The works of William Shakspeare, life, glossary &c. repr. from the early eds. and compared with recent commentators

Pro. Neither.

Duke. Why, then,

She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;
And Eglamour is in company.

"Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest:
Him he knew well; and guess'd that it was she;
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it:
[not.
Besides, she did not intend confession
At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was
These likelihoods confirm her flight from
hence :

Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot, [fled:
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are
Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.
[Exit.
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.

[Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love

Than hate of Eglamour, that goes with her.
[Exit.
Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that
love,

Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.
[Exit.

SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua. The
Forest. Enter Outlaws with Silvia.

1 Out. Come, come; be patient; we must
[one
bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
2 Out. Come, bring her away. [with her?
1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was
3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-

run us;

But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;
There is our captain. We'll follow him that's
The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape. [fled:
[Exeunt all except the First Outlaw and Silvia.
1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our
captain's cave.

Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine ! this I endure for thee.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Another part of the Forest.
Enter Valentine.

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man !
These shadowy, desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns,
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
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 !
[Noise heard.
What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills
their law,

Have some unhappy passenger in chace.
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.-
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes
[Retires.
here?
Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia.
Pro. Madam, this service I have done for
[doth,)
you,
(Though you respect not aught your servant
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. [Aside.] How like a dream is this I

see and hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear a while.
Sil. O, miserable, unhappy that I am!
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I

came;

But by my coming I have made you happy. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy.

Jul. [Aside.] And me, when he approacheth

to your presence.

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 for one calm look?
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,
[belov'd.
When women cannot love, where they're be-
lov'd!

Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

Thou friend of an ill-fashion!

Pro. Valentine! [faith or love; Val. Thou common friend, that's without (For such is a friend now) treach'rous 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 wouldst disprove me. [hand

Who should be trusted now, when one's right
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!

[worst!

'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the
Pro. My shame and guilt confound me.—
Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender't 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,

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

[Faints.

By penitence th' 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! what's the matter? look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia; which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. [Gives a ring. 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 this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How! Julia!

[oaths, Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy 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 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 mine.

Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize! a prize! a prize! [the duke.— Val. Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord 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,
Milano shall not hold 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,
To which I thus subscribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
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.

Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it With our discourse to make your grace to be.

Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept
withal,

Are men endu'd 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:

smile.

along,

That you will wonder what hath fortuned.-
Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear

Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts.-The story of your loves discovered:
Come; let us go we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
[Exeunt.

SCENE I.-Windsor. Before Page's House.
Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and
Sir Hugh Evans.

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 Gloster, justice of peace and coram.

Shal. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.

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 am of the church, and will Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and cust-alorum. be glad to do my benevolence, to make atoneSlen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gen-ments and compromises between you. tleman born, master parson; who writes him- Shal. The council shall hear it it is a self armigero,-in any bill, warrant, quittance riot. or obligation, armigero.

Eva. It is not meet the council hear a riot;

Shal. Ay, that I do; and have done any there is no fear of Got in a riot: the council, time these three hundred years. look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got,

Slen. All his successors, gone before him, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in have done't; and all his ancestors that come that. after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

Shal. It is an old coat.

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it.

Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, Eva. The dozen white louses do become an and end it: and there is also another device in old coat well; it agrees well, passant: it is a my prain, which, peradventure, prings good familiar beast to man, and signifies-love. 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.

Eva. It is that fery person 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's-bed, (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!) 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 and Mrs. Anne Page.

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?

Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a pet

ter 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. I will peat the door for master Page. [Knocks.] What, ho! Got pless your house here!

Page. [Within.] 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. Enter Page.

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 thank always with my heart, la; with my heart. Page. Sir, I thank you.

you

is not that so, master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;believe me :-Robert Shallow, Esquire, saith, he is wronged.

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 kissed your keeper's daughter? Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answered. Fal. I will answer it straight :-I have done all this.-That is now answered.

Shal. The council shall know this. Fal. "Twere better for you, if it were known in counsel: you'll be laughed at.

Eva. Pauca verba, Sir John; goot 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!
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Pist. How now, Mephostophilus !
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's my humour.

Slen. Where's Simple, my man?-can you tell, cousin?

Now let us

Eva. Peace, I pray you. understand: there is three umpires in this matter, as I understand; that is-master Page, fidelicet, master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter.

Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them.

Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards 'ork upon the cause, with as great discreetly as we Fal. Pistol,

Pist. He hears with ears.

[can.

Eva. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, "He hears with cart" Why, it is affectations. [purse?

Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he,—or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else,—of seven groats in millsixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence apiece of Yead Miller, by these gloves. Fal. Is this true, Pistol?

Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
Pist. Ha, thou mountain foreigner! - Sir
John and master mine,

I combat challenge of this latten bilbo-
Word of denial in thy labras here;

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Eva. It is his "five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; and so conclusions pass'd the careires.

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick; if I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. [mind. Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it.

Enter Anne Page, with Wine; Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within. [Exit Anne Page. Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. Page. How now, mistress Ford ! Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met: by your leave, good mistress. [Kissing her. Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome.Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.

[Exeunt all but Shallow, Slender, and Evans. Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book of Songs and Sonnets here.Enter Simple.

How now, Simple! Where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddles about you, have you?

Sim. Book of Riddles ? why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas ?

Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word with you, coz; marry, this, coz there is, as 'twere a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hugh here: do you understand me?

Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable if it be so, I shall do that that is reason. Shal. Nay, but understand me. Slen. So I do, sir.

Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it.

Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow

says: I pray you pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his country, simple though I stand here.

Eva. But that is not the question: the question is concerning your marriage, Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any reasonable demands.

Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the mouth: therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid? [her? Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love Slen. I hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one that would do reason.

Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards her.

Shal. That you must. Will you, upon good dowry, marry her?

Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon your request, cousin, in any reason.

Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz: what I do, is to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid?

Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we are married, and have more occasion to know one another: I hope, upon familiarity will grow more contempt; but if you say, 'Marry her," I will marry her : that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

Eva. It is a fery discretion answer; save, the faul' is in the 'ort "dissolutely:" the 'ort is, according to our meaning, "resolutely " His meaning is goot.

la.

Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well. Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged,

Shal. Here comes fair mistress Anne.-[Reenter Anne Page.] 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

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The works of William Shakspeare, life, glossary &c. repr. from the ..., Parte 73