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THIS play, which was probably written in the year 1600, was) entered at Stationers' Hall, by John Busby, Jan. 18, 1601.The first perfect and entire copy was published in the folio of 1623.-There had been previously two mutilated quarto editions given to the public-one in the year 1602; the other, 1619.-1 agree with Mr. Boaden, in considering these to have been printed from an imperfect copy, surreptitiously obtained from some person in the employ of the theatre, or from transeription during the representation; and not, as has been supposed, from the rough draught of an original play, which was afterward revised and enlarged by the author-My reasons for holding this opinion are, that the chasms which occur in the dialogue, are such as would render the story of the play almost unintelligible: of this Mr. Boaden quotes one instance, in Act 1. Sc. 4. where Dr. Caius says, Sir Hugh send a you," and immediately sends him a challenge; in the folio, Mrs. Quickly had before told him that Simple had come with a message from Parson Hugh; but this piece of information being oniitted in the first quarto edition, the Doctor's anger is rendered unintelligible:-again, the quarto contains many profane and gross expressions, which are omitted in the folio, and which might be expected to exist in a copy made during representation from the mouths of the players, who, we know from Shakspeare's own complaint of them, were in the habit of uttering more of this kind of offensive matter than was set down for them by the author;-again, had the copy been fairly obtained, with the consent of the author, in 1602, there would have been no reason for the editor's reprinting the

fanlty and imperfect play in 1619, as he would have a legiti mate claim to the anished MS.

The events of the play are supposed to take place between the
first and second parts of Henry the Fourth.-Falstaff is still
in favour at court, and the compliment of Ford on his warlike
preparations, must allude to the good service he had done at
Shrewsbury-The adventures of Falstaff, in this play, bear
some resemblance to the Lovers of Pisa, a story in Tarleton's
News out of Purgatory.

The tradition respecting the origin of this inimitable comedy
is, that Queen Elizabeth was so well pleased with the admi-
rable character of Falstaff in The Twe Parts of Henry IV.
that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, she commanded Shakspeare to
continue it for one play more, and shew him in love. To this
command we owe The Merry Wives of Windsor; which, Mr.
Gildon says, Remarks on Shakspeare's Plays, 8vo. 1710,] he
was very well assured our author finished in a fortnight. He
quotes no authority. The circumstance was first mentioned
by Mr. Dennis. " This comedy," says he, in his Epistle
Dedicatory to The Comical Gallant (an alteration of the pre-
sent play, 1702, was written at her [Queen Elizabeth's
command, and by her direction, and she was so eager to s
it acted, that she commanded it to be finished in four
days; and was afterward, as tradition tells us, very wel!
pleased at the representation." The information, it is pro
babie, came originally from Dryden, who, from his intimacy
with Sir William Davenant, had an opportunity of learning
many particulars concerning our author.

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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 conjectures: but this 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 your vizaments 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.

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 monies, 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 pette

penny.

I know the young gentlewoman; she has gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Falstaff there?

Eva. Shall 1 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. Here 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.

Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. Page. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say, he was out-run on Cotsale.

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

Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Shal. That he will not ;-'tis your fault, 'tis your fault-Tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, sir.

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; Can there be more said? he is good, and fair. Is sir John Falstaff here?

Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good office between you.

Eva. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed, he hath ;-at a word he hath ;-believe me; Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wrong'd.

Puge. Here comes sir John.

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

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

Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my deer, and broke open my lodge.

Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter?
Shal. Tut, a pin this shall be answer'd.

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Eva. Peace: I pray you! Now let us understand: There is three umpires i enis matter, as under stand: that is,-master Page delicet, master Page: and there is myself, fideli nyself; and the three party is, lastly and finally, we host of the Garter. Page. We three, to hear sad and it between them. Eva. Ferry goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will iterwards 'ork upon th cause, with as great discreetly as we can Fal. Pistol,

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Pist. He hears with ears Eva. The tevil with his t He hears with ear? Why, it affectations. Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Siender's purse? Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, (or I would I might never come in mine owa great chamber again else,) of seven groats in milences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that co. t me two shilling and two pence a-piece of Yead Miler, by these gioves. Fal. Is this true, Pistol?

Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pack-purse
Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner LS- Səbr and
master mine,

I combat challenge of this latten bi
Word of denial in thy labras here;
Word of denial: froth and scum, tho

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Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he. Nym. Be advis'd, sir, and pass good amou>: will say, marry, trap, with you, if you rv2 the w hook's humour on me: that is the very noÇA

Slen. By this hat, then, he in the red fa.“ for though I cannot remember what I did to made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an a

Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John? Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentl had drunk himself out of his five sentences.

. Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires.

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves.

Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind. Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen ; you hear it.

Enter Mistress ANNE PAGE with wine; Mistress FORD and Mistress PAGE following.

Fal. I will answer it straight;-I have done all drink within. this-That is now answer'd.

Shal. The council shall know this.

Fal. 'Twere better for you, i. it were known in counsel you'll be laugh'd at.

Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, goot worts. Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke your head; What matter have you against me?

Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket.

Bard You Banbury cheese'

Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'l [Exit ANNE PAGE. Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. Page. How now, mistress Ford? Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met by your leave, good mistress. [kissing her.

Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome: Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner; come, gentlemen, I hope we shail drink down all unkindness. [Exeunt all but SHAL. SLENDER, and EVANS. Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book of Songs and Sonnets here:

Enter SIMPLE.

How now, Simple! Where have you been? I must

n myself, must I? You have not The Book of -s about you, have you?

Book of Riddles! why, did not you lend it e Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortafore Michaelmas?

. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you.
I with you, coz: marry, this, coz; There is,
re, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by
h here;-Do you understand me?

Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it
shall do that that is reason.
Nay, but understand me.
So I do, sir.

Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I scription the matter to you, if you be capa

t.

Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says; you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in try, simple though I stand here. But this is not the question; the question rning your marriage.

Ay, there's the point, sir.

Marry, is it; the very point of it; to misne Page.

Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon onable demands.

But can you affection the 'oman? Let us to know that of your mouth, or of your r divers philosophers hold, that the lips is the mouth;-Therefore, precisely, can you ur good will to the maid?

Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? I hope, sir,-I will do, as it shall become would do reason.

Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must ssitable, if you can carry her your desires mer ?

That you must: Will you, upon good dowry, -?

will do a greater thing than that, upon your cousin, in any reason.

Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz; o, is to pleasure you, coz: Can you love

?

will marry her, sir, at your request; but e no great love in the beginning, yet headecrease it upon better acquaintance, when arried, and have more occasion to know one I hope, upon familiarity will grow more = but if you say, marry her, I will marry I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

is a fery discretion answer; save, the the 'ort dissolutely: the 'ort is, according aning, resolutely-his meaning is good. -y, I think my cousin meant well.

-y, or else I would I might be hanged, la.

Re-enter ANNE PAGE.

ere comes fair mistress Anne :-Would I g, for your sake, mistress Anne ! The dinner is on the table; my father deworships' company.

will wait on him, fair mistress Anne. d's plessed will! I will not be absence at [Exeunt SHALLOW and Sir H. EVANS. Will't please your worship to come in, sir? o, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am

The dinner attends you, sir. am not a hungry, I thank you, forsooth. , for all you are my man, go, wait upon Shallow: [Exit SIMPLE.] A justice of

peace sometime may be beholden to his friend for a man:-1 keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: But what though? yet I live like a poor gentleman born.

Anne. I may not go in without your worship: they will not sit, till you come.

Šlen. I'faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as though I did.

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in.

Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you; 1 bruised my shin the other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence, three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town.

Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of. Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel at it, as any man in England:-You are afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not? Anne. Ay, indeed, sir.

Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen Sackerson loose twenty times; and have taken him by the chain: but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass'd:-but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill favoured rough things.

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Host. I have spoke; let him follow: Let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow.

:

[Exit HOST. Fal. Bardolph follow him: a tapster is a good trade and an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu. Burd. It is a life that I have desired: I will thrive. [Exit BARD. Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

Nym. He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the humour of it.

Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinder-box; his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer, he kept not time.

Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's

rest.

Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico

for the phrase!

Fal. Well, sirs, I almost out at heels.

Pist. Why then, let kibes ensue.

Fal. Hold, sırrah, [to Roв.] bear you these letters
tightly;

Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.--
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack
Falstaff will learn the humour of this age,
French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page.
[Exeunt FALSTAFF and ROBIN.
Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd, and
fullam holds,

And high and low beguile the rich and poor;
Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk!

Nym. I have operations in my head, which be humours of revenge.

I

Pist. Wilt thou revenge?

Nym. By welkin, and her star!

Pist. With wit, or steel?

Nym. With both the humours, I:

will discuss the humour of this love to Page.

Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold,

How Falstaff, varlet vile,

His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile.

Nym. My humour shall not cool: I will incense
Page to deal with poison; I will possess him with

Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney catch; yellowness, for the revolt of mien is dangerous: that

I must shift.

Pist. Young ravens must have food.

Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town? Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good. Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.

Pist. Two yards and more.

Fal. No quips now, Pistol; Indeed I am in the waist two yards about: but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am sir John Falstaff's.

Pist. He hath studied her well, and translated her well; out of honesty into English.

Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour pass? Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse, she hath legions of angels. Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy, say I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the angels.

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her and here

another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious eyliads sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

eye

Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
Nym. I thank thee for that humour.
Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with
such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her
did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Here's
another letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is
a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be
cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers
to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and
I will trade to them both. Go, bear thou this letter
to mistress Page; and thou this to mistress Ford:
we will thrive, ladз, we will thrive.

Pist. Shall I sir Pandarus of Troy become,
And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all !
Num. I will run no base humour: here, take the
humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.

is my true humour.

Pist. Thou art the Mars of malcontents: I second thee; troop on.

