:

With triumphs,' mirth, and rare solemnity.

In this play there is a strange mixture of knowCome, let us go; we will include all jars. ledge and ignorance, of care and negligence. The

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold versification is often excellent, the allusions are With our discourse to make your grace to smile : learned and just; but the author conveys his What think you of this page,

my lord ? heroes by sea from one inland town to another in Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he the same country; he places the emperor at Milan, blushes.

and sends his young men to attend him, but never Val. I warrant you, my lord; more grace than mentions him more ; he makes Proteus, after an inboy.

terview with Silvia, say he has only seen her picDuke. What mean you by that saying? ture : and, if may credit the old copies, he has, Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, || by mistaking places, left his scenery inextricable. That you will wonder what hath fortuned. — The reason of all this confusion seems to be, that Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear he took his story from a novel which he sometimes The story of your loves discovered :

followed, and sometimes forsook ; sometimes reThat done, our day of marriage shall be yours; membered, and sometimes forgot. One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. That this play is rightly attributed to Shak

(Exeunt. || speare, I have little doubt. If it be taken from him,

to whom shall it be given? This question may be (1) Masks, revels. (2) Conclude. asked of all the disputed plays, except Titus An

dronicus; and it will be found more credible, that Shakspeare might sometimes sink below his highest fights, than that any other should rise up to his lowest.

JOHNSON.

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. .

PERSONS REPRESENTED. Sir John Falstaff.

Robin, page to Falstaff. Fenton.

Simple, servant to Slender.
Shallow, a country justice.

Rugby, servant to Dr. Caius.
Slender, cousin to Shallovo.
Mr. Ford,

Mrs. Ford.
Mr. Page,
two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor.

Mrs. Page. William Page, a boy, son to Mr. Page.

Mrs. Anne Page, her daughter, in love with Fenton. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson.

Mrs. Quickly, servant to Dr. Caius.
Dr. Caius, a French physician.
Host of the Garter Inn.

Servants to Page, Ford, &c.
Bardolph,
Pistol, followers of Falstaff:

Scene, Windsor; and the parts adjacent. Nym,

ACT I.

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 SCENE I.-Windsor. Before Page's house. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sirl Hugh

a riot; take your vizamentss in that.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the Evans.

sword should end it. Shallow.

Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and

end it: and there is also another device in my SIR Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-prain, which, peradventure

, prings goot discretions chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John with it: there is Anne Page, which is daughter to Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, es-master George Page, which is pretty virginity. quire.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace,

and speaks small6 like a woman. and coram.

Eva. It is that fery person for all the 'orld, as Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and cust-alorum 2

just as you will desire ; and seven hundred pounds Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too ; and a gentleman (of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, born, master parson; who writes himself armigero ; upon his death's-bed (Got deliver to a joyful resurin any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ar- || rections !) give, when she is able to overtake sevenmigero.

teen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave Shal. Ay, that we do ; and have done any time our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage these three hundred years.

between master Abraham, and mistress Anne Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have Page. done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him,

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred may: they may give the dozen white luces in their pound ?

Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shah It is an old coat.

Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old || good gifts. coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is beast to man, and signifies-- love. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish ; the salt fish is

Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page : is an old coat.

Falstaff there? Slen. I may quarter, coz?

Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar, Shal. You may, by marrying.

as I do despise one that is false; or, as I despise Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

one that is not true. The knight, sir John, is there; Shal. Not a whit.

and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. Era. Yes, py'p-lady; if he has a quarter of your I will peat the door (knocks for master Page. coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my What, hoa ! Got pless your house here ! simple conjectures : but that is all one: if Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you,

Enter Page. I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises Page. Who's there? between you

Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, Shal. The council4 shall bear it; it is a riot. and justice Shallow: and here young inaster Slen(1) A title formerly appropriated to chaplains.

(3) By our.

(4) Court of star-chamber. (2) Custos rotulorum.

(5) Advisement.

coat.

goot gifts.

(6) Soft.

:

a

der; that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, || understand : that is, master Page, fidelicet, master if matters grow to your likings.

Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, my self; and Page. I am glad to see your worships well : 1 the three party is, lastly and finally, mine host of thank you for my venison, master Shallow. the Garter.

Shal. Master Page, I am glad to see you ; much Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between good do it your good heart! I wished your venison them. better; it was ill killed :-how doth good mistress Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my Page?-and I love you always with my heart, la ; note-book; and we will afterwards ’ork upon the with my heart

cause, with as great discreetly as we can. Page. Sir, I thank you.

Fal. Pistol,
Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. Pist. He hears with ears.

Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slen- Eva. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, der.

He hears with ear? Why, it is affectations. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? heard say, he was outrun on Cotsale.

Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he (or I would I Page. It could not be judg'd, sir.

might never come in mine own great chamber again Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. else,) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two

Shal. That he will not ;-'tis your fault, 'tis your Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling fault:-'tis a good dog.

and two pence a piece of Yead Miller, by these Page. A cur, sir.

gloves. Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can Fal. Is this true, Pistol ? there be more said he is good, and fair. -Is sir Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse. John Falstaff here?

Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner!-Sir John, Page. Sir, he is within ; and I would I could do

and master mine, a good office between you.

I combat challenge of this latten bilbo ::
Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak. Word of denial in thy labras9 here;
Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. Word of denial; froth and scum, thou liest.
Page. Sir, he doth in some sort consess it. Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he.

Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humours : that so, inaster Page? he hath wrongd me; in-|| I will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the deed, he hath;-at a word, he hath;-believe me ;- nuthook's10 humour on me; that is the very note of it. Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wrong'd. Slen. By this bat, then he in the red face had it: Page. Here comes Sir John.

for though I cannot remember what I did when you

Y

made ine drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John ? Pistol.

Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentle

1

man had drunk bimself out of his five sentences. Fal. Now, master Shallow ; you'll complain of Eva. It is his five senses : fie, what the ignorance me to the king?

is! Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed Bard. And being fap," sir, was, as they say, my deer, and broke open my lodge.

cashier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires. 1a Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter. Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer'd. no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again,

Fal. I will answer it straight;-I have done all but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick : this:--that is now answer'd.

if I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the Shal. The council shall know this.

fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. Fal. "Twere better for you, if it were known in Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind. counsel : you'll be laugh'd at.

Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentieEva. Pauca verba, Sir John, good worts. men; you hear it.

Fal. Good worts !? good cabbage. -Slender, I broke your head; what matter have you against || Enter Mistress Anne Page with wine ; Mistress me?

Ford and Mistress Page following: Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you ; and against your coney-catching? Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried || drink within.

(Exit Anne Page. me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and after- Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. wards picked my pocket.

Page. How now, mistress Ford ? Bar. You Banbury cheese 94

Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

well met: by your leave, good mistress. Pist. How now, Mephostophilus 25

(kissing her. Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome :-Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca ,6 slice! that's | Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner; come, my humour.

gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkind Slen. Where's Simple, my man?--can you tell, ness. cousin ?

(Ereunt all but Shal. Slend. and Evans. Eva. Peace, I pray you! Now let us under- Slen. I had rather than sorty shillings, I had my stand: there is three umpires in this matter, as I book of songs and sonnets here :(1) Cotswold in Gloucestershire.

(7) King Edward's shillings, used in the game (2) Worts was the ancient name of all the cab- of shuffle-board. bage kind.

(8) Blade as thin as a lath. (9) Lips. (3) Sharpers. (4) Nothing but

paring. (10) If you say I am a thief. (11) Drunk (5) The name of an ugly spirit. (6) Few words. (12) The bounds of good behaviour.

very well.

you?

Enter Simple.

Anne. Will’t please your worship to come in, sir?

Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I ? You have not The Book

Anne. The dinner attends you, sir. of Riddles about you, have Sim. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon

Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth : it to Alice Shortcake, upon Allhallowmas last, a

my cousin Shallow : (Exit Simple.) A justice of fortnight afore Michaelmas ?1 Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. la man :-1 keep but three men and a boy yet, till

peace sometime may be beholden to his friend for A word with you, coz : marry, this, coz; there is, as 'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off | my mother be dead: but what though? yet I' live

like a poor gentleman born. by sir Hugh here ;-do you understand me?

Anne. I may not go in without your worship: Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable ; if it

they will not sit, till you come. be so, I shall do that that is reason.

Šlen. I'faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as Shal. Nay, but understand me.

much as though I did. Slen. So I do, sir. Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: 1

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in. will description the matter to you, if you be capa-bruised my shin the other day with playing at

Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you : I city of it. Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow

says : veneys2 for a dish of stewed prunes ; and, by my

sword and dagger with a master of fence, three I pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. his country, simple though I stand here. Eva. But that is not the question; the question Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the

town? is concerning your marriage.

Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

talked of. Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page.

Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not?

quarrel at it, as any man in England :-you are any reasonable demands.

Anne. Ay, indeed, sir. Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us

Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I command to know that of your mouth, or of your have seen Sackerson loose, twenty times; and lips ; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is have taken him by the chain but, I warrant you, parcel of the mouth ;—therefore, precisely, can you the women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it carry your good will to the maid? Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? | pass’d:_but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em;

Slen. I hope, sir, I will do, as it shall become they are very ill-favoured rough things. one that would do reason. Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must

Re-enter Page. speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we towards her.

stay for you. Shal. That you must : will you, upon good dow- Šlen. 'Í'll eat nothing ; I thank you, sr. ry, marry her?

Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose, Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon sir: come, come. your request, cousin, in any reason.

Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way. Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz; Page. Come on, sir. what I do, is to pleasure you, coz; Can you love Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. the maid?

Anne. Not I, sir ; pray you, keep on. Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la: I will if there be no great love in the beginning, yet hea- || not do you

that wrong. ven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when Anne. I pray you, sir. we are married, and have more occasion to know Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly than troubleone another : I hope, upon familiarity will grow | some: you do yourself wrong, indeed, la. more contempt: but if you say, marry her, I will marry her, that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

SCENE II.—The same. Enter Sir Hugh Evans Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the

and Simple. faul is in the 'ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, according to our meaning, resolutely ;-his meaning is good. Eva. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius'

Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well. house, which is the way: and there dwells one Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la. mistress Quickly, which is in the manner of his

nurse, or his dry nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, Re-enter Anne Page.

his washer, and his wringer. Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne :- Would

Simp. Well, sir.

