PERSONS REPRESENTED Sir John Falstaff. two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor. Mrs. Ford. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. Scene, Windsor; and the parts adjacent. MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. ACT 1. SCENE I.-Windsor. Before Page's house. Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sirl Hugh Evans. and coram. Shallow. 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 Gloster, justice of peace, Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and cust-alorum.2 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 we do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, (1) A title formerly appropriated to chaplains. (2) Custos rotulorum. between you. 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; 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. Not a whit. Eva. Yes, py’rl-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 John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my be nevolence, to make atonements and compromises Shal. The council2 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 small4 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 resur(1) By our. Court of star-chamber. (3) Advisement. (4) Soft. rections !) 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 petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot 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 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 renison, 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 |