IR John Falstaff. Sadu, a young Gentleman of small Fortune, Fenton, in Love with Mrs. Anne Page. Shallow, a Country Justice. Slender, Coufin to Shallow, a foolish Country Squire. Mr. Page, Mr. Ford, two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windsor. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon. Dr. Caius, a French Doctor. Host of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow. Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, Sharpers attending on Falstaff. Robin, Page to Falstaff. William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. Simple, Servant to Slender. Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. Page, Wife to Mr. Page. Mrs. Ford, Wife to Mr. Ford. Mrs. Anne Page, Daughter to Mr. Page, in Love with Fenton. Mrs. Quickly, Servant to Dr. Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE Windfor. THE Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. SHALLOW. IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a Star-Chamber Matter of it: If he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he fhall not abuse Robert Shallow, Efq; Slen. In the County of Glocefter, Justice of Peace, and Coram. Shal. Ay, Coufin Slender, and Custalorum. Slen. Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a Gentleman born, Mafter Parfon, 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 Succeffors, gone before him, have don't; and all his Ancestors, that come after him, may; they may give the dezen white Luces in their Coat. Shal. It is an old Coat. Eva. The dozen white Lowfes do become an old Coat well; it agrees well Paffant; it is a familiar Beaft to Man, and fignifies Love. Shal. The Luce is the Fresh-fifh, the Salt-fish is an old Coat. Sle 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 per-lady; if he has a quarter of your Coat, there is but three Skirts for your felf, in my fimple Conjectures; but that is all one: If Sir John Falstaff have committed Difparagements unto you, I am of the Church, and will be glad to do my Benevolence, to make Atonements and Compremises between you. Shal. The Council fhall hear it; it is a Riot. Eva. It is not meet the Council hear of a Riot; there is no Fear of Got in a Riot: The Council, look you, shall defire to hear the Fear of Got, and not to hear a Riot; take viza-ments in that. you Shal. Ha; o' my Life, if I were young again, the Sword fhould 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 good Difcretions with it: There is Anne Page, which is Daughter to Mafter Thomas Page, which is pretty Virginity. Slen. Miftrefs Anne Page? he has brown Hair, and speaks like a Woman. Eva. It is that ferry Perfon for all the Orld, as just as you will defire; and feven hundred Pounds of Monies, and Gold, and Silver, is her Grand-fire upon his Deaths-bed (Got deliver to a joyful Resurrections) give, when she is able to overtake seventeen Years old: It were a good Motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire a Marriage between Mafter Abraham, and Mistress Anne Page. Slen. Did her Grand-fire leave her feven hundred Pound? Eva. Ay, and her Father is make her a petter Penny. Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman; fhe has good Gifts. Eva. Seven hundred Pounds, and poffibility is goot Gifts. Shal. Well; let us fee honeft Mr. Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a Lie? I do defpife a Liar as I do despise one that is falfe; or as I defpife one that is not true. The Knight, Sir John, is there; and I befeech you be ruled by your Well-wishers. I will peat the Door [Knocks] for Mafter Page. What hoa? Got blefs your House here. Enter Mr. Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your Friend, and Juftice Shallow; and here's young Mafter Slender; that peradventures fhall tell you another Tale, if matters grow to your likings. Page. I am glad to fee your Worship's well: I thank you for my Venifon, Mafter Shallow. Shal. Mafter Page, I am glad to fee you; much good do it your good Heart: I wifh'd your Venifon better; it was ill kill'd. How doth good Miftrefs Page? And I thank 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 fee you, good Mafter Slender. Slen. How do's your fallow Greyhound, Sir? I heard fay, he was out-run on Cotfale. Page. It could not be judg'd, Sir. Slen. You'll not confefs, you'll not confefs. 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 faid? 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 fpoke as a Chriftians ought to speak. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, Mafter Page. Page. Sir, he doth in fome fort confefs it. Shal. If it be confefs'd, it is not redress'd; is not that fo, Mr. Page? He hath wrong'd me, indeed he hath, at a word he hath, believe me, Robert Shallow, Efquire, faith, he is wrong'd. Page. Here comes Sir John. Ent |