SCENE.-Windsor, and the parts adjacent. 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 Star-chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Slen. In the county of Glo'ster, justice of peace, and coram. 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 we do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before him, have 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. * A title formerly appropriated to chaplains. + Custos rotulorum. VOL. I. B 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. Shal. You may by marrying. Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. 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 Councilt 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 Ann 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. Eva. It is that fery verson 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 good 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! Page. Who's there? Enter PAGE. 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 + The Court of Star-chamber. § Soft. * By our. + Advisement. • es your good heart! I wished your venison better; it was ill kill'd-How doth good mistress Page ?-and I love 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 Cotsale.* Page. It could not be judged, Sir. Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess. Shal. That he will not;tis your fault, 'tis your fault:-"Tis a good dog. Page. A cur, Sir. Shal. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; Can 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. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, master Page. Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. Shal. If it be confess'd, it is not redress'd; is not that so, master Page? He hath wrong'd me; indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath;-believe me;-Robert Shallow, esquire, saith he is wrong'd. Page. Here comes Sir John. Enter SIR JOHN FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYM, and PISTOL. Fal. Now, master Shallow; you'll complain of me to the king? Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my deer, and broke open my lodge. Fal. But not kiss'd your keeper's daughter? Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answer❜d. Fal. I will answer it straight;-I have done all this :-That is now answer'd. Shal. The Council shall know this. Fal. Twere better for you, if it were known in counsel: you'll be laugh'd at. Eva. Pauca verba, Sir John, good worts. Fal. Good worts!t good cabbage.-Slender, I broke your head: What matter have you against me? Slen. Marry, Sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your coney-catching t rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket. Bard. You Banbury cheese! § Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Pist. How now, Mephostophilus ?|| Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Worts was the ancient name of all the cabbage kind. * Cotswold, in Gloucestershire. Nothing but paring. + Sharpers. The name of an ugly spirit |