Dramatis Perfonæ.

SIR John Falstaff.

Fenton.

Shallow, a Country Justice.

Slender, Cousin to Shallow.

Mr. Page, I two Gentlemen, dwelling

Mr. Ford,

Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon.

Dr. Caius, a French Doctor.

Hoft of the Garter.

Bardolph.

Piftol.

Nym.

Robin, Page to Falstaff.

at Windfor.

William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page.

Simple, Servant to Slender.

Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Mrs. Page.

Mrs. Ford.

Mrs. Ann 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.

Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans.

S

SHALLOW.

I will make a Star

IR Hugh, perfuade me not.
Chamber matter of it. If he were twenty Sir
John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shal-

low, Efq;

Slen. In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace,

and Coram.

Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and Custalorum2.

Slen. Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson, who writes himself Armigero in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation; Armigero.

Shal. Ay, that I do, and have done any time these three hundred years.

Slen. All his fuccessors, 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 lowses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar beaft 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.
Shal. Not a whit.

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 Fallaff have committed difparagements upon you, I am

fured, our Author finish'd in a Fortnight. But this must be meant only of the first imperfect Sketch of this Comedy, an old Quarto Edition whereof I have feen, printed in 1602; which fays in the Title-page- As it bath been divers times acted both before her Majesty and elsewhere. POPE. THEOBALD.

Cuflalorum.] This is, I fuppose, intended for a corruption of Cuftos Rotulorum. The miftake was hardly designed by the Author, who, though he

gives Shallow folly enough, makes him rather pedantick than illiterate.

If we read:

Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and
Custos Rotulorum.
It follows naturally :

Slen. Ay, and Ratulorum too.
3 The luce, &c.] I fee no con-
sequence in this answer. Per-
haps we may read, the falt-fifo is
not an old coat. That is, the
fresh-fish is the coat of an ancient
family, and the falt-filb is the
coat of a merchant grown rich
by trading over the fea,

of

of the Church, and would be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you. Shal. The Council shall 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, shall 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 sword, and end it; and there is also another advice in my prain, which, peradventure, prings good difcretions with it; there is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? fhe has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman 5.

Eva. It is that ferry perfon for all the orld, as just as you will defire; and seven 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; she has good gifts. Shal. Seven hundred pounds, and poffibilities, is good gifts.

Slen. Well; let us fee honest Mr. Page: is Falstaff there?

Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is falfe; or as I despise one that is not true. The Knight, Sir John, is there; and, I befeech you, be ruled by your well-wishers. I will peat the door [Knocks.] for master Page. What, hoa? Got bless your house here.

SCENE II.

Enter Mr. Page,

Page. Who's there?

Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and Justice Shallow; and here's young master Slender; that, 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, master Shallow.

Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see 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 master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, Sir? I

heard fay, he was out-run on Cotsale,

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.

4

Shal,