Is nor of heav'n nor earth, for these are pleas'd;
By penitence th' Eternal's wrath's appeas'd.
And that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee, a
Jul. Oh me unhappy!

Pro: Look to the boy.

[Swoons.

Val. Why, boy? how now? what's the matter? look up; speak.

Jul. O good Sir, my mafter charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?

Jul. Here 'tis: this is it.

Pro. How? let me fee:

This is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, Sir, I have miftook; This is the ring you fent to Silvia.

Pro. How cam'ft thou by this ring? at my depart

I gave this unto Julia.

Ful. And Julia her felf did give it me.

And Julia her felf hath brought it hither.

Pro. How, Julia?

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart:

How oft haft thou with perjury cleft the root on't?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush:

Be thou afham'd that I have took upon me

Such an immodeft raiment, if fhame live
In a difguife of love;

It is the leffer blot modefty finds,

Women to change their fhapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true; oh heav'n! were But conftant, he were perfect; that one error

[man Fills

(a) This paffage either hath been much fophifticated or is one great proof that the main parts of this Play did not proceed from Shakespear: for it is impoffible He could make Valentine act and speak fo much out of characters or give to Silvia fo unnatural a behaviour as to take no notice of this frange declaration if it had been made.

8 cleft the root ?

Fills him with faults, makes him run through all fins: Inconftancy falls off ere it begins.

What is in Silvia's face but I may spy

More fresh in Julia's with a conftant eye?
Val. Come, come, a hand from either:
Let me be bleft to make this happy clofe;
'Twere pity two fuch friends fhould long be foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heav'n, I have my wifh for ever.
Jul. And I mine.

Enter Duke, Thurio, and Out-laws.

Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Val. Forbear, forbear, it is my lord the Duke. Your Grace is welcome to a man difgrac'd,

The banish'd Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine?

Thu. Yonder is Silvia: and Silvia's mine.

Val. Thurio, give back; or else embrace thy death: Come not within the measure of my wrath.

Do not name Silvia thine; - 9 'but once again,
And Milan fhall not hold thee. Here fhe ftands,

Take but poffeffion 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 fhe is thine.

Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,
And leave her on fuch flight conditions.
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,

I do applaud thy fpirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an Emprefs' love:
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
VOL. 1.

P

Cancel

Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus fubfcribe: 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 happy,
I now befeech you, for your daughter's fake,

To grant one boon that I fhall ask of you.

Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd men that I have kept withal,
Are men endu'd 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 haft prevail'd, I pardon them and thee;
Difpofe of them as thou know'ft their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will 'conclude all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and all folemnity.

Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold With our difcourfe to make your Grace to fmile. What think you of this page, my lord?

Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him, he blushes..
Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.
Duke. What mean you by that faying?

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pafs along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
Come, Protheus, 'tis your penance but to hear
The story of your love difcovered:

That done, our day of marriage fhall be yours,
One feaft, one houfe, one mutual happiness.

[Exeunt omnes

THE

MERRY WIVES

OF

WIND SO R

P 2

SIR John Falstaff.

Fenton, a young gentleman of fmall Fortune, in love with Mrs. Anne Page.

Shallow, a Country Justice.

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