[Exeunt

SCENE IV.-A Room in Dr. Caius's House.

Enter Mrs. QUICKLY, SIMPLE, and RUGBY. Quick. What: John Rugby!-I pray thee, go to the casement, and see if you can see my master, master Doctor Caius, coming: if he do, i'faith, and find any body in the house, here will be an old abusing of God's patience, and the king's English.

Rug. I'll go watch.

[Exit RUGBY. Quick. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea coal fire. An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withal, and, I warrant you, no tell tale, nor no breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish that way; but nobody but has his fault-but iet that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is? Sim. Ay, for fault of a better.

a

Quick. And master Slender's your master?
Sim. Ay, forsooth.

Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard, like
glover's paring knife?

Sim. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard; a Cain-coloured beard. Quick. A softly-sprighted man, is he not?

Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his hands, as any is between this and his head; he hath fought with a warrener.

Quick How say you?-O, I should remember him; Does he not hold up his head, as it were? and stru: in his gait?

Sin. Yes, indeed, does he.

Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell master parson Evans, I will do what I can for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish

Re-enter RUGEY.

Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.

Quick. We shall all be shent: Run in here, goed young man; ge into this closet. [Shuts SIMPLE in the closet.] He will not stay long.-What. John

Rugby! John, what John, 1 say!-Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt, he be not well, that he comes not home :—and down, down, adown-a, &c. [Sings.

Enter Doctor CAIUS.

Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like dese toys; Pray you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier verd; a box, a green-a box; Do intend vat I speak? a green-a box.

Quick. Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. I am glad he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he would have been horn-mad. [Aside. Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais à la cour,-la grande affaire.

Quick. Is it this, sir?

Caius. Ouy; mette le au mon pocket; Depêche, quickly:-Vere is dat knave Rugby? Quick. What, John Rugby! John! Rug. Here, sir.

Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby: Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to de court.

Rug. 'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.

Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long: Od's me! Qu'ay j'oublié ? here is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.

Quick. Ah me! he'll find the young man there, and be mad!

Caius. O diable, diable! vat is in my closet?Villany! larron! [pulling SIMPLE out.] Rugby, my rapier.

Quick. Good master, be content.

Caius. Verefore shall I be content-a?
Quick. The young man is an honest man.

Caius. Vat shall de honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet. Quick. I beseech you, be not so flegmatick; hear the truth of it: He came of an errand to me from parson Hugh.

Caius. Vell.

Sim. Ay, forsooth, to desire her to-
Quick. Peace, I pray you.

Caius. Peace-a your tongue :-Speak-a your tale. Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to Mrs. Anne Page for my master, in the way of marriage.

Quick. This is all, indeed, la; but I'll ne'er put my finger in the fire, and need not.

Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you ?-Rugby, baillez me some paper: Tarry you a tle-a while. [Writes. Quick. I am glad he is so quiet: if he had been thoroughly moved, you should have heard him so loud, and so melancholy;- But notwithstanding, man, I'll do your master what good I can: and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master, I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself:

Sim. 'Tis a great charge, to come under one body's hand.

;

Quick. Are you avis'd o'that! you shall find it a great charge: and to be up early and down late But notwithstanding, (to tell you in your ear would have no words of it;) my master himself is in love with mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding

that, I know Anne's mind,-that's neither here nor there.

Camus. You Jack'nape; give a dis letter to sir Hugh; by gar, it is a shallenge; I vill cut his troat in de park; and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape

priest to meddle or make you may be gone, it is not good you tarry here:- by gar, Í vill cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog. [Exit SIMPLE. Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend. Coius. It is no matter a for dat :-do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself?—by gar, I vill kill de Jack Priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jarterre to measure our weapon ·by gar, I vill myself have Anne Page.

Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well: we must give folks leave to prate: What, the good-jer!

Caius. Rugby, come to de court vit me :-By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door :--Follow my heels, Rugby.

[Exeunt CAIUS and RUGBY. Quick. You shall have An fools-head of your own. No, I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's mind, than I do: nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven. Fent. [Within.] Who's within there? ho!

I

Quick. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, pray you.

Enter FENTON.

Fent. How now, good woman; how dost thou ? Quick. The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.

Fent. What news? how does pretty mistress Anne? Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way; I praise heaven for it.

Fent. Shall I do any good, thinkest thou? Shall I not lose my suit?

Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but notwithstanding, master Fenton, I'll be sworn or book, she loves you :— -Have not your worship a wart above your eye?

Fent. Yes, marry, have I; what of that?

Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale ;-good faith, it is such another Nan ;-but, I detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread: We had an hour's talk of that wart:-I shall never laugh but in that maid's company! But, indeed, she is given too much to allicholly, and musing: But for you-Well, go to.

Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day; Hold, there's money for thee; let me have thy voice in my behalf: if thou seest her before me, commend me

Quick. Will I? i'faith, that we will; and I will tell your worship more of the wart, the next time we have confidence; and of other wooers.

Fent. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.

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