Ful. About my stature: for, at Pentecost,
When all our pageants of delight were play'd,
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd trimm'd in madam Julia's gown;

Which serv'd me as fit, by all men's judgment,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore, I know she is about my height.
And, at that time, I made her weep a-good,
For I did play a lamentable part;
Madam, 't was Ariadne, passioning
For Theseus' perjury, and unjust flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!-
Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!-
I weep myself to think upon thy words.
Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her.
Farewell.
[Exit Silvia.

Ful. And she shall thank you for 't, if e'er you know her.

A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful.
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much,
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
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 such a colour'd periwig.

Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead 's low, and mine 's as high.
What should it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 't is thy rival. O thou senseless form,

Pro. Nor I. Saw you my daughter?

Duke. Pro. Neither. Duke. Why, then, she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. [Valentine; 'T is true; for friar Lawrence 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:

Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not:
These likelihoods confirın 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
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled.
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

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.

[Exit.

Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd; And, were there sense in his idolatry,

My substance should be statue in thy stead.

I 'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Ful. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

That used me so; or else, by Jove I vow,

I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,

To make my master out of love with thee.

[Exit.

ACT V.

SCENE I. The same. An Abbey.

Enter Eglamour.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky:

And now, it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at friar Patrick's cell, should meet me. She will not fail; for lovers break not hours,

Unless it be to come before their time;

So much they spur their expedition.

Enter Silvia.

See where she comes: Lady, a happy evening!

Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour,

Out at the postern by the abbey-wall;

I fear I am attended by some spies.

Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off:

If we recover that, we are sure enough,

[Exit.

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

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 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 fled. The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape.

And, that my love may appear plain and free,

This 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,

Who by repentance is not satisfied

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; By penitence the Eternal's wrath 's appeas'd :

[Faints.

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 !
What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase:
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.

Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here? [Steps aside.

Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia.

Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,
(Though you respect not aught your servant doth,)
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. How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Aside.
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. And me, when he approacheth to your pre[Asude.

sence.

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.
0, 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?

0, 't is the curse in love, and still approv'd,

When women cannot love, where they 're belov'd.

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

For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths

Descended into perjury, to love me.

Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two,
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!

Pro.

Who respects friend?

Sil.

In love,

All men but Proteus.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,

1'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end;

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you. Sil. O heaven!

Pro.

I 'll force thee yield to my desire. Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch; Thou friend of an ill-fashion! Pro. Valentine! Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or For such is a friend now;) treacherous man! [love; 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 would'st disprove me. Who should be trusted when one's own right hand 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 ac

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 charged me to deliver a ring to madam Silvia; which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?

Jul. Here 't is: this is it.

[Gives a ring.

Pro. How! let me see; why this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Ful. O, cry your 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.

Ful. And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia!

Ful. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
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,
[minds.
Women to change their shapes, than men their
Pro. Than men their minds! 't is true; O heaven!
But constant, he were perfect that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all
Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins:

Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord the Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banished Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine I Thu. Yonder is Silvia and Silvia 's mine.

Val. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy Come not within the measure of my wrath: [death; Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,

Milan shall not behold 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

And once again I do receive thee honest :

And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

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 b
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.

Duke. What mean you you by that saying? saving? Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder what hath fortuned.Come, Proteus; 't is your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered:

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

[Exeunt.

Sir JOHN FALSTAFF.

FENTON.

SHALLOW, a country justice.
SLENDER, cousin to Shallow.

Mr. FORD, two gentlemen dwell-
Mr. PAGE, ing no at Windsor.
WILLIAM PAGE, a boy, son to
Mr. Page.

ACT I.

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 be glad to do my benevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you.

Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.

Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot; 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 vizaments in that.

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

Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it and there is also another device in my prain, which, peradventure, prings goot 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, d speaks small like a woman,

RUGBY, servant to Dr. Caius.

Mrs. FORD,

Mrs. PAGE.

Mrs. ANNE PAGE, her daughter. Mrs. QUICKLY, servant to Dr. Caius.

Servants to Page, Ford, &c.

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 mistress Anne Page. Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?

Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

Eva. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot 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 [knocks] for master Page. What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

Enter Page.

Page. 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.

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 killed :--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 see you, good master Slender.
Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I

heard say he was out-run on Cotsall.

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

Slen. You 'll not confess, you'll not confess.
Shal. That he will not;-'t is your fault, 't is your

fault:-'T is a good dog.

Page. A cur, sir.

Can

Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog there be more said? he is good, and fair. Is sir John Falstaff here?

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

Eva. It is spoke as a christians ought to speak.

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 dead: But what though? yet I live like a poor gentleman born.

Anne. I may not go in without your worship; they will not sit till you come.

Slen. I' faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as though I did.

Anne. I pray you, sir, walk in.

Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you; I bruised my shin the other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence, three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town?

Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talked

of.

Slen. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen Sackerson loose twenty times; and have taken him by the chain but, I warrant you, the women

trade: an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered servingman a fresh tapster: Go; adieu. Bard. It is a life that I have desired; I will thrive. Pist. O base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield?

[Exit Bard.

Nym. He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour conceited? [His mind is not heroic, and there 's the humour of it.]

Fal. I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box; his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer, he kept not time.

Nym. The good humour is to steal at a minute's rest.

Pist. Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico for the phrase.

Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
Pist. Why then let kibes ensue.

Fal. There is no remedy; I must coney-catch; I

must shift.

Pist. Young ravens must have food.

you

Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist. I ken the wight; he is of substance good.
Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am
about.

Pist. Two yards, and more.

Fal. No quips now, Pistol: Indeed I am in the waist two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to

but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill favoured rough things.

her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be English'd rightly, is, I am sir John Falstaff's.

Pist. He hath studied her will, and translated her will, out of honesty into English.

Nym. The anchor is deep: Will that humour pass? Fal. Now, the report goes she has all the rule of her husband's purse; he hath a legion of angels. Pist. As many devils entertain; and, 'To her boy,' say I.

Nym. The humour rises; it is good humour me

do you that wrong.

Anne. I pray you, sir.

Slen. I 'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome; you do yourself wrong, indeed, la.

SCENE II.-The same.

[Exeunt.

Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and here another to Page's wife; who even now gave me good eyes too; examin'd my parts with most judicious eyliads; sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly. Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. Nym. I thank thee for that humour.

Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass! Here 's another letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be cheater to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both. Go, bear thou this letter to mistress Page; and thou this to

mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we will thrive. Pist. Shall I sir Pandarus of Troy become, And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all! Nym. I will run no base humour: here, take the humour letter; I will keep the haviour of reputation. Fal. Hold, sirrah, [to Rob.] bear you these letters tightly; Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hail-stones, go; Trudge, plod away i' the hoof; seek shelter, pack! Falstaff will learn the humour of the age,

French thrift, you rogues; myself, and skirted page. [Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.

Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam holds,

And high and low beguile the rich and poor;
Tester I 'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk!

Nym. I have operations, which be humours of re