To which I thus subscribe,-Sir Valentine, Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved 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 be. Val. These banished men, that I have kept withal, Are men endued with worthy qualities; Forgive them what they have committed here, And let them be recalled from their exile: They are reformed, civil, full of good, And fit for great employment, worthy lord. Duke. Thou hast prevailed; I pardon them, and thee: Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts. 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 With our discourse to make your grace to smile: What think you of this page, my lord? Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; [Exeunt. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. FENTON. SHALLOW, a country Justice. SLENDER, Cousin to Shallow. MR. FORD, MR. PAGE, S two Gentlemen dwelling at Windsor. WILLIAM PAGE, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh Parson.. DR. CAIUS, a French Physician. Host of the Garter Inn. MRS. ANNE PAGE, her Daughter, in love with Fenton. MRS. QUICKLY, Servant to Dr. Caius. Servants to Page, Ford, &c. SCENE. Windsor, and the Parts adjacent. MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. ACT I. 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 Starchamber 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 Cust-alorum. Slen. Ay, and ratolorum 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, have done't; ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. and all his Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. 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. Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. Shal. Not a whit. Eva. Yes, pe'r-lady; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is tures: 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 compromises between you. Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot. (131) |