PERSONS REPRESENTED. } Sir John Falstaff. two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor. } Mrs. Ford. Servants to Puge, Ford, &c. Scene, Windsor; and the parts adjacent. ME RRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. ACT I. SCENE I. Windsor. Before Page's house. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir* Hugh Evans. Shallow. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Starchamber 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-alorumt. Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittauce, or obligation, armigero. * A title formerly appropriated to chaplains. Shal. Ay, that we 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 bim, 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 beast to man, and signifies-love. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz? Eda. Yes, py'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 disparagemeuts unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises be. tween you. Shal. The councilt 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 vizamentst 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 discretions with it: there is Anne Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity. Sien. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small g like a woman. * By our. + Court of star-chamber. Soft. Eva. It is that fery verson for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, upon his death’s-bed (Got deliver to a joyful resur. rections !), give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old : it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage be. tween master Abraham, and mistress Anne Page. Shal. Did her grandsire leave her sevev hundred pound? Eda. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven huudred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts. Shal. Well, let us sce 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 well.willers. I will peat the door [knocks] for master Page. What, hoa! Got pless your house here! Enter Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Heres is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow: and here young master Slender; that, peradventures, shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings. Page. I am glad to see your worships well: I 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 killed :-how doth good mistress Page ?-and I love you always with my heart, la; with my heart. Page. Sir, I thank you. H2 |