[DRAMATIS PERSONÆ SIR JOHN FALSTaff. FENTON, a gentleman. SHALLOW, a country justice. FORD, } two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor. WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to Page. BARDOLPH, PISTOL, NYM, sharpers attending on Faistaff. ROBIN, page to Falstaff. SIMPLE, servant to Slender. RUGBY, servant to Doctor Caius. MISTRESS FORD. MISTRESS PAGE. ANNE PAGE, her daughter. MISTRESS QUICKLY, servant to Doctor Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE: Windsor, and the neighbourhood.] THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Actus primus, Scena prima. [Windsor. Before Page's house. ] Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, Sir Hugh Evans, Master Page, Falstoffe, Bardolph, Nym, Pistoll, Anne Page, Mistresse Ford, Mistresse Page, Simple. Shallow. IR Hugh, perswade me not: I will make a Star John Falstoffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow Esquire. Slen. In the County of Glocester, Justice of Peace and Coram. | Shal. I (Cosen Slender) and Cust-alorum. Slen. I, and Rato lorum too; and a Gentleman borne (Master Parson) who writes himselfe Armigero, in any Bill, Warrant, Quittance, or Obligation, Armigero. Shal. I that I doe, and have done any time these three hundred yeeres. Slen. All his successors (gone before him) hath don't: and all his Ancestors (that come after him) may: they may give the dozen white Luces in their Coate. 20 Shal. It is an olde Coate. Evans. The dozen white Lowses doe become an old Coat well: it agrees well passant: It is a familiar beast to man, and signifies Love. Shal. The Luse is the fresh-fish, the salt-fish, is an old Coate. Slen. I may quarter (Coz). Shal. You may, by marrying. Evans. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. 29 Evan. Yes per-lady: if he ha's a quarter of your coat, there is but three Skirts for your selfe, in my simple conjectures; but that is all one: if Sir John Falstaffe have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the Church and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make attonements and compremises betweene you. Shal. The Councell shall heare it, it is a Riot. Evan. It is not meet the Councell heare a Riot: there is no feare of Got in a Riot: The Councell (looke you) shall desire to heare the feare of Got, and not to heare a Riot: take your viza-ments in that. 40 Shal. Ha; o'my life, if I were yong againe, the sword should end it. Evans. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it: and there is also another device in my praine, which peradventure prings goot discretions with it. There is Anne Page, which is daughter to Master Thomas Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. Mistris Anne Page? she has browne haire, and speakes small like a woman. 49 Evans. It is that ferry person for all the orld, as just as you will desire, and seven hundred pounds of Moneyes, and Gold, and Silver, is her Grand-sire upon his deaths30. per-lady: py'r lady-CAPELL. bed, (Got deliver to a joyfull resurrections) give, when she is able to overtake seventeene yeeres old. It were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage betweene Master Abraham, and Mistris Anne Page. Slen. Did her Grand-sire leave her seaven hundred pound? 59 Evan. I, and her father is make her a petter penny. Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman, she has good gifts. Evan. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts. Shal. Wel, let us see honest Mr Page: is Falstaffe there? | be Evan. Shall I tell you a lye? I doe despise a lyer, as I doe despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is not true: the Knight Sir John is there, and I beseech you ruled by your well-willers: I will peat the doore for Mr. Page. What hoa? Got-plesse your house heere. Mr.Page. [Within] Who's there? [Enter Page.] 70 Evan. Here is go't's plessing and your friend, and Justice Shallow, and heere yong Master Slender: that peradventures shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings. Mr. Page. I am glad to see your Worships well: I thanke you for my Venison Master Shallow. Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good doe it your good heart: I wish'd your Venison better, it was ill killd: how doth good Mistresse Page? and I thank you alwaies with my heart, la: with my heart. M.Page. Sir, I thanke you. 81 Shal. Sir, I thanke you: by yea, and no I doe. M. Pa. I am glad to see you, good Master Slender. Slen. How do's your fallow1 Greyhound, Sir, I heard say he was out-run on Cotsall. M. Pa. It could not be judg'd, Sir. fawn-colored Slen. You'll not confesse: you'll not confesse. Shal. That he will not, 'tis 'tis a good dogge. M. Pa. A Cur, Sir. your fault, 'tis your fault: 90 Shal. Sir: hee's a good dog, and a faire dog, can there be more said? he is good, and faire. Is Sir John Falstaffe heere? M. Pa. Sir, hee is within: and I would I could doe a good office be tweene you. 99 Evan. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speake. Shal. He hath wrong'd me (Master Page.) M. Pa. Sir, he doth in some sort confesse it. Shal. If it be confessed, it is not redressed; is not that so (M. Page?) he hath wrong'd me, indeed he hath, at a word he hath: beleeve me, Robert Shallow Esquire, saith he is wronged. Ma. Pa. Here comes Sir John. [Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol.] Fal. Now, Master Shallow, you'll complaine of me to the King? Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, kill'd my deere, and broke open my Lodge. Fal. But not kiss'd your Keepers daughter? Shal. Tut, a pin: this shall be answer'd. ΠΟ Fal. I will answere it strait, I have done all this: That is now answer'd. Shal. The Councell shall know this. 113-15. Councell.. councell: council.. counsel-3F. |