DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.

FENTON, a gentleman.

SHALLOW, a country justice.
SLENDER, cousin to Shallow.

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The

Merry Wives of Windsor.

ACT FIRST.

Scene I.

Windsor. Before 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 Gloucester, justice of peace and 'Coram.'

Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and 'Custalorum.' Slen. Ay, and 'Rato-lorum' too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself 'Armigero,' in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Io ' 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

well; it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar 20

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.

Evans. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit.

Evans. Yes, py'r lady; if he has a quarter of your
coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my
simple conjectures: but that is all one. If Sir 30
John Falstaff have committed disparagements
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 shall hear it; it is a riot.

Evans. 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 40 sword should end it.

Evans. 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.

Evans. It is that fery person for all the orld, as just 50 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 over-
take seventeen years old: it were a goot motion
if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and de-
sire a marriage between Master Abraham and
Mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred
pound?

Evans. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.

Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

Evans. Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts.

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

Evans. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar

60

as I do despise one that is false, or as I despise 70
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 for Master Page.
[Knocks] What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

Page. [Within] Who's there?

Enter Page.

Evans. 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 80 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 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 see you, good Master Slender.

Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard 90

say he was outrun on Cotsall.

Page. It could not be judged, sir.

Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess.

Shal. That he will not.

fault; 'tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, sir.

'Tis your fault, 'tis your

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 100 good office between you.

Evans. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak.
Shal. He hath 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 me :
Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wronged.

Page. Here comes Sir John.

Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol.

Fal. Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to IIO the king ?