DRAMATIS PERSONE. Sir JOHN FALSTAFF. FENTON, a young Gentleman of fmall Fortune, in love with Mrs. ANNE PAGE. SHALLOW, a Country Juftice. SLENDER, Coufin to SHALLOW, a foolish Country 'Squire. Mr. PAGE, 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, Sharpers attending on FALSTAFF. 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. Anne PAGE, Daughter to Mr. PAGE, in love with FENTON. Mrs. QUICKLY, Servant to Dr. CAIUS. Servants to PAGE, FORD, &c. SCENE Windfor. THE THE MERRY WIVES OF WIND SO R. ACT I. SCENE I. Before Page's house in Windfor. 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 fir John Falstaffs, he fhall not abuse Robert Shallow, efquire. Slen. In the county of Gloucester, juftice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, coufin Slender, and cuftalorum. Slen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parfon, 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 doz en white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. * This play was written in the author's beft and ripeft years, after Henry the fourth, by the command of queenz Elizabeth. There is a tradition that it was compos'd at a fortnight's warning. But that must be mean only of the first imperfect sketch of this comedy, which is yet extant in an old quarto edition, printed in 1619. This which we here have, was alter'd and improv'd by the author almost in every speech. |