their ingenious conduct, and happy termination-deserve every praise; and the incidents of the buck-basket, the Fairies, and the battle-royal between the body curer and the soul-curer, the French quack and the Welsh parson, are among the most grotesque and humorous that were ever exhibited on the stage.

It was the custom, in feudal times, when a knight, or, in other words, a lordly freebooter, had exhausted his stores, to put before his villains or dependents, an empty platter with a pair of spurs in it, which signified that they must renew their quest of plunder, if they would eat, drink, and be merry. And Sir John Falstaff, being put to similar shifts, threatens to discharge some of his followers, and. among the rest, his withered serving-man, Lieutenant Bardolph, against whom he has especial cause of complaint; for Bardolph, not having the fear of the gallows before his eyes, and being instigated by the love of sack, upholds not the decency of his vocation, but, like an unskilful singer, keeps not time in his filching: he steals in so open and bare-faced a manner, as to put even Sir John to the blush; he therefore resolves to get rid of this tinder-box, who, having been begotten in drink, very naturally subsides into the tapster of mine host of the Garter. The knight then opens his mind to Pistol and Nym, declaring, as a dernier resort, that he must coney-catch, and gives each of them a letter, one to Mrs. Ford, and another to Mrs. Page. But these rebellious varlets, not entering into his humour, refuse the office, and (that there should not be honour among thieves!) bear the secret of his intentions to the husbands of the two merry wives. Such is the groundwork of this admirable comedy. The adventures of Falstaff seem to have been borrowed from an old piece, entitled, "Tarleton's News out of Purgatorie." The second plot involves the ludicrous passion of Slender, the knight-errantry between the French Doctor and the Welsh Priest, and the marriage of Fenton with "sweet Anne Page." The humour is much beightened by provincial accent and broken English, forming a combination of phrases the most whimsical that can be imagined.

It has been said that Addison killed Sir Roger-de-Coverley, that no future author might take liberties with the eccentric knight, and that Shakspeare performed the same kind office to Mercutio, that Mercutio might not kill him! The first assertion rests upon good authority, the latter upon none; for, though Mercutio literally overflows with wit, he will bear no comparison with Falstaff, and if Shakspeare could re-animate this brilliant conception, he might, with little exertion, have prolonged the life of Mercutio to the conclusion of the play, had it suited his design. Mr. Chalmers, after having most unaccountably confounded the bodily with the dramatic death of Falstaff, pronounces it impossible that Elizabeth could have commanded his revival, and on a presumption the most ridiculous-that at this time "She was in no proper mood for such fooleries." This is good; since we have it from the best authority, that she remained attached to fooleries a thousand times more reprehensible than commanding a fine comedy, to the very last. She assumed her carrotty locks, swallowed the grossest flattery, and exposed her crazy person in a dance, at the tender age of sixty-eight! Her early life, schooled in adversity, promised better things than were realized in her after days. She lived in a fortunate time-surrounded by men eminent in every art and science, whose names cast a glory round her reign, sullied as it is by cruelty and frivolity, equally revolting and contemptible. Had Mr. Chalmers transferred his scepticism to the Shaksperian forgeries, he had de served a better title to a critic and antiquarian. He could question a probable tradition of Rowe's, and at the same time give implicit

credit to a cheat so impudent and palpable that the most moderate portion of antiquarian knowledge and research would have instantly detected and exposed.

The first rough draught of this comedy, which is said to have been written and finished in a fortnight, is but a meagre and imperfect sketch, compared with the present finished drama. Pope mentions an edition of 1602: the only one ever seen by the Editor, and which is in his possession, bears the date of 1619.

The scene is laid at Windsor-a name venerable for its antiquity, and consecrated to immortality by the muse of Rope and Shakspeare. When its magnificent forest shall be laid low by the sacrilegious axe, or by the slow hand of all-consuming time, the poet of future ages shall behold in imagination the sylvan splendour of its enchanting scenes: and Herne's oak, associated with Falstaff, and fairy revelry, shall remain fresh and green in the eye of succeeding generations.