Eva. Nay, it is petter yet:--give her this letyoung, for your sake, mistress Anne!

ter; for it is a 'oinan that altogether's acquainAnne. The dinner is on the table; my father||tance with mistress Anne Page ; and the letter is, desires your worships' company.

to desire and require her to solicit your master's Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. desires to mistress Ann Page: I pray you, be gone;

Eva. Od's plessed will!' I will not be absence I will make an end of my dinner: there's pipping at the grace.

and cheese to come. (Ereunt Shal. and Sir H. Evans.

(3) The name of a bear exhibited at Paris(1) An intended blunder.

Garden, in Southwark. (2) Three set-to's, bouts or híts.

(4) Surpassed all expression.

(Exeunt.

I were

(Ereunt.

rest.

Nym.

SCENE III.- A room in the Garter Inn. Enter||gilded my foot, sonetimes my portly belly.
Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
Robin.

Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with
Fal. Mine host of the Garter,-
Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak schol- || did seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass!

such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye arly, and wisely. Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some too : she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty.

Here's another letter to her : she bears the

purse of my followers. Host. Discard, bully Hercules ; cashier : let|exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West

I will be cheater4 to them both, and they shall be them wag ; trot, trot.

Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week. Host

. Thou’rt an emperor, Cæsar, Keisar, and thou this letter to mistress Page; and thou this to Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph;

he 'shall mistress Ford; we will thrive, lads, we will thrive.

Pist. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector? Fal. Do so, good mine host.

And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all ! Host. I have spoke ; let him follow: let me sec humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputa

Nym. I will run no base humour; here, take the thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow.

tion.

(Exit Host. Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good

Fal. Hold, sirrah, (to Rob.) bear you these lettrade : an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a with | Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.

ters tightly ;5 ered serving-man, a fresh tapster : go; adieu.

Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will Rogues, hence, avaunt ! vanish like hail-stones, go; thrive.

(Exit Bard.

Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, Pist. O base Gongariant wight! wilt thou the Falstaff will learn the humour of this age,

pack! spigot wield? Nym. He was gotten in drink : is not the hu-| French thrist, you rogues; myself, and skirted mour conceited ? His mind is not heroic, and there's

page. (Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.

Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts ! for gourd and the humour of it. Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinder. And high and low beguile the rich and poor :

fullamé holds, box; his thefts were too open: his filching was | Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack, like an unskilful singer, he kept not time.

Base Phrygian Turk! Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's

Nym. I have operations in my head, which be

humours of revenge. Pist. Convey, the wise it call: steal! foh; a fico2 for the phrase !

Pist. Wilt thou revenge? Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.

By welkin, and her star! Pist. Why then let kibes ensue.

Pist. With wit, or steel ?
Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney-catch; I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.

Nym.

With both the humours, 1; I must shift.

Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold,
Pist. Young ravens must have food.
Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town?

How Falstaff, varlet vile,
Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good.

His dove will prove, his gold will hold, Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am

And his soft couch defile. about.

Nym. My humour shall not cool : I will incensed Pist. Two yards, and more.

Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with Fal. No quips now, Pistol ; indeed I am in the yellowness,9 for the revolt of mien is dangerous : waist two yards about: but I am now about no that is my true humour. waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to

Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents: I make love to Ford's wife; 1 spy entertainment in second thee; troop on.

(Exeunt. her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation : I can construe the action of her fa- SCENE IV-A room in Dr. Caius's house. miliar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, Enter Mrs. Quickly, Simple, and Rugby. to be English'd rightly, is, I am Sir John Falstaff's.

Quick. What; John Rugby - I pray thee, go Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated to the casement, and see if you can see my master, her well; out of honesty into English.

master Doctor Caius, coming : if he do, i'faith, and Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour | find any body in the house, here will be an old pass?

abusing of God's patience, and the king's English. Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule Rug. I'll go watch.

(Exit Rugby. of her husband's purse; she hath legions of an- Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset fort soon at gels. 3

night, in faith, ai the latter end of a sea-coal fire. Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her,|| An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant boy, say I.

shall come in house withal; and, I warrant you, no Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour tell-tale, nor no breed-bate :10 his worst fault is, that me the angels.

he is given to prayer; he is something peevishll that Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and way: but nobody but has his fault;-but let that here another to Page's wife; who even now gave pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is? me good eyes too, examin'd my parts with inost Sim. Ay, for fault of a better. judicious eyliads : sometimes the beam of her view Quick. And master Slender's your master?

(1) For Hungarian. (2) Fig. (3) Gold coin. (7) Sixpence I'll have in pocket.
() Escheatour, an officer in the Exchequer. (8) Instigate. (9) Lealousy.
(5) Cleverly.
(6) False clice.

(11) Foolish.

(10) Strife.