Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes; Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still! [sleeps. The ghost of prince Edward, son to Henry VI. rises between the two tents.

Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow! [to king Richard. Think, how thou stab'dst me in my prime of youth,

At Tewksbury; despair, therefore, and die!

Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf: King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee.

The ghost of king Henry VI. rises. Ghost. When I was mortal, my anointed body [to king Richard. By thee was punched full of deadly holes : Think on the Tower, and me; despair, and die; Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die!-Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror ! [to Richmond. Harry, that prophesy'd thou should'st be king, Doth comfort thee in thy sleep; live, and flourish! The ghost of Clarence rises.

Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow! [to king Richard. I, that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine, Poor Clarence, by thy guile betray'd to death! To-morrow in the battle think on me, And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die! Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster, [to Richmond. The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee; Good angels guard thy battle! live, and flourish! The ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, rise. Riv. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow, [to king Richard. Rivers, that died at Pomfret! despair, and die! Grey. Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair! [to king Richard. Vaugh. Think upon Vaughan; and, with guilty fear,

Let fall thy lance! despair, and die!

ard's bosom

[to king Richard. All. Awake! and think, our wrongs in Rich[to Richmond. will conquer him ;-awake, and win the day! The ghost of Hastings rises. Ghost. Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake; [to king Richard. And in a bloody battle end thy days! Think on lord Hastings: and despair, and die!Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake! [to Richmond. Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake! The ghosts of the two young Princes rise. Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins, smother'd in the Tower;

Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death!

Thy nephews' souls bid thee despair, and die.Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in

The ghost of queen Anne rises.
Ghost. Richard! thy wife, that wretched Anne,
thy wife,

That never slept a quiet hour with thee,
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations :
To-morrow, in the battle, think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die!—
Thou, quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep;
[to Richmond.
Dream of success and happy victory;
Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee.
The ghost of Buckingham rises.
Ghost. The first was I, that help'd thee to the
[to king Richard.
The last was I, that felt thy tyranny:
O, in the battle think on Buckingham,
And die in terror of thy guiltiness!
Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death
Fainting, despair: despairing, yield thy breath!
I died for hope, ere I could lend thee aid:

crown;

;

[to Richmond. But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd: God, and good angels, fight on Richmond's side; And Richard falls in height of all his pride. [the ghosts vanish; king Richard starts out of his dream.

K. Rich. Give me another horse,-bind up my wounds ;

Have mercy, Jesu!-Soft; I did but dream.-
O, coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!-
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight.
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.
What do I fear? myself? there's none else by:
Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I.
Is there a murderer here? No;-Yes; I am.
Then fly,-what, from myself? Great reason.
why?

Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself?
I love myself? Wherefore? for any good,
That I myself have done unto myself?
O, no; alas, I rather hate myself
For hateful deeds committed by myself.
I am a villain! Yet I lie, I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well.-Fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the high'st degree;
Murder, stern murder, in the dir'st degree;
All several sins, all us'd in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all,—guilty! guilty!
I shall despair.-There is no creature loves me!
And, if I die, no soul will pity me.—
Nay, wherefore should they? since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself.
Methought, the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent; and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.
Enter Ratcliff.

[true?

K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,- [dows. Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shaK. Rich. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard, Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers, Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond. It is not yet near day. Come, go with me; Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper, To hear, if any mean to shrink from me.

[men,

[exeunt King Richard and Ratcliff. Richmond wakes; enter Oxford and others. Lords. Good morrow, Richmond. Richm. 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gentleThat you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. Lords. How have you slept, my lord? Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding That ever enter'd in a drowsy head, Have I since your departure had, my lords. Methought, their souls, whose bodies Richard murder'd,

[dreams,

Came to my tent, and cried-On! victory!
I promise you, my heart is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning is it, lords?
Lords. Upon the stroke of four.
Richm. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give

direction. [he advances to the troops.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell on: yet remember this,—
God, and our good cause, fight upon our side;
The prayers of holy saints, and wronged souls,
Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces:
Richard except, those, whom we fight against,
Had rather have us win, than him they follow.
For what is he they follow? truly, gentlemen,
A bloody tyrant and a homicide;

One rais'd in blood, and one in blood establish'd;
One that made means to come by what he hath,
And slaughter'd those that were the means to
help him;

A base foul stone, made precious by the foil
Of England's chair, where he is falsely set;
One that hath ever been God's enemy:
Then, if you fight against God's enemy,
God will, in justice, ward you as his soldiers:
If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,
You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain;
If you do fight against your country's foes,
Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire;
If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,
Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors;
If you do free your children from the sword,
Your children's children quit it in your age.
Then, in the name of God, and all these rights,
Advance your standards, draw your willing
swords;

For me, the ransom of my bold attempt

forces.

