Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. Duke. How now, sir Protheus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late? Thu. Not I. Pro. Nor I. Duke. Saw you my daughter? 35 Pro. Neither. [Valentine; Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. Tis true; for fríar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wander'd through the forest: 40 Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it: Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: 45 Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. Ill, when you talk of war. [peace? [Exit Duke. Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless Silvia. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and 55 Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your [Aside. peace. Thu. What says she to my valour? Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exeunt. It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. These false coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time accounted a feature eminently beautiful. That is, respectful, or respectable. Sure means safe. • Own them. 3 4 SCENE SCENE ΙΙΙ. Enter Silvia and Outlaws. Out. Come, come; Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, Rather than have false Protheus rescue me. [death, 51 do detest false perjur'd Protheus: 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's 15 Descended into perjury, to love me. cave: Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, And will not use a woman lawlessly. Sul. O Valentine, this I endure for thee! SCENE IV. The Outlaws cave in the forest. [two, Thou hast no faith lett now, unless thou hadst And that's far worse than none; better have none Than plural faith, which is too much by one: Thou counterfeit to thy true friend! [Exeunt. 20 Pro. In love Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia. Who respects friend? Sil. All men but Protheus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words And love you'gainst the nature of love, force you. Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire. 30 Thou friend of an ill fashion! Pro. Valentine! [or love; Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith (For such is a friend now) treacherous man! Thou hast beguild my hopes; nought butmine eye 35 Could have persuaded me: Now I dare not say, I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me. Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus, I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, 40 But count the worlda stranger for thy sake. [curst! Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you, 45 Be a sufficient ransom for offence, (Though you respect not aught your servant doth) And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. I tender it here; I do as truly suifer, Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest: 50 Who by repentance is not satisfy'd, Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came: 55 Jul. Oh me unhappy! But, by my coming, I have made you happy. [py. presence. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, To record anciently signified to sing. press the first essays of a bird in singing. Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. [the matter? Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charged me 60 To deliver a ring ring to madam Silvia; Which, out of my neglect, was never done. Record is also a term still used by bird-fanciers, to ex Pro. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. [Gives a ring. I hold him but a fool, that will endanger Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou, Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, sir, I have mistook: 5 To make such means for her as thou hast done, This is the ringyousent toSilvia.[Shewsanotherring Pro. But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my [depart, I gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither, Pro. How! Julia? Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: And leave her on such slight conditions.- 15 Take thou thy Sylvia, for thou hast deserv'd her. I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, [minds. Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal, Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true; oh hea ven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all Are men endu'd with worthy qualities; 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; [sins: 25 And let them be recall'd from their exile: Twere pity two such friends should long be foes. 30 Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. Jul. And I mine. Enter Outlarus, with Duke and Thurio. Come, let us go; we will include2 all jars Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! [duke. 35 What think you of this page, my lord? Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banished Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine! Thu. Yonderis Silvia; and Silvia's mine [death; 40 Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder, what hath fortuned.- [Exeunt omnes. That is, the reach of my anger. To include is to shut up, to conclude. MERRY Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come after him, Enter Justice Shallov, Slender, andSir Hugh Evans. 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 Gloster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and custalorum. Slen. Ay, and ratalorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero. their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a fa10 miliar 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. 15 Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. Queen Elizabeth was so well pleased with the admirable character of Falstaff in the Two Parts of Henry IV. that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, she commanded Shakspeare to continue it for one play more, and to shew him in love. To this command we owe The Merry Wives of Windsor: which, Mr. Gildon says, he was very well assured our author finished in a fortnight. This is the first of sundry instances in our poet, where a parson is called sir; upon which it may be observed, that anciently it was the common designation both of one in holy orders and a knight. The Star-chamber had a right to take cognizance of routs and riots. Probably intended for a corruption of Custos Rotulorum. The luce is a pike or jack. This passage is also supposed to point at Sir Thomas Lucy, who was the cause of Shakspeare's leaving Stratford. Shal Shal. Not a whit. tale, if matters grow to your likings. 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 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 son better; it was ill kill'd:-How doth good mistress Page?-and I thank you always with iny heart, la; with my heart. Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you, 5 good do it your good heart! I wish'd your veni 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 rjot. Page. Sir, I thank you. Eva. It is not meet the council hear of a riot; 10 Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. 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 vizaments1 in that. Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it. Era. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it: and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings good 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 small like a woman. Page. I am glad tosee you, good master Slender. heard say he was out-run on Cotsale 2. Page. It could not be judg'd, sir. 15 Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; 20 can there be more said? he is good, and fair.-Is sir John Falstaff here? Poge. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good office between you. Eva. It is that very person for all the 'orld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak. of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire, 25 Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. upon his death's-bed, (Got deliver to a joyful resur Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. rections!) give, when she is able to overtake seven Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not teen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me;-indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath;-believe me; between master Abraham and mistress Anne Page. 30 -Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wrong'd. Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has 35 Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, kill'd 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. my deer, and broke open my lodge. Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter? Fal. I will answer it straat; -I have done all 40 this:-That is now answer'd. Shal. The council shall know this. Fal. "Twere better for you, if'twere known in counsel; you'll be laughed at. I will peat the door [Knocks] for master Page. 45 Fal. Good worts 4! good cabbage:-Slender, I Eva. Pauca verba, sir John; good worts. 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, Nyn, and Pistol. Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and justice Shallow: and here is young master 50 Bar. You Banbury cheese! Slender, that peradventures shall tell you another Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Advisement is now an obsolete vord. 2 He means Cotswold, in Gloucestershire; where in the beginning of the reign of James the First, by permission of the king, Dover, a public-spirited attorney of Barton on the Heath, in Warwickshire, instituted on the hills of Cotswold an annual celebration of games, consisting of rural sports and exercises. These he constantly conducted in person, well mounted, and accoutred in a suit of his majesty's old cloaths; and they were frequented above forty years by the nobility and gentry for sixty miles round, till the grand rebellion abolished every liberal establishment. The games were, chiefly, wrestling, leaping, pitching the bar, handling the pike, dancing of women, various kinds of hunting, and particularly coursing the hare with greyhounds. Falstaff here probably quibbles between council and counsel; the latter signifies secrecy; and his meaning seems to be, 'Twere better for you if it were known only in secrecy, i. e. among your friends. * Worts was the ancient name of all the cabbage kind. A coney-catcher was, in the time of Elizabeth, a common name for a cheat or sharper. This alludes to the thin carcase of Slender. 3 |