It is to be regretted, that so perfect an imitator of the human race as Garrick, did not attempt the character of Falstaff: but Quin had made it so entirely his own, that Garrick, like a true master of his art, would not run the risk of equalling, what he felt conscious he could never surpass:

"For fools rush in, where angels fear to tread."

Henderson, who could not stand in awe of Quin's excellence, he having never seen that great actor perform, gave the town his portrait of Falstaff, which has never since met with its equal for richness and humour.

Mr. Dowton seems more at home in this comedy, than in the first part of Henry IV. His description of the unctious contents of the back-basket is highly coloured and comical.

Mr. Kemble, as Ford, gave a fine tone of seriousness to the pervading drollery of the Merry Wives of Windsor: his acting was a happy mixture of tragic earnestness and cervantic humour. Emery, as the Host; Farley and Blanchard, as Dr. Caius and Sir Hugh; and Mrs. Davenport as Dame Quickly, set all gravity at defiance.

D

-G.

STAGE DIRECTIONS.

The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances.

EXITS and ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; D. F. Door in Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door.

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right of Centre; L. C. Left of Centre.

R.

RC.

C.

LC.

L.

The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience.

Costume.

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.-Light blue cloak with hanging sleeves, buff jacket and light blue breeches, black velvet hat, and russet boots. SHALLOW. Brown old English dress, trimmed with orange.. SLENDER.-White old English shape, trimmed with pink, pink stockings, shoes and roses.

FENTON.-Green old Euglish dress, trimmed with orange colour. PAGE.-Drab and green: drab hat and scarlet feather, green pantaloons, rnsset boots.

FORD.Slate and crimson shape, gray silk stockings, russet boots. Brown cloak for disguise.

EVANS.-Black old English dress.

CAIUS.-Black coat and breeches, brocaded waistcoat, red cloak, and muff.

NYM.-Drab-coloured old English dress, trimmed with green.
PISTOL-Buff old English dress, trimmed with scarlet.

BARDOLPH.-Drab and dark blue, drab hat, turned up in front.
SIMPLE.-Green-coloured old English dress trimmed with yellow,
yellow stockings, shoes, high-crowned hat.
HOST.-Crimson and black.

ROBIN.-Scarlet dress, round black hat edged with feathers.(Dressed after the fashion of Sir J. FALSTAFF.)

MRS. FORD and MRS. PAGE.-Black velvet gowns, ditto stomachers laced with pink, pink petticoats, point aprons, black velvet hats, trimmed with pink satin ribbon.

ANNE PAGE.-White sarsnet petticoat, light blue body with tabs, trimmed with white, light blue hat trimmed with beads and white ribbon.

MRS. QUICKLY.-Black silk gown, blue silk apron, black hat, blue trimmings.

Cast of the Characters, as performed at the Theatre Royal,

Drury Lane.

THE

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

ACT I.

SCENE I-View of Windsor Castle in back ground. -Page's House R. S. E.

Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and EVANS, L.

Shal. (R. c.) Sir Hugh, persuade me not: I will make a Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

Šlen. (L. c.) 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 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, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

Shal. It is an old coat.

Eva. (c.) The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies-love.

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, 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 John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, I will be glad

to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compro

mises between you.

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 Pagé, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? she has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman.

Eva. It is that very 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, 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 here, and mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pounds?

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 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. [SHALLOW and SLENDER confer L. c.] I will peat the door for master Page. [Crosses and knocks R.] What, hoa! 'pless your house here!

Enter PAGE, R.

Page. (R.) Who's there?

:

Eva. Here is your friend, and justice Shallow and here young master Slender.

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; how doth good Mistress Page?-and I thank you always with my heart, la; with my heart.

Page. (R. C.) Sir, I thank you.
Shal. Is Sir John Falstaff here?