Dramatis Perfonæ. SIR John Falstaff. Fenton, a young Gentleman of fmall Fortune, in Love with Mrs. Anne Page. Shallow, a Country Justice. Slender, Coufin to Shallow, a foolish Country Squire. Mr. Page, Mr. Ford, } two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windfor. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon. Dr. Caius, a French Doctor. Host of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow. Piftol, } Sharpers attending on Falstaff. Nym, Robin, Page to Falstaff. William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. Page, Wife to Mr. Page. Mrs. Ford, Wife to Mr. 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. THE THE 'MERRY WIVES of Windfor. ACT I, SCENE I. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans, SHALLOW.. IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a Star-Chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abufe Robert Shallow, Efq;. Slen. In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace, and Coram. Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and Cuftalorum. 1 This Play was written in the Author's beft and ripest years, after Henry the Fourth, by the command of Queen Elizabeth. There is a tradition that it was compofed at a fortnight's warning: But that must be meant only of the first imperfect sketch of this Comedy, which is yet extant in an old Quarto Edition printed in 1619. This which we have here was altered and improved by the Author almost in every speech. Mr. Pope. born, born, master parfon, who writes himself Armigero in any bill, 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. Eva. The dozen white lowfes do become an old coat well; it agrees well, paffant; it is a familiar beastto 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. Eva. Yes, per-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for your felf, in my fimple conjectures; but that is all one: if Sir John Falstaff have committed difparagements upon you, I am of the Church, and would 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 viza-ments 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 good difcretions with it: there is Anne Page, which is daughter to mafter George Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. 2 Slen. Mistress Anne Page? fhe has brown hair, and fpeaks fmall like a woman. Eva. It is that ferry 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 she is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a good motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire a marriage between mafter Abraham and mistress Anne Page. Slen. Did her grand-fire leave her feven hundred pounds? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; fhe has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and poffibilities, is good gifts. Shal. Well; let us fee honeft Mr. Page: is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do defpife a liar, as I do despise one that is falfe; or as I defpife one that is not true. The Knight, Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-wishers. I will peat the door [Knocks.] for mafter Page. What, hoa? Got blefs your houfe here. SCENE Enter Mr. Page. Page. Who's there? II. Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your friend, and Juftice Shallow; and here's young mafter Slender; that 2 Speaks SMALL like a woman.] This is from the Folio of 1623, and is the true reading. He admires her for the sweetnefs of her voice. But the expreffion is highly humourous, as making her speaking fmall like a woman one of her marks of diftinction; and the ambiguity of Small, which fignifies little as well as low, makes the expreffion fill more pleafant. per 1 peradventures, shall 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 mistress 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 do's 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 fpeak. 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. SCENE |