PERSONS REPRESENTED. SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. Appears, Act. I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 3; sc. 5. Act. IV. sc. 2; sc. 5. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 5. Mr. FORD, a gentleman dwelling at Windsor. Appears, Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2. MR. PAGE, a gentleman Act III. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc 5. Act. II. sc. 1; sc. 3. WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to Mr. Page. SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh parson. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. Appears, Act. I sc. 3. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. Act. V. sc. 3; sc. 5. Host of the Garter Inn. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act. III. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 3; sc. 5; sc. 6. BARDOLPH, a follower of Falstaff. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 5. NYM, a follower of Falstaff. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act V. sc. 5. Appears, Act I. sc. 3. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 2; sc. 3. SIMPLE, servant to Slender. Appears, Act. I. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 5. RUGBY, servant to Dr. Caius. Appears, Act. I. sc. 4. Act. II. sc. 3. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2. MRS. FORD. sc. 4. Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 3. Appears, Act. I. sc. 1. Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act. III. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. MRS. ANNE PAGE, daughter to Mrs. Page. Appears, Act I. sc. 4. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act III. sc. 4; sc. 5. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 5. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 5. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE, WINDSOR. THE first edition of this play was published in 1602. The comedy as it now stands first appeared in the folio of 1623; and the play in that edition contains very nearly twice the number of lines that the original edition contains. The succession of scenes is the same in both copies, except in one instance; but the speeches of the several characters are greatly elaborated in the amended copy, and several of the characters not only heightened, but new distinctive features given to them. A few sentences have been introduced from the quarto; and these are given in brackets. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. SCENE I-Windsor. ACT I. Garden Front of Page's House. Enter Justice SHALLOW, SLENDER, and Sir HUGH EVANS. SHAL. 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-alorum. SLEN. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; 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 successors, gone before him, have done '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 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? 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 simple conjec tures; but that is all one: If sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements 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 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 ments in that. your vizaSHAL. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again the sword should end it. EVA. It it 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 Ann Page, which is daughter to master George Page, which is pretty virginity. SLEN. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman. EVA. It is that fery person for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire upon his death's-bed (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) 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 between master Abraham and mistress Anne Page. SHAL. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? EVA. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. SHAL. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. EVA. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts. SHAL. Well, let us see 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! PAGE. Who's there? Enter PAGE. |