Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder... Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. Jul. 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [Aside. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace? Jul. But better indeed, when you hold your peace. Aside. Thu. What says she to my valour? Thu. What says she to my birth 7 Jul. True, from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside. Thu. Wherefore ? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. 2 Out. Come, bring her away. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us, But Moyses and Valerius follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled: The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape. 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Enter Valentine. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, Tune my distresses, and record my woes. O thou that dost inhabit in my breast, Leave not the mansion so long tenantless; Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall, And leave no memory of what it was! Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law, 1 Have some unhappy passenger in chase: Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look Duke. Why, then she's filed unto that peasant Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear! Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. At Patrick's cell this even: and there she was not: Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Erit. Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless Silvia. Exit Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Thau hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Erit. Jul And I will follow more to cross that love, han hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Erit. SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter Silvia, and Out-laws. Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile. [Aside: Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came But, by my coming, I have made you happy. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your {Aside. presence. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, 1 Rather than have false Proteus rescue mé. O, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my soul; And full as much (for more there cannot be) I do detest false perjur'd Proteus : Therefore begone, solicit me no more. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look ? Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, And that's far worse than none; better have none Than plural faith, which is too much by one: Thou counterfeit to thy true friend! Cot have persuaded me: Now I dare not say I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove me. Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust thee more, Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst! I tender it here; I do as truly suffer, Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest :- Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia; which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis this is it. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see why this is the ring gave to Julia. Jul. 0, cry yon mercy, sir, have mistook; this is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shows another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart, I gave this unto Julia. Jud. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How! Julia!! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root? O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush! Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love: It is the lesser blot modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. Jul. And I mine. Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord ta duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Duke. Sir Valentine! Come not within the measure of my wrath: I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, me happy. บ I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, Are men endued with worthy qualities; and thee; Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile: What think you of this page, my lord 7 Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord; more grace than boy. Duke. What mean you by that saying? Val. Please you, I'll tell yon as we pass along. That you will wonder what hath fortuned. Pro. Than men their minds ? 'tis true! O hea-Come, Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear ven were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins: The story of your loves discovered: [Exeunt. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. FENTON. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SHALLOW, a country Justice. MR. FORD, two Gentiemen dwelling av WILLIAM PAGE, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. BARDOLPH, Follower of Falstaff. {PISTOL, NYM, Followers of Faistaff. ROBIN, Page to Falstaff. SIMPLE, Servant to Slender. RUGBY, Servant to Dr. Caius MRS. FORD. MRS. PAGE. MRS. ANNE PAGE, her Daughter, in love MRS. QUICKLY, Servant to Dr. Caius. SCENE-Windsor, and the Parts adjacent. ACT I. SCENE I. Windsor. Before Page's House. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not: I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum. Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman Born, master parson; who writes himself armi-. gero; 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 successors, gone before him, have done'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 louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar heast to man, and signifies-love.. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz ? Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. Eva. Yes, pe'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but that is all one: If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will 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 a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot; the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it. Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot discretion with it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman. we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham and misStress Anne Page. Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pounds? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts. Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise one that is not true. The knight, Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your wellwillers. I will peat the door [knocks] for inaster Page. What, hoa! Got pless your house here! Enter Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow and here young master Slender; that, peradventure, shall tell you another tale, if matters grows to your likings. Page. I am glad to see your worships well: 1 thank you for my venison, master Shallow.. Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you; much good do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it was ill kill'd-How doth good mistress Page?-and I love 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 see you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale. Page. It could not be judg'd, sir. Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess Shal. That he will not-'tis your fault, 'tis your fault-Tis a good dog. Page. A er, sir. Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; Can there be more said? he is good, and fair.-ls Sir John Falstaff here? Page. Sir, he is within; and I would, I could do a good office between you. Eva. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd: is not that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;-believe me; -Robert Shallow, esquire, saith he is wrong'd. Page. Here comes Sir John. Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. Eva. It is that fery person for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds! of moneys, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his death's bed (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) give, when she is able to overtake Fal. Now, master Shallow, you'll complain of seventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if me to the king? Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter? Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed | Enter Mistress Anne Page, with wine; Mistress my deer, and broke open my lodge. Ford and Mistress Page following. Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within. Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. [Exit Anne Page. Page. How now, mistress Ford? well met: by your leave, good mistress. Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very all this :-That is now answer'd. Shal. The Council shall know this. Fal. Twere better for you, if it were known in counsel: you'll be laugh'd at. Eva. Pauca verba, Sir John, good worts. Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke your head: What matter have you against me? Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They car ried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket. Bar. You banbury cheese! Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's ny humour. Slen. Where's Simple, my man?-can you tell, consin ? [kisses her. Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome:Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner; come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. [Exeunt all but Shal. Slender, and Evans. Slen. I had rather than forty shillings I had my book of Songs and Sonnets here: Enter Simple. How now, Simple ? where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not The Book of Riddles about you, have you? Sim. Book of Riddles why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas? Shal Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word with you, coz; marry this, coz: There Eva. Peace; I pray you! Now let us under- is, as 'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar stand: There is three umpires in this matter, as off by Sir Hugh here-Do you understand me? I understand: That is-master Page, fidelicet, Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, my-it be so, I shall do that that is reason. self: and the three party is, lastly, and finally, Shal. Nay, but understand me. mine host of the Garter. Slen. So I do, sir. Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them. Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards 'ork upon the cause with as great discreetly as we can. Fal. Pistol, Pist. He hears with ears. Eva. The tevil and his tam; what phrase is this, He hears with ear? Why, it is affectations. Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he (or I would, " might never come into my own great chamber again else,) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and twopence a-piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves. Fal. Is this true, Pistol ? Eva. No, it is false, if it is a pick-purse. Pist. Ha! thou mountain-foreigner !-Sir John, and master mine. I combat challenge of this latten bilbo: Slen. By this hat, then he in the red face had it: for though I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, ca10 shier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires. Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: If I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. Eva, So Got 'adge me, that is a virtuous mind. Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it. 1 Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender : I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his country, simple though I stand here. Eva. But this is not the question; the question is concerning your marriage. Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir. Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mis tress Anne Page. Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any reasonable demands. Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth;-Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid? Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? Slen. I hope, sir,-I will do as it shall become one that would do reason. Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards her. Shal. That you must: will you, upon good dowry, marry her? Slen I will do a greater thing than that, upon your request, cousin, in any reason. Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz; what I do is to pleasure you, coz: Can you love the maid? Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we are married, and have more occasion to know one another: I hope upon familiarity will grow more contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry her, that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely. Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save the faul' is in the 'ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, accord ing to our meaning, resolutely-his meaning is good, Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well. Re-enter Anne Page. Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne:-Would I were young for your sake, mistress Anne! Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships' company. Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. Eva, Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace. [Exeunt Shallow and Sir H. Evans. Anne. Will't please your worship to come in, sir ? Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well. Anne. The dinner attends you, sir. Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth: Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon my cousin Shallow [Exit Siniple. A justice of peace sometimes may be beholden to his friend for a man:- keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: But what though? vet I live like a poor gentleman born. Anne. I may not go in without your worship: they will not sit till you come. Slen. Pfaith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as though I did. Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in. Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers, Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier; let them wag; trot, trot. Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week. Host. I have spoke; let him follow: Let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit Host Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wi thered servingman, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu. Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive. [Exit Bard. Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield? Nym. He was gotten in drink: Is not the ha mour conceited 7 His mind is not heroick, and here's the humour of it. unskilful singer, he kept not time. Fal. I am glad I am so acquit of this tinderbox; Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you: Ihis thefts were too open: his filching was like an bruised my shin the other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence, three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town? Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talk'd of. Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel at it as any man in England:-You are afraid if you see the bear loose, are you not? Anne. Ay, indeed, sir. Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen Sackerson loose twenty times; and have taken him by the chain: but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass'd:-but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill-favour'd rough things. Re-enter Page. Nym.. The good humour is, to steal at a mi nute's rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels. Pist. Young ravens must have food. Pist. Two yards, and more. Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we leer of invitation: I can construe the action of stay for you. Sten. I'll eat nothing; I thank you, sir. Slen. Nay, 'pray you, lead the way. Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. SCENE II. The same. [Exeunt. Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple. Era. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Cains' house, which is the way; and there dwells one mistress Quickly, which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wringer. Simp. Well, sir. her familiar style, and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am Sir John Falstaff's. Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her well; out of honesty into English. Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour pass? Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse; she hath legions of angels. Pist. As many devils entertain: and, To her, boy, say 1. Nym. The humour rises; it is good; humour me the angels. Fal I have writ me here a letter to her; and here another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly. Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. Nym. I thank thee for that humour. Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning Eva. Nay, it is petter yet:-give her this let-glass! Here's another letter to her: she bears ter; for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with mistress Anne Page; and the letter is, to desire and require her to solicit your master's desires to mistress Anne Page: I pray you, be gone I will make an end of my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to come. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in the Garter Inn. Fal. Mine host of the Garter, the purse too: she is a region in Guiana, all gold Pist. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, all! Nym. I will run no hase humour: here, take Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scho- the humour-letter; I will keep the 'haviour of larly, and wisely. reputation. |