Sir HUGH EVANS, a Welch Parfon.

Dr. CAIUS, a French Doctor.

Hoft of the Garter.

BARDOLPH.

PISTOL.

NYM.

ROBIN, Page to Falstaff.

WILLIAM PAGE, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page.

SIMPLE, Servant to Slender.

RUGBY, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Mrs. PAGE.

WOMEN.

Mrs. 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.

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Before PAGE's Houfe in Windfor. Enter Fuftice 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 abuse Robert Shallow, efquire.

Slen. In the county of Glofter, juftice of peace, and

coram.

Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and cuftalorum.

Slen. Ay, and ratalorum too; and a gentleman born, mafter parfon; 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 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 loufes do become an old coat well; it agrees well, paffant: it is a familiar beast 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, py'r-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 fir John Falstaff have com

A 2

mitted

mitted difparagements 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 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 vizaments in that.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword 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 goot difcretions with it: there is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Miftrefs Anne Page? fhe has brown hair, and fpeaks fmall like a woman.

Eva. It is that very person for all the 'orld, as juft 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 fhe is able to overtake seventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire a marriage between mafter Abraham and mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Did her grandfire 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.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and poffibilities, is good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us fee honest master Page: is Falstaff there?

Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do defpife a liar as I do defpife one that is falfe; or as I defpife one that is not true. The knight, fir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers, I will peat the door [Knocks for mafter Page. What, hoa! Got plefs your house here!

Enter

Page. Who's there?

Enter PAGE.

Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your friend, and juf tice Shallow and here is 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. Mafter Page, I am glad to fee you; Much good do it your good heart! I with'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, fir? I heard fay, he was out-run on Cotfale.

Page. It could not be judg'd, fir.

Slen. You'll not confefs, you'll not confess.

Shal. That he will not;-'tis your fault, 'tis your fault:-'Tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, fir.

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog: Can there be more faid? he is good, and fair.-Is fir 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 Christians ought to speak.

Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page.

Page. Sir, he doth in fome fort confefs it.

Shal. If it be confefs'd, it is not redrefs'd; is not that fo, master 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.

Enter Sir JOHN FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYм, and PISTOL.

Fal. Now, mafter Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?

Shal.