And sing them loud even in the dead of night; But you should pity me.' In short, if she were a man, she would display all the energy which the Duke lacks. No wonder that against her own will she awakens Olivia's love. She herself, as a woman, is condemned to passivity; her love is wordless, deep, and patient. In spite of her sound understanding, she is a creature of emotion. It is a very characteristic touch when, in the scene (iii. 5) where Antonio, taking her for Sebastian, recalls the services he has rendered, and begs for assistance in his need, she exclaims that there is nothing, not even 'lying vainness, babbling drunkenness, or any taint of vice,' that she hates so much as ingratitude. However bright her intelligence, her soul from first to last outshines it. Her incognito, which does not bring her joy as it does to Rosalind, but only trouble and sorrow, conceals the most delicate womanliness. She never, like Rosalind or Beatrice, utters an audacious or wanton word. Her heart-winning charm more than makes up for the high spirits and sparkling humour of the earlier heroines. She is healthful and beautiful, like these her somewhat elder sisters; and she has also their humorous eloquence, as she proves in her first scene with Olivia. Yet there rests upon her lovely figure a tinge of melancholy. She is an impersonation of that 'farewell to mirth' which an able English critic discerns in this last comedy of Shakespeare's brightest years.1 1 'It is in some sort a farewell to mirth, and the mirth is of the finest quality, an incomparable ending. Shakespeare has done greater things, but he has never done anything more delightful.'—Arthur Symons. PERSONS REPRESENTED SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. FENTON, a gentleman. SHALLOW, a country justice. SLENDER, cousin to Shallow. FORD; } two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor. WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to Page. Host of the Garter Inn. MISTRESS FORD. MISTRESS PAGE. ANNE PAGE, her daughter. MISTRESS QUICKLY, servant to Doctor Caius. Servants to PAGE, FORD, etc. Scene-Windsor, and the neighbourhood. I. 175 MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Windsor. Before PAGE's house. Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR SHAL. 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. 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, 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 coat. SHAL. It is an old coat. EVANS. 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 coat. SLEN. I may quarter, coz. SHAL. You may, by marrying. EVANS. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. 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 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 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 Thomas Page, which is pretty. virginity. |