Jul. 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,

For I had rather wink than look on them.

[Aside.

Thu. Butwell, when I discourse of love, and peace?

Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

[Aside.

Thu. What says she to my valour?

Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

[Aside.

And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless;
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!

Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
What halloing, and what stir is this to-day?

These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase:

They love me well; yet I have much to do,

Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here?

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

[Aside. Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,

(Though you respect not aught your servant doth,)
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,
That would have forc'd your honour and your love.
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear!

[Aside. To keep them from uncivil outrages.

[Steps aside.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul;
And full as much, (for more there cannot be,)
I do detest false, perjur'd Proteus:

Therefore be gone, solicit me no more!

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo forone calm look?

Besides, she did intend confession

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words

Can no way change you to a milder form,

I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end;

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you.
Sil. O heaven!

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire.

Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch;

Thou friend of an ill fashion!

Pro. Valentine!

Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or
love;

(For such is a friend now,) treacherous man!
Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say

I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.

The private wound is deepest: O time, most curst!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,

I tenderit here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest : -
Who by repentance is not satisfied,

Fills him with faults, makes him run through all 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 have mine.

Enter Out-laws, with Duke and THURIO.
Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Val. Forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke.
Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,
Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine!

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 means 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,
what is the To which Ithus subscribe, sir Valentine,
matter? Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;

By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd:
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

Jul. O me, unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now?

Look up; speak.

Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd me To deliver a ring to madam Silvia;

[Faints.

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.
[Gives a ring. Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be.

Which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?

Jul. Here'tis; this is it.

Pro. How! let me see:

Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook;

This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

[Shows another ring.

Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart, I gave it unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herself did give it me;

And Julia herselfhath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her, that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd them deeply in her heart;
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.
Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven!

were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error

Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal,
Are men endued with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:

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 alljars
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?

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.

4

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

Persons of the Drama.

Sir JOHN FALSTAFF.

FENTON.

SHALLOW, a country justice.

SLENDER, cousin to Shallow.

Mr FORD,

ROBIN, page to Falstaff.

Mr PAGE, } two gentlemen dwelling at Wind- SIMPLE, servant to Slender.

sor.

WILLIAM PACE, a boy, son to Mr Page.

Sir HUGH EVANS, a Welch parson.

Dr Caius, a French physician.

Host of the Garter Inn.

RUGBY, servant to Dr Caius.

SCENE, - Windsor, and the parts adjacent.

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.

Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old
Slen. I may quarter, coz?

Shal. You may, by marrying.

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

Shal. Not a whit.

coat.

Eva. Yes, py'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjectures: but this is all one: If sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you.

Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.

Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; there is no

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 good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us see honest master Page: Is Fall

staff 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 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 kill'd: - 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 heard

fear of Got in a riot: the Council, look you, shall de-say, he was out-run on Cotsale.

sire 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 endit: and there is another device in my prain, which, perad venture, prings goot discretions with it. There is Anne Page, which is daugther to Master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

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

Eva. It is that fery verson 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'sbed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) give, when

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 good
office between you.

Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak.
Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page.
Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.
Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not that
so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed, he
hath;-at a word, he hath;-believe me; - Robert Shal-
low, esquire, saith, heis wrong'd.
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 broke open my lodge.

Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter?

Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer'd.

Fal. I will answer it straight. - I have done all this:- met: by your leave, good mistress.

Fal. "Twere better for you, if it were known in coun- gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.

Eva. Pauca verba, sir John, good worts.
Fal. Good worts! good cabbage.-Slender, I broke
your head; what matter have you against 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!

Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! - Sir John and Slen. I hope, sir, -I will do, as it shall become one Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hang'd, la,

Re-enter ANNE PAGE.

Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne: - Would I were young, for your sake, mistress Anne!

Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires your worships' company.

Shal. I will wait on him, fair mistress Anne.

Eva. Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace. [Exeunt Shallow and Sir H. Evans. Anne. Will't please your worship to come in, sir? Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well.

Anne. The dinner attends you, sir.

Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth: Go, sirrah, for all you are my man, go, wait upon my cousin Shallow: [Exit Simple.] A justice of peace sometime may be beholden to his friend for a man :-I keep but three men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: But what though?yet I live like a poor gentleman born. Anne. I may not go in without your worship: they will not sit till you come.

Slen. I'faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as though I did.

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in.

Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you: I bruised my shin the other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence, three veneys fora dish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town?

Anne. I think, there are, sir; I heard them talked of. Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel at it, as any man in England: - You are afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not?

Anne. Ay, indeed, sir.

Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen Sackerson loose, twenty times; and have taken him by the chain: but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass'd: -but women, indeed, cannot abide'em; they are very ill-favoured rough things.

SCENE III. - A room in the Garter Inn. Enter FALSTAFF, Host, BARDOLPH, NYM, PISTOL, and ROBIN.

Fal. Mine host of the Garter,

Host. What says my bully-rook? Speak scholarly, and wisely.

Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my followers.

Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag; trot, trot.

Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.

Host. Thou 'rt an emperor, Caesar, Keiser, and Pheezar. I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: said I well, bully Hector?

Fal. Do so, good mine host.

Host. I have spoke; let him follow: let me see thee froth, and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit Host. Fal. Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good trade: An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered servingman, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu.

Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive.

[Exit Bard.

Pist. O base Gongarian wight! wilt thou the spigot

wield?

Nym. He was gotten in drink: is not the humour conceited? His mind is not heroic, and there's the humourofit.

Fal. I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinderbox; his thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful singer, hekept not time.

Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute's rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico for the phrase!

Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.

Pist. Why then, let kibes ensue.

Fal. There is no remedy; I must coneycatch; I

must shift.

Pist. Young ravens must have food.
Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good.
Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
Pist. Two yards, and more.

Page. Come, gentle master Slender, come; we stay two yards about: but I am now about no waste; I am for you. Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.

Re-enter PAGE.

Fal. No quips now, Pistol! Indeed I am in the waist

about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she

Page. By cock and pye, you shall not choose, sir: carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe

the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'drightly, is, Iamsir Iohn Falstaff's.

Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first.

Anne. Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.

Pist. He hath studied her well and translated her well; out of honesty into English.

do you that wrong.

Anne. I pray you, sir.

Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all the rule of her husband's purse; she hath legions of angels.

Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la: I will not Nym. The anchor is deep. Will that humour pass?

Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly, than troublesome; you do yourself wrong, indeed, la.

SCENE II. - The same

Enter Sir HUGH EVANS and SIMPLE.

[Exeunt.

Pist. As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy, say I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the angels.

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her and here another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious eyliads: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

Pist. Then did the sun on dung-hill shine.

Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Here's another letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me;

[Exeunt. they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade