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Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me fuch a colour'd periwig1.
Her eyes are grey as glass: and fo are mine;

Ay, but her forehead's low; and mine's as high.
What fhould it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make refpective 3 in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?

Come, fhadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thou fenfelefs form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kifs'd, lov'd, and ador'd
And, were there fenfe in his idolatry,
My fubftance fhould be ftatue in thy ftead.
I'll ufe thee kindly for thy mistress' fake,
That us'd me fo; or elfe, by Jove I vow,
I should have fcratch'd out your unfeeing eyes,
To make my mafter out of love with thee. [Exita

SCENE I.

ACT

Near the Friar's cell, in Milan.

Enter Eglamour.

Egl. Tand now it is about the very hour
HE fun begins to gild the western sky;

That Silvia, at friar Patrick's cell, fhould meet me.
She will not fail; for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they fpur their expedition.

See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening.
Enter Silvia.

Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall;

I fear, I am attended by fome spies.

Egl. Fear not the foreft is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are fure 4 enough. [Excunt.

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An apartment in the Duke's palace.

Enter Thurio, Protheus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Protheus, what fays Silvia to my fuit? Pro. Oh, fir, I find her milder than fhe was; And yet she takes exceptions at your perion. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. [rounder. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it fomewhat Pro. But love will not be fpurr'd to what it loaths.

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Thu. What fays fhe to my face?
Pro. She fays, it is a fair one.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old faying is, "Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes."

Jal. 'Tis true, fuch pearls as put out ladies' eyes; For I had rather wink, than look on them. [Afide. Thu. How likes the my difcourfe? Pro. Il, when you talk of war.

[peace?

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[Valentine;

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wander'd through the foreft: Him he knew well, and guefs'd that it was the; But, being mafk'd, he was not sure of it: Befides, the did intend confettion At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: Thefe likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. Therefore, I pray you, ftand not to discourse, But mount you prefently; and meet with me Upon the rifing of the mountain-foot That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled : Difpatch, fweet gentlemen, and follow me. [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 difcourfe of love, and Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love,
Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.
Jul. And I will follow, more to crofs that love,
Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

peace.

Thu. What fays fhe to my valour?

[Afide.

Pro. Oh, fir, fhe makes no doubt of that.

[Exeunt.

It fhould be remembered, that falfe hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fafhion. Thefe faife coverings, however, were call'd periwigs. 2 A high forehead was in Shakspeare's time accounted a feature eminently beautiful, 3 That is, refpetful or refpectable.

4 Sure means fafe, 5 Own them,

SCENE

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Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mifchances, than this one,
Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
2 Out. Come, bring her away.

[her?
1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with
3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run-us;
But Moyfes, and Valerius, follow him.
Go thou with her to the weft end of the wood,
There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled;
The thicket is befet, he cannot 'scape.

Rather than have falfe Protheus rescue me.
Oh, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whofe life's as tender to me as my foul;
And full as much (for more there cannot be)
I do deteft falfe perjur'd Protheus:
Therefore be gone, folicit me no more.

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look?
Oh, 'tis the curfe in love, and ftill approv'd,
When women cannot love, where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Protheus cannot love, where he's belov❜d.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whofe dear fake thou didft then rend thy faith
Into a thoufand oaths; and all thofe oaths
Defcended into perjury, to love me.

1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our cap-Thou haft no faith left now, unless thou hadst two,

tain's cave:

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Who fhould be truited, when one's own right hand
Is perjur'd to the bofom? Protheus,

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn fwain !—I have one friend alive; thou wouldft difprove me.
What hallooing, and what ftir is this to-day?
Thefe are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have fome unhappy paffenger 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 here?
[Val. fteps afide.

Enter Protheus, Silvia and Julia.
Pro. Madam, this fervice have I done for you,
(Though you refpect not aught your fervant doth)
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,
That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love.
Vouchfafe me for my meed 2 but one fair look;
A fmaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am fure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this, I fee, and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Afide.
Sil. O miferable, unhappy that I am!

Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came :
But, by my coming, I have made you happy. [py.
Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhap-
Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
presence.

I am forry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a ftranger for thy fake.
The private wound is deepest: Oh time, moft curft!
'Mongft all foes, that a friend fhould be the worst!
Pro. My fhame and guilt confounds me.-
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty forrow
Be a fufficient raniom for offence,
I tender it here; I do as truly fuffer,

As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest:
Who by repentance is not fatisfy'd,

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;
By penitence the 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. Oh me unhappy!
Pro. Look to the boy.

[Faints. [the matter?

Val. Why, boy! why wag! how now! what is
Look up; fpeak.

Jul. O good fir, my mafter charg'd me
To deliver a ring to madam Silvia;

[Afide.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, would have been a breakfast to the beast,

Which, out of my neglect, was never done.

I

1 To record anciently fignified to fing. Record is alfo a term still used by bird-fanciers, to ex the first essays of a bird in singing. 2 That is, reward,

ref

Pra.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. Pro. How! let me fee: 'Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

I hold him but a fool, that will endanger [Gives a ring. His body for a girl that loves him not:

Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, fir, I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Shews another ring. Pro. But how cam'ft thou by this ring? At my depart, I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herfelf 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: How oft haft thou with perjury cleft the root? Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush! Be thou afham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodeft rayment; if shame live In a difguife of love:

It is the leffer blot, modefty finds,

Women to change their fhapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: oh heaven!

were man

But conftant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all fins:
Inconftancy 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 bleft to make this happy clofe;
'Twere pity two fuch friends fhould long be foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heaven,

I have my with for ever.

ful. And I mine.

Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

[duke.

Val. Forbear, forbear, 1 fay; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man difgrac'd, Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine!

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. [death; Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy Come not within the measure of my wrath: Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Milan fhall not behold thee. Here the ftands, Take but poffeffion of her with a touch ;I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.—

Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.

Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,
And leave her on fuch flight conditions.—
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy fpirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an emprefs' love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.
Plead a new ftate in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus fubfcribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou haft deferv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made me
happy.

I now befeech you, for your daughter's fake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.

Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it 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 reform'd, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

Duke. Thou haft prevail'd: I pardon them, and

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That is, the reach of my anger. 2 To include is to shut up, to conclude,

[Exeunt omnes.

MERRY

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Slex. In the county of Gloster, juftice of peace, coat well; it agrees well, patiant: it is a familiar and coram.

Sbal. Ay, coufin Slender, and 4 cuftalorum.
Sien. Ay, and ratalorum too; and a gentleman
torn, mafter parfon; who writes himfelf armigero;
in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, ar-
migero.

beast to man, and fignifies-love.

Shal. The luce 5 is the fresh fish; the falt fish is an old coat.

Slen. I may quarter, coz.

Shal. You may, by marrying,

Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.

1 Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleafed with the admirable character of Falftaff in the Two Parts of Henry IV. that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, fhe commanded Shakspeare to continue it for one play more, and to fhew him in love. To this command we owe The Merry Wives of Windfor which, Mr. Gildon fays, he was very well atfured our author finished in a fortnight. 2 This is the first, of fundry inftances in our poet, where a parfon is called fr; upon which it may be obferved, that anciently it was the common defignation both of one in holy orders and a knight. 3 The Star-chamber had a right to take cognizance of routs and riots. 4 Probably intended for a corruption of Cafios Rotulorum. The luce is a pike or jack. This paffage is alfo fuppofed to point at Sir Thoinas Lucy, who was the cause of Shakspeare's leaving Stratford.

Sbal,

Shal. Not a whit.

Eva. Yes, py 'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your ebat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my fimple conjectures: but that is all one: If fir John Falstaff have committed difparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromites between you.

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 riots take your vizaments 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 goot difcretions with it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to mafter George Page, which is pretty virginity.

Slen. Mistress Anne Page? fhe has brown hair, and fpeaks fmall like a woman.

Eva. It is that very person for all the 'orld, as juft as you will defire; and feven hundred pounds of monies, and gold, and filver, is her grandfire, upon) his death's-bed, (Got deliver to a joyful refurrections!) give, when she is able to overtake feventeen years old: it were a goot motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire a marriage between mafter Abraham and miftrefs Anne Page.

Slen. Did her grandfire leave her feven hundred pounds?

Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.

Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; fhe has good gifts.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and poffibilities, is good gifts.

Shal. Well, let us fee honeft mafter Page: Is Falftaff there?

Eva. Shall I tell you a lie? I do defpife a liar, as I do defpife one that is falfe; or, as I defpife one that is not true. The knight, fir John, is there; and, I befeech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I will peat the door [ Knocks] for mafter Page. What, hoa! Got plefs your houfe here! Enter Page. Page. Who's there?

Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your friend, and juftice Shallow and here is young mafter Slender, that, peradventures, shall tell you another}

tale, if matters grow to your likings.

Page. I am glad to fee your worships well: I thank you for my venison, master Shallow.

Shal. Mafter Page, I am glad to fee you: Much good do it your good heart! I wish'd your venifon better; it was ill kill'd:-How doth good mistress Page ?—and I thank you always with my heart, la; with my heart.

Page. Sir, I thank you.

Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do. Page. I am glad to fee you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, fir? I heard say he was out-run on Cotsale 2.

Page. It could not be judg'd, fir.

Sten. You'll not confefs, you'll not confefs. Shal. That he will not;-'tis your fault, 'tis your fault:-'Tis a good dog.

Page. A cur, fir.

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can there be more faid? he is good, and fair.-Is fir John Falstaff here?

a

Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do
good office between you.

Eva. It is fpoke as a chriftians ought to speak.
Shal. He hath wrong'd me, mafter Page.
Page. Sir, he doth in fome fort confefs it.

Shal. If it be confefs'd, it is not redrefs'd; is not that fo, mafter Page? He hath wrong'd me;-indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;-believe me; -Robert Shallow, efquire, faith, he is wrong'd.

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Page. Here comes fir John.

Enter Sir John Falfaff, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. Fal. Now, mafter Shallow; you'll complain of me to the king?

Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, kill'd my deer, and broke open my lodge.

Fal. But not kifs'd your keeper's daughter?
Shal. Tut, a pin! this fhall be anfwer'd.
Fal. I will anfwer it ftrait ;-I have done an
this:-That is now anfwer'd.

Shal. The council fhall know this.
Fal. "Twere better for you, if 'twere known in
council 3; you'll be laughed at.

Eva. Paula verba, fir John; good worts.

Fal. Good worts 4! good cabbage :-Slender, I broke your head; What matter have you againft me?

Slen. Marry, fir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching 5 rai cals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. Bar, You Banbury cheese ! Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Advisement is now an obfolete word, 2 He means Cotfwold, in Glouceflerfhire; where in the beginning of the reign of James the First, by permiflion of the king, Ďover, a public-spirited' attorney of Barton on the Heath, in Warwickshire, inftituted on the hills of Cotswold an annual celebration of games, confifting of rural fports and exercifes. Thefe he constantly conducted in perfon, well mounted, and accoutred in a fuit of his majefty's old cloaths; and they were fre quented above forty years by the nobility and gentry for fixty miles round, till the grand rebellion abolished every liberal eftablishment. The games were, chiefly, wrestling, leaping, pitching the bar, handling the pike, dancing of women, various kinds of hunting, and particularly courfing the hare with greyhounds. 3 Falstaff here probably quibbles between council and counfel; the Jaiter fignifies fecrecy; and his meaning feems to be, Twere better for you if it were known only in fecrecy. i. e. among your friends. 4 forts was the ancient name of all the cabbage kind. SA coney-catcher was, in the time of Elizabeth, a common name for a cheat or fharper. This alludea to the thin carcale of Slender.

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