K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond?

Rat. That he was never trained up in arms. K. Rich. He said the truth: and what said Surrey then? [purpose. Rat. He smil'd and said, the better for our K. Rich. He was i'the right; and so, indeed, it is. [clock strikes. Tell the clock there.-Give me a calendar.Who saw the sun to-day? Rat. Not I, my lord.

[the book,

K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by He should have brav'd the cast an hour ago: A black day will it be to somebody.Ratcliff,

Rat. My lord?

K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. I would, these dewy tears were from the ground. Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me, More than to Richmond? for the self-same heaven, That frowns on me, looks sadly upon him. Enter Norfolk.

Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field. [my horse;

K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle ;- -caparison Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power :I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain, And thus my battle shall be ordered. My foreward shall be drawn out all in length, Consisting equally of horse and foot; Our archers shall be placed in the midst : Johu duke of Norfolk, Thomas earl of Surrey, Shall have the leading of this foot and horse. They thus directed, we ourself will follow [side In the main battle; whose puissance on either Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse. This, and saint George to boot!-What think'st thou, Norfolk?

Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign.This found I on my tent this morning.

[giving a scroll. K. Rich. Jocky of Norfolk, be not too bold, [reads. For Dickon thy master is bought and

[sold.'

A thing devised by the enemy.-
Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge:
Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;
Conscience is but a word that cowards use,
Devis'd at first to keep the strong in awe;
Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our
March on, join bravely, let us to't pell-mell;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.—

[law.

What shall I say more than I have inferr'd? Remember whom you are to cope withal;A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and run-aways, A scum of Bretagnes, and base lackey peasants, Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth

You, sleeping safe, they bring you to unrest; You, having lands, and bless'd with beauteous wives,

They would restrain the one, distain the other. And who doth lead them, but a paltry fellow,

SCENE I. WINDSOR.

Host of the Garter Inn.
Robin, Page to Falstaff.
Simple, Servant to Slender.

Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Mrs. Ford.

Mrs. Page.

Irs. Ann Page, her Daughter, in love with Fenton. Mrs. Quickly, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Servants to Page, Ford, &c.

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 Gloster, justice of peace, and coram.

Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and cust-alorum. 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.

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 fisb; the salt fish is an old coat.

Slen. I may quarter, coz?

Shal. You may, by marrying.

Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit.

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 this 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 si uld 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, 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 good motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between master Abraham, and mistress Anne Page. [dred pound?

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hun Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny, [has good gifts. Shal. I know the young gentlewoman; she 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 wellwillers. 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 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.

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 wronged me, master Page. Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. Shal. If it be confessed, it is not redressed; is not that so, master Page? he hath wronged me; indeed, he hath ;-at a word, he hath ;-believe me;-Robert Shallow, esquire, saith, he is wronged.

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. Kuight, 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 answered, Fal. I will answer it straight;-I have done all this-that is now answered.

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! 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 rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, aud afterwards picked my pocket.

- Bard. You Banbury cheese! Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Pist. How now, Mephostophilus? Slen. Ay, it is no matter. [my humour. Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca; slice! that's Slen. Where's Simple, my man? can you tell, cousin?

Eva. Peace: I pray you! now let us understand: there three umpires in this matter, as I understand: that is, master Page, fidelicet, master Page; and there is myself, fidelicet, myself; and the three party, is, lastly and finally, mine host of the Garter. Page. We three, to hear it, and end it between them.

Eva. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my note-book; and we will afterwards 'ork upon the cause, with as great discreetly as we can. Fal. Pistol,

Pist. He hears with ears.

Eva. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, He hears with ears? why, it is affectations. Fal. Pistol, did you pick master Slender's purse? Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he (or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else,) of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and

two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shil. lings and two pence a-piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

Fal. Is this true, Pistol?

Eva. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner !—Sir John,
and master mine,

I combat challenge of this latten bilbo :
Word of denial in thy labras here;
Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest.
Slen. By these gloves, then 'twas he.

Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humours: I will say, marry trap, with you, if you run the nuthook's humour on me; that is the very note of it.

Slen. By this hat, then he in the red face had it: for though I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.

Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John

Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences. Eva. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

Bard. And, being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd; and so conclusions passed the careires.

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in honest, civil, godly company, for this trick : if I be drunk, I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves.

Eva. So Got 'udge me, that is a virtuous mind. Fal. You hear all these matters denied gentlemen; you hear it. Enter Mistress Anne Page, with wine; Mistress Ford and Mistress Paye following. Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within. [exit Anne Page. Slen. O heaven! this is mistress Anne Page. Page. How now, mistress