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VILLE DE LYON Biblioth. du Palais des Arts

:

F. Hayman inv.

A.Gravelot sculps

The merry WIVES of WINDSOR. Act.3.Sc.9.

THE

MERRY WIVES

i

OF

WINDSOR.

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

Sir JOHN FALSTAFF.

FENTON, a young Gentleman of Small Fortune, in love with

Mrs. ANNE PAGE.

SHALLOW, a Country Justice.

SLENDER, Cousin to SHALLOW, a foolish Country 'Squire.

Mr. PAGE, 2

}

Mr. FORD, two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windfor.

Sir HUGH EVANS, a Welch Parson.

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

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Before Page's house in Windfor.

Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans.

S

SHALLOW.

IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a starchamber matter of it: if he were twenty fir 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 cuftałorum.

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 don't; and all his ancestors that come after him may; they may give the doz en white luces in their coat.

Shal. It is an old coat.

• This play was written in the author's best and ripeft years, after Henry the fourth, by the command of queen Elizabeth. There is a tradition that it was compos'd at a fortnight's warning. But that must be meant only of the first imperfect sketch of this comedy, which is yet extant in an old quarto edition, printed 1619. This which we here have, was alter'd and improv'd by the author almost in every speech.

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