Dramatis Perfonæ. Sir John Falstaff. Fenton, a young Gentleman of Small Fortune, in Love with Mrs. Ann Page. Shallow, a Country Justice. Slender, Coufin to Shallow, a foolish Country Squire. Mr. Ford, Two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windfor. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon. Dr. Caius, a French Doctor. Host of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow. Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, Robin, Page to Falstaff. William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. Simple, Servant to Slender. Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. Page, Wife to Mr. Page. Mrs. Ford, Wife to Mr. Ford. Mrs. Ann Page, Daughter to Mr. Page, in Love with Fenton. Mrs. Quickly, Servant to Dr. Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE, Windfor: and the Parts adjacent. THE THE (1) MERRY WIVES of WINDSOR. A C T I. SCENE, before Page's Houfe in Windfer. Enter Juftice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans, S SHALLOW. IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a Starchamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falftaffs, he fhall not abufe Robert Shallow, Efq; Slen. In the county of Gloucester, juftice of peace, and Coram.. To this (1) The Merry Wives of Windfor.] Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleas'd with the admirable character of Falstaff in the Two Parts of Henry IV, that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, the commanded Shakespeare to continue it for one play more, and to fhew him in love. command we owe this comedy of the Merry Wives of Windfor: which, Mr. Gildon fays, he was very well affur'd, our Author finish'd in a fortnight. But this must be meant only, as Mr. Pope has obferv'd, of the first imperfect sketch of this comedy, printed in 1619. The notice of a play, publish'd feventeen years after Queen Elizabeth's death, does no ways come in fupport of the tradition, that it was perform'd for that Princess's entertainment. But I have another old quarto edition of this comedy, (which, I prefume, Mr. Pope never faw ;) printed in 1602; which fays in the title-pageAs it hath been diverfe times acted both before her Majesty and elf wh.re. The reader will find the title of this old play at length, in my catalogue of editions prefix'd to this work. Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and Cuftalerum. Slen. Ay, and Rato-larum too; and a gentleman born, mafter parion, 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 fucceffors, gone before him, have don't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may; they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Sbal. It is an old coat, Eva. The dozen white lowfes do become an old coat well; it agrees well, paffant; it is a familiar beast to man, and fignifies love. Shal. The luce is the fresh-fifh, the falt-fifh is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz. Shal. You may by marrying." Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. Eva. Yes, per-lady; if he has a quarter of your eoat, there is but three fkirts for yourself, in my fimple conjectures; but that is all one: if Sir John Falstaff have committed difparagements upon you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromifes between you. bu Shal. The council fhall hear it; it is a riot. Eva. It is not meet, the council hear of a riot; there is no fear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, fhall defire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a fiot; take your viza-ments in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the fword fhould end it. Eva. It is petter that friends is the fword, and end it; and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings good difcretions with it: there is Ann Page, (2) which is daughter to mafter George Page, which is pretty virginity. (2) Oh I which is daughter to mafter Thomas Page, The whole fet of editions have negligently blunder'd one after another in Page's chriftian name in this place; tho' Mrs. Page calls him George afterwards in at least six several paffages. Slen. |