This Play was written in the Author's best and ripeft Years after Henry the Fourth, by the Command of Queen Elizabeth. There is a Tradition, that it was compofed at a Fortnight's Warning: but that must be meant only of the first imperfect Sketch of this Comedy, which is yet extant in an old Quarto Edition, printed in 1619. The other, which follows it, was altered and improved by the Author in almost every Speech.

Mr. POPE.

A

A

Pleasant Conceited Comedie

O F

Sir IOHN FALSTAFFE,

AND

The Merry Wiues of Windfor.

Enter Iuftice Shallow, Sir Hugh, Mafter Page, and Slender.

Shallow.

ERE talke to me, Ile make a star-chamber matter of it.

N

The councell shall know it.

Page. Nay good M. Shallow be perfwaded by me.

Slen. Nay furely my vnckle shall not put it vp.fo.
Sir Hugh. Will you not heare reafons M. Slender ?
You should heare reasons.

Shal. Though he be a knight, he shall not thinke to carry

it fo away.

Mafter Page I will not be wronged. For you

Sir, I loue you, and for my coufin,

He comes to looke vpon your daughter.

Page. And heeres my hand, and if my daughter Like him fo well as I, wee'l quickly haue't a match: In the meane time let me entreate you to foiourne

Ile vndertake to make you friends.

Sir Hugh. I pray you M. Shallow let it be fo.
The matter is put to arbitarments.

The firft man is mafter Page, videlicet mafter Page.
The second is my felfe, videlicet my felfe.

The third and laft man, is mine Hoft of the Garter.

Enter Sir Iohn Falstaffe, Pistoll, Bardolffe, and Nym,

Heere is fir Iohn himfelfe now, looke you.

Fal. Now M. Shallow, you'l complaine of me to the councell, I heare.

Shal. Sir John, fir Iohn, you haue hurt my keeper,

Kild my dogs, ftolne my deere.

Fal. But not kiffed your keepers daughter.

Shal. Well, this shall be answered.

Fal. Ile anfwer it ftrait. I haue done all this.

This is now anfwered.

Shal. Well, the councell fhall know it.

Fal. Twere better for you twere knowne in councell.

You'l be laught at.

Sir Hugh, Good vrdes fir Iohn, good vrdes.

Fal. Good vrdes, good cabedge.

Slender I brake your head,

What matter haue you againft me?

against you and your cog

They carried me to the ta

Slen. I haue matter in my head ging companions, Piftoll and Nym. uerne, and made me drunke, and afterward pickt my pocket. Fal. What fay you to this Piftoll, did you picke master Slenders purfe, Pistoll?

Slen. I by this handkercher did he. Two faire fhouelboord fhillings, befide feuen-groats in mill fixpences. Fal. What fay you to this, Piftoll?

Pift. Sir John and master mine, I combate craue
Of this fame laten bilbo. I do retort the lie

Euen in thy gorge, thy gorge, thy gorge.
Slen. By this light it was he then.

Nym. Sir, my honor is not for many words,
But if you run bace humors of me,

I will fay marry trap. And there's the humor of it.
Fal. You heare these matters denide gentlemen,

You heare it.

Enter Miftreffe Ford, Miftreffe Page, and her daughter Anne.

Pag. No more now,

I thinke it be almost dinner time,

For

my

wife is come to meete vs.

Fal. Miftreffe Foord, I think your name is,

If I mistake not.

But

Sir Iohn kiffes her.

Mif. For. Your mistake fir is nothing but in the mistreffe.

my husbands name is Foord fir.

Fal. I fhall defire your more acquaintance.

The like of you, good miftris Page.

Mif. Page. With all my heart fir John.

Come husband, will you goe?

Dinner ftaies for vs.

Pa. With all my heart, come along gentlemen.

Exit all but Slender and Miftreffe Anne.

Anne. Now forfooth, why do you ftay me?

What would you with me?

Slen. Nay, for my owne part, I would little or nothing with you. I loue you well, and my vnckle can tell you how my liuing ftands. And if you can loue me, why fo. If not, why then happy man bee his dole.

Anne. You fay well, mafter Slender. But first you must giue me leaue

Το

To be acquainted with your humor,

And afterward to loue you if I can.

Slen. Why by God there, neuer a man in Christendome can defire more. What, haue you beares in your towne, mistresse Anne, your dogs barke fo?

Anne. I cannot tell master Slender, I think there be.

Slen. Ha, how fay you? I warrant y'are afeared of a beare

let loose, are you not?

Anne. Yes trust me.

Slen. Now that's meate and drinke to me,

Ile run to a beare, and take her by the muzzle,
You neuer faw the like.

But indeed I cannot blame you,

For they are maruellous rough things.

Anne. Will you go into dinner, mafter Slender?

The meate stayes for you.

Slen. No faith, not I, I thanke you,

I cannot abide the fmell of hot meate

Nere fince I broke my fhin. Ile tell you how it came
By my troth. A fencer and I plaid three venies
For a dish of stewd pruines, and I with my ward
Defending my head, he hit my shin: yes faith.

Enter Mafter Page.

Page. Come, good mafter Slender, dinner ftaies for you. Slen. I can eate no meate I thanke you.

Page. You fhall not chufe, I fay.

Slen. Ile follow you fir, pray leade the way.
Nay by God miftris Anne, you fhall go first,
I have more manners then fo, I hope.

Anne. Well fir, I will not be troublesome.

Enter Sir Hugh and Simple from dinner.

Exit omnes.

Sir Hugh. Harke you Simple, pray you beare this letter to doctor Cayus house, the French doctor. He is twell vp

along