But constant, he were perfect! That one error

ACT V

Fills him with faults; makes him run through all th' Sc. IV sins:

Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.

What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy

More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye ?

VAL. Come, come, a hand from either :

Let me be blest to make this happy close;

'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes. PRO. Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever. JUL. And I mine.

Enter Outlaws, with the Duke and THURIO.

OUTLAWS. A prize, a prize, a prize!

120

VAL. Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my Lord the
Duke.-

Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,

THU. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.

VAL. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;
Come not within the measure of my wrath :
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee! Here she stands:
Take but possession of her with a touch?
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
THU. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I :
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not!
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
DUKE. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means1 for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions!
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,

I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an Empress' love :
Know, then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.
Plead a new state in thy unrivall'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,

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140

ACT V
Sc. IV

Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
VAL. I thank your Grace. The gift hath made me happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,

To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
DUKE. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
VAL. These banish'd men, that I have kept1 withal,
Are men endued with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exíle :
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy Lord.
DUKE. Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them and thee :
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.-
Come, let us go! We will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
VAL. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your Grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my Lord?

DUKE. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
VAL. I warrant you, my Lord, more grace than boy.
DUKE. What mean you by that saying?

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160

170

VAL. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.—
Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear
The story of your loves discovered :
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. [exeunt.

THE

MERRY WIVES

OF WINDSOR

WILLIAM PAGE: A BOY, SON TO MR. PAGE.

SIR HUGH EVANS: A WELSH PARSON.

DR. CAIUS: A FRENCH PHYSICIAN.

HOST OF THE GARTER INN.

BARDOLPH :

4

ROBIN: PAGE TO FALSTAFF.

SIMPLE: SERVANT TO SLENDER.

RUGBY: SERVANT TO DR. CAIUS.

MRS. FORD

MRS. PAGE.

MRS. ANNE PAGE: HER DAUGHTER, IN LOVE

WITH FENTON.

MRS. QUICKLY: SERVANT TO DR. CAIUS.

SERVANTS TO PAGE, FORD, etc.

SCENE-Windsor, and the Parts adjacent.

THE MERRY WIVES

OF WINDSOR

ACT I

SCENE I. Windsor. Before PAGE's House.

Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR1
HUGH EVANS.

a

SHAL. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make Star Chamber 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, hath 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.

EVANS. 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.

EVANS. The salt fish is an old coat.

SLEN. I may quarter, coz ?

SHAL. You may, by marrying.

EVANS. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

SHAL. Not a whit.

1 a title applied to priests and curates.
I:X 3 add armorial bearings to hereditary arms.

2 pikes.

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20