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introductory Remarks

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THERE is a prodigal and glorious throng of incident and character in this very excellent comedy for variety, and broad, unceasing effect, it stands perhaps unrivaled. Each individual member of the breathing group - the wives, the husbands, the doctor, parson, mine Host of the Garter, Shallow, Slender; every character, in short, from Falstaff and his satelites to Simple and Rugby-stands out in the clearest light, and assists in reflecting the sunshine of the author's intellect for the delight and instruction of the reader or spectator. It has been said, and truly, that Falstaff, in this play, is not so unctuous and irresistible as in the two parts of " HENRY IV. ;" but, if the Falstaff of Windsor must succumb to him of Gadshill and Shrewsbury, it should in fairness be added,

"Nought but himself can be his conqueror."

Even the unsuspected gullibility of the unfortunate old boy, as drawn forth of him by the witcheries of the wicked wives, places him in an amiable point of view, and raises a new sensation in his favor. Our choler would rise, despite of us, against Cleopatra herself, should she presume to make a dupe and tool of regal old Jack, the natural lord and master of all about him: and, although not so atrociously immoral as to wish he had succeeded with the Windsor gipsies, we yet plead guilty to the minor turpitude of sympathy, when he tells his persecutors, with brightening visage and exultant twinkle of eye, "I am glad, though you have ta'en a special stand to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanced."

The serious part of this play bears but a small proportion to the facetious, but is equally good in its kind. The softer sentiment is confined to Fenton and Anne Page, both of whom give indications of possessing very lovable natures, although their persons seem thrust into a corner (an arrangement to which the lovers themselves would probably start no objection) by the crowd of comic roysterers.

The

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR," in its present finished state, originally appeared in the first folio (1623). It had been twice previously published in quarto (1602 and 1619); but the play in both these editions is comparatively meager, and evinces that considerable labor was employed by the poet in bringing it to maturity. Tradition states that the "MERRY WIVES" was written at the command of Queen Elizabeth, and that the prolific brain of the poet gave birth to it in fourteen days. There is nothing either improbable or important in the legend. All we would say of it is, that if we are really indebted for so admirable a play to the stately old damsel's desire to see Falstaff in love, we are more than ever her maiden majesty's devoted servants, and hope she enjoyed a fair portion of that delight in the realization of her wishes which it has now for more than two centuries afforded to the public.

There are various old stories and dramas from which Shakspeare may have gathered hints for the dilemmas in which Falstaff is involved in the present play: but the tale of "THE LOVERS OF PISA," in a collection called "TARLETON'S NEWES OUT OF PURGATORIE," appears to have been the immediate source of his inspiration in this particular. The coincidences, however, do not extend to the characters. The lover in the tale is a handsome youth, and really favored by the young lady, who plots with him to deceive her husband, a jealous old physician. In the play, literally speaking, the lover is old, the wives not young, and their husbands of corresponding ages: but, poetically considered, they and the whole dramatis persone are all dainty juveniles together, and can never lose their freshness while the language lasts in which they are embodied.

J. O.

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Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, there is no fear of Got in a riot: the Council, look

and coram.

Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and custalorum. Slen. Ay, and ratalorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ar

migero.

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 another device in my prain,

Shal. Ay, that I do; and have done any time which peradventure prings goot discretions with it: 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.

There is Anne Page, which is daughter to Master George Page, which is pretty yirginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman.

Eva. It is that ferry 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 sev

Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is enteen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave an old coat.

Slen. I may quarter, coz?

Shal. You may, by marrying.

Eva. It is marrying, indeed, if he quarter it. Shal. Not a whit.

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

Eva. Yes, py 'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your penny.

Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has me; - Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is good gifts. wronged.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good 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 wellwillers. I will peat the door [knocks] for Master Page. What, hoa! Got ples your house here!

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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 Cotsall.

Page. It could not be judged, sir. Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Shal. That he will not; -'t is your fault, 't is your fault : —'T is a good dog. Page. A cur, sir.

Page. 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 broken open my lodge.

Fal. But not kissed your keeper's daughter?
Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answered.
Fal. I will answer it straight; -I have done
all this: - That is now answered.

Shal. The Council shall know this.

Ful. 'T were better for you, if it were known in counsel: you'll be laughed at.

Eva. Pauca verba, Sir John, goot worts.
Fal. Good worts! good cabbage. Slender, I
head; What matter have you against
your

broke

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!
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Pist. How now, Mephostophilus?
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's my humor.

Slen. Where's Simple, my man? Can you tell, cousin?

Eva. Peace: I pray you? Now let us understand: There is three umpires in this matter, as I understand that is Master Page, fidelicet, Master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party is, lastly and finally, mine Host

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 of the Garter.
a good office between you.

Eva. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak.
Shal. He has wronged me, Master Page.
Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.

Shal. If it be confessed, it is not redressed; is not that so, Master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed he hath; at a word he hath; - believe

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Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them.

Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards 'ork upon the cause, with as great discreetly as we can. Fal. Pistol,

Pist. He hears with ears.

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