook : And, master Brook,
And Honi Soit Qui Maly Pense, write,

he hath enjoyed nothing of Ford's but his buckIn emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white; baiket, his cudgel, and twenty pounds of money : Like saphire, pearl, and rich embroidery,

which must be paid to master Brook; his horses Buckied below fair knighthood's bending knee; are arrested for it, master Brook. Fairies use flowers for their charactery",

Mrs. Ford. Sir John, we have had ill luck ; we Away; disperse: But, till ’tis one o'clock,

could never meet. I will never take you for my Our dance of custom, round about the oak love again, but I will always count you my deer. Of Herne the hunter, let us not forget. [order set: Fal. I do begin to perceive that I am made an

Eva. Pray you, lock hand in hand; yourselves in ass.
And twenty glow-worms ihall our lanthorns be, Ford. Ay, and an ox too ; both the proofs are

To guide our measure round about the tree.
But, stay; I smell a man of middle 2 earth.

Fal. And there are not fairies? I was three or
Fal. Heavens defend me from that Welch fairy! four times in the thought they were not fairies :
Left he transform me to a piece of cheese! [birth. and yet the guiltiness of my mind, the sudden sur-

Eva. Vile worm, thou wast o'erlook'd even in thy prize of my powers, drove the grossness of the

Quic. With trial-fire touch me his finger end: foppery into a receiv'd belief, in despight of the If he be chaste, the flame will back descend, teeth of all rhime and reason, that they were faiAnd turn him to no pain ; but if he Itart, ries. See now, how wit may be made a Jack-aIt is the flesh of a corrupted heart.

lents, when ’tis upon ill employment ! Evz. A trial, come.

Eva. Sir John Falstaff, serve Got, and leave [They bu on bine with ibeir tapers, and pinch him. your desires, and fairies will not pinse you. Come, will this wood take fire?

Ford. Well said, fairy Hugh.
Ful. Oh, oh, oh!

Eva. And leave your jealousies also, I pray you.
Quic. Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire! - Ford. I will never mistrust my wife again, till
About him, fairies; fing a scornful rbime: thou art able to woo her in good English.
And, as you trip, still pinch him to your time. Fal. Have I lay'd my brain in the sun, and dried

Evd. It is riglit; indeed, he is full of leacheries it, that it wants matter to prevent to gross o'erand iniquity.

reaching as this? Am I ridden with a Welch goat The SONG.

too? Thall I have a coxcomb of frize 6? 'tis time I Fie on fiaful phantasy!

were choak'd with a piece of toasted cheese.
Fie on luji and luxury 3!

Eva. Seefe is not good to give putter ; your
Luft is but a bloody fire 4,

peily is all putter.
Kindled with uncbuste de fire,

Fal. Seefe and putter! have I liv'd to stand in
Fed in heart; wboje ji ames aspire,

the taunt of one that makes fritters of English ?---
As thoughts do blow ther, higher and big her. this is enough to be the decay of lust and late-
Pinch bin, fairies, mutually:

walking, through the realm. Pincb him for his viliuziny;

Mirs. Page. Why, fir John, do you think, Pinch bim, and burn him, and turn him about, though we would have thrust virtue out of our 'Till candles, and star-ligbe, and moon-shine be out. hearts by the head and shoulders, and have given, [During this fong, they pinch bim. Doctor Caius comes ourselves without scruple to hell, that ever the

one way, and pleals away a f.ziry in green; Slen- devil could have made you our delight ?
der another way, and be takes away a fairy in Ford. What, a hodge-pudding? a bag of fax?
while; and Fenton comes, and steals away Mrs. Mrs. Page. A puft'd man?
Anne Page. A noise of bunting is made within. Page. Old, cold, wither’d, and of intolerabia

All be fairies run away. Fallaf pulls off his entrails?
buck's bead, and rifes.]

Ford. And one that is as Nanderous as Satan?
Enter Page, Fordt, Ös. They lay hold on bim. Page. And as poor as Job ?
Page. Nay, do not fly: I think, we have Ford. And as wicked as his wife ?
watch'd you now ;

Eva. And given to fornications, and to taverns,
Will none but Herne the hunter serve your turn ? and facks, and wines, and metheglins, and ta
Mrs. Page. I pray you come; hold up the jest drinkings, and swearings, and furings, pribbles
no higher :

and prabbles ? Now, good fir John, how like you Windsor wives? Fal. Well, I am your theme; you have the See you these, husband ? do not these fair yoaks start of me; I am dejected; I am not able to an

1 Or the matter with which they make letters. regions, and fairies to dwell under ground, men therefore are in a middle station.

? Spirits being supposed to inhabit the ærherial

3 Luxury here fignifies incontinence. 4 That is, the fire in the blood. S A Jack o' Lent was a puppet thrown at in Lent, like Shrove-tide cocks, That is, a fool's cap made out of Welch cloth.

kwer the Weich Aannel"; ignorance itself is a zen’d; I ha' married un garcon, a boy; un paisan, plummet o'er me 2 ; use me as you will. by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page : hy gar, I am

Ford. Marry, fir, we'll bring you to Windsor, cozen’d. to one master Brook, that you cozened of money, Mrs. Page. Why, did you not take her in iu whom you should have been a pandar: overgreen ? and above that you have fuffer'd, I think, to repay

Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy : be gar, l’If that money will be a biting afiliction. [amends : raise all Windíor.

[Exie Caius. Mrs. Ford. Nay, bulband, let that go to make Ford. This is strange ; Who hath got the right Forgive that sum, and so we'll all be friends. Anne ?

Ford. Well, here's my hand; all's forgiven at last. Page. My heart misgives me :~Here comes

Pace. Yet be cheerful, kniglit : thou shalt eat a matter Fenton. potlet to-night at my houle ; where I will defire

Ender Fenton and rinne Page. thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at How nou', malter Fenton ? chee : Tell her, master Slender hath married her

Anne. Pardon, good father ! good my mother, dughter.

pardon ! Mri. Page. Doctors doubt that ; if Anne Page Page. Now, mistress, how chance you went not be my daugliter, she is, by this, doctor Caius' wife. with matter Slender :

(djide. Mus. l'age. Why went you not with master Enter Slender.

doctor, maid ? Sier. Whoo, ho ! ho ! father Page!

Fent. You do amaze her : Hear the truth of it. Page. Son! how now? how now, son ? liave You would have married her most shamefully, you dispatch'd ?

Where there was no proportion held in love. Slen. Ditpatchd !--I'll make the best in Glo- The truth is, She and I, long fince contractel, cestershire know on 't; would I were liang'd, la, Are now so sure, that nothing can diffolve us. eiie.

The offence is holy, that the hath committed : Paze. Of what, fon?

And this deceit lores the name of craft, Slen. I came yonder at Eaton to marry mistress Of disobedience, or unduteous title. Arne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy : If it Since therein the doth evitate and shun had not been i' the church, I would have swing'u A thoufand irreligious cursed hours, [her. him, or he should have iwing'd me. If I did not which forced marriage would have brought upon think it had been Anne Page, would I might never

Ford. Stand not amaz’d: here is no remedy:-ftir, and 'tis a post-master's boy.

In love, the heavens themselves do guide the state ; Page. Upon my life then you took the wrong. Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate.

Slen. What need you tell me that? I think so, Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special when I took a boy for a girl: If I had been mar- stand to 1trike at me, that your arrow hath glanc'd. ried to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, 1 Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heaven would not have had him.

give thee joy! Paga Why, this is your own folly : Did not I What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd. tell you, how you should know my daughter by

Eva. I will dance and eat plums at your wedding. her garments ?

Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are Slen. I went to her in white, and cry'd mum,

cha ^. and the cry'd budget, as Anne and I had appointed; Mrs.Page. Well, I will muse no further: Master and yet it was not Anne, but a post-mafier's boy.

Fenton, Eva. Jelhu! Malter Slender, cannot you see Heaven give you many, many merry days!but marry poys ?

Good husband, let us every one go home, Page. O, 1 am vex'd at heart : What shall I do?! And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire;

Mrs. Page. Good George, be not angry; I knew Sir Jolin and all. of your purpose; turn'd my daughter into green;

Ford. Let it be fo: -Sir John, and, indeed, she is now with the doctor at the To master Brook you vet shall hold your word; pleanery, and there married.

For he, to-night, ihall lye with mistress Ford.
Enter Caius.

[Exeunt omnesa Caius. Vere is mistress Page? By gar, I am co

1 Flannel was originally the manufacture of Wales. 2 On the meaning of this difficult passage commentators are greatly' divided. Dr. Farmer's conje&turc, thuat we should read, " Ignorance itself in a fhiret o'er me," appears to be the most intelligibic,

PERSONS REPRESENTE D.

Visces T10, Duke of Vienna.

ELBOW, a simple Confiable.
Angalo, Lord Deputy in the Duke's absence. FROTH, a foolish Gentleman.
ESCALUS, un antien: Lord, joined with Angelo Clown, Servant to Mrs. Over-done.
in sbe deputation.

ABHORSON, an Executioner.
CLAUDIO, a young
Gentleman.

BARNARDINE, a dijjolute Prisoner,
Lucio, a Fantaf:ick.
Tuo orber like Gentlemen.

ISABELLA, Sifier to Claudio.
VAKKIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke, Mariana, beiroibed to Angelo.
Provojt.

JULIET, beloved of Claudio.
Thomas,

FRANCISCA, a Nun.
two Friars,'
PETER,

Mrs. OVERDONE, a Bawd.
.

Guards, Officers, and opher Attendants,

SCE N E, Vienna,

CE N E I.

But that your sufficiency, as your worth is able, The Duke's Palace.

And let them work 4. The nature of our people, Enter Duke, Escalus, and Lords.

Our city's inftitutions, and the terms

For common justice, you are as pregnant 5 in,
Dake.

As art and practice hath enrich'd any
Ffial. My lord.

