href="#ulink_1ef6384f-f606-5358-a55b-067b9452b109">Sc. VI
Act V
Sc. I Sc. II Sc. III Sc. IV Sc. V
[Dramatis Personae
Sir John Falstaff
Fenton, a gentleman
Robert Shallow, a country justice
Abraham Slender, cousin to Shallow
Francis Ford,
George Page, gentlemen of Windsor
William Page, a boy, son to Page
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson
Doctor Caius, a French physician
Host of the Garter Inn
Bardolph,
Pistol,
Nym, followers of Falstaff
Robin, page to Falstaff
Peter Simple, servant to Slender
John Rugby, servant to Doctor Caius
–––––
Mistress Alice Ford
Mistress Margaret Page
Mistress Anne Page, her daughter
Mistress Quickly, servant to Doctor Caius
–––––
Servants to Page, Ford, etc.
Scene: Windsor, and the neighborhood]
ACT I
Scene I
Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, 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 Gloucester, Justice of Peace and Coram.
Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Custa-lorum.
Slen. Ay, and Rato-lorum 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) hath done’t; and all his ancestors (that come after him) may. They may give the dozen white luces in their coat.
Shal. It is an old coat.
Evans. 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.
Evans. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit.
Evans. 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 compremises between you.
Shal. The Council shall hear it, it is a riot.
Evans. 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.
Evans. 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, and speaks small like a woman.
Evans. It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as you will desire, and seven hundred pounds of moneys, 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.
Slen. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?
Evans. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
Slen. I know the young gentlewoman, she has good gifts.
Evans. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts.
Shal. Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff there?
Evans. 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 rul’d 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?
[Enter] Page.
Evans. 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 wish’d your venison 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 see you, good Master Slender.
Slen.
