Dramatis Perfonæ. Sir John Falstaff. Fenton, a young Gentleman of small Fortune, in Love with Mrs. Ann Page. Shallow, a Country Justice. Slender, Coufin to Shallow, a foolish Country Squire. Mr. Page, Mr. Ford, S two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windfor. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon. Dr. Caius, a French Doctor. Hoft of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow. Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, } Sharpers attending on Falftaff. Robin, Page to Falstaff. William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page.. Simple, Servant to Slender. Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. Page, Wife to Mr. Page. Mrs. Ford, Wife to Mr. Ford. Mrs. Ann Page, Daughter to Mr. Page, in love with FentonMrs. Quickly, Servant to Dr. Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE, Windfor: and the Parts adjacent. THE THE (1) MERRY WIVES of Windfor ACT I. SCENE, before Page's Houfe in Windfor. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Eyans. SHALLOW. IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falftaffs, he fhall not abufe Robert Shallow, Efq; Slen. In the county of Gloucester, juftice, of peace, and Coram. Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and Cuftakrum. Slen. Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, (1) The Merry Wives of Windfor.] Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleafed with the admirable Character of Falfiaff in the two Parts of Henry IV. that, as Mr Rowe informs us, She com-manded Shakespeare to continue it for one Play more, and to fhew him in Love. To this Command we owe the Merry Wives of Windfor: which, Mr. Gildon fays, he was very well affured, our Author finished in a Fortnight. But this must be meant only of the first imperfect Sketch of this Comedy, an old Quarto Edition whereof I have, printed in 1602; which fays in the Title-page' As it bath been divers times acted bath before her Majefty and elsewhere. mafter mafter parfon, who writes himself Armigero in any bills warrant, quittance, or obligation; Armigero.. Shal. Ay, that I do, and have done any time thefe 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. i Eva. The dozen white lowfes 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.. Slen. I may quarter, coz. Shal. You may by marrying. Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.2 Eva. Yes, per-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 Fulftoff have committed difparagements upon you, I am of the Church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you. Sbal. 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 viza-ments in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the fword should 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 good difcretions with it: there is Anne Page, (2) which is daughter to mafter George Page, which is pretty virginity. (2) which is Daughter to Mafter Thomas Page,] The whole Set of Editions have negligently blundered one after another in Page's Chriftian-Name in this place; tho' Mrs. Page calls him George afterwards in at least six several Pallages.. Slem. |