That we remember: There is our commission,
Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, From which we would not have you warp.--Call
Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse; I say, bid come before us Angelo. [hither,
Since I am put to know?, that your own science What figure of us think you he will bear?
Exceeds, in that, the lists 3 of all advice For you must know, we have with special soul 6
My Itrength can give you: Then no more remains, Elected him our abience to supply ;

1 The story of this play is taken from the Promos and Cassandra of George Whetstone, published in 1578, and which was probably originally borrowed from Cinthio's Novels. 2 Meaning, I ain obliged to acknowledge. 3 Limits. 4. This passage has much exercised the sagacity of different castors. Theobald is of opinion, that either from the impertinence of the actors, or the negligence of the copyilts, it has come mutilated to us by a fine being accidentally left out, and proposes te sead thus :

-Then no more remains,
But that to your Juffi iency you add
Due diligency, as your worth is able,

And let them work.
Sir Tho. Hanmer endeavours to supply the deficiency as follows:

Then no more remains,
But that to your fufficiency you join

A will to serve us, as your worth is able.
Dr. Warburton is for reading, instead of But that, Put to your fufficiency, which he says here means
Euthority, and then the sense will be as follows : Put your skill in governing (lays the duke) to the
Power which I give you to exercise it, and let them work together. Dr. Johnson, however, approves
neither of Theobald's conjecture, nor of Warburton's amendment, $ That is, ready, or knowing
in. That is, of special favour or affection,

Lent

Lent him our terror, drest him with our love ; Though it do well, I do not relish well
And given his deputation all the organs

Their loud applause, and eve's vehement;
Of our own power: What think you of it? Nor do I think the man of safe discretion,
Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth

That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. To undergo such ample grace and honour,

Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes ! It is lord Angelo.

Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness! Enter Angelo.

Dike. I thank you: Fare you well. Exir. Duke. Look where he comes.

Escal. I thall defire you, sir, to give me leave

To have free speech with you ; and it concerns me sing. Always obedient to your grace's will,

To look iðto the bottom of my place :
I come to know your pleasure.
Duke. Angelo,

A power I have; but of what ftrength and nature There is a kind of character in thy life,

I am not yet instructed.

[ther, That, to the obierver, doth thy history

Ang. 'Tis so with me :--Let us withdraw togeFully unfold: Thyself and thy belongings

And we may foon our satisfaction have

Touching that point. Are not thine oin fo proper ', as to waste

Efiul. I'll wait upon your honour. Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.

[Excunt. Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do ;

SCENE II. Not light them for themselves : for if our virtues

The Street. Did not go forth with us, 'were all alike

Enter Lurris and two Gentlemen. As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come But to fine illues? : nor nature never 3 leads not to composition with the king of Hungary, The smallest fcruple of her excellence,

why, then all the dukes fall upon the king. But, like a thrifty goddess, the determines

i Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the Herself the glory of a creditur,

king of Hungary's ! Both thanks and use. But I do hend my speech 2. Gent. Amen. To one that can my part in him advertise 4 : Luiio. Thou conclud'st like the fanctimonious Hold therefore Angelos:

pirate, that went to fea with the ten commande In our remove, be thou at full ourself:

ments, but scrap'u one out of the tabic. Mortality and mercy in Vienna

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal ? Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus,

Lucis. Ay, that he raz'd. Though first in question, is thy secondary. i Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to comTake thy commiilion.

mand the captain and all the rest from their funcAng. Now, good my lord,

tions; they put forth to steal : There's not a fol. Let there be some more test made of my metal, dier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, Before fo noble and so great a figure

doth relith the petition well that prays for peace. Be stamp'd upon it.

2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Duke. No more evasion :

Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never We have with a leaven'd 7 and prepared choice watt where grace was said. Proceeded to you ; therefore take your honours.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. Qur hafte from bence is of so quick condition,

I Gent. What ? in metre? That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd Lucio. In any proportion to, or in any language. Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,

i Gert. I think, or in any religion. As time and our concernings Thall importune, Lucia. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despight How it goes with us; and do look to know of all controversy : As for example; Thou thyself What doth befall you here. So, fare you

well : art a wicked villain, despigiit of all grace. To the hopeful execution do I leave you

i Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers Of your commitions.

between us 11. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord,

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts That we may bring you something on the way. and the velvet: Thou art the litt. Duke. My haste may noi admit it;

i Gent. And thou the velvet : thou art good velNor need you, on mine honour, have to do vct; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee; I With any scruple : your fcope 8 is as mine own; had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pild, So to inforce, or qualify the laws,

as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speaks As to your soul feems good. Give me your hand i feelingly now? l'll privily away: I love the people,

Lucio. I think thou doft; and, indeed, with most But do not like to stage me to their eyes ; painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thing

i That is, are not so much thy own property. 2. To great consequences. 3 Two negatives not used to make an affirmative, are common in Shakípcare's plays, 4 That is, one that can ir forma korist of that which otherwise it would be my part io tell him. $ That is, continue to be Anilo. That is, firit a pointed. 7 A leterred choice means a choice not hatty, but confidinte 8 T'u: is. Your fullsets of power. 9 Tl:cre are metrical graces in the Primers, which probably were alcu in Shakspeare's time. 10 That is, in any

anygın. 1 Meaning: we are both of the sainc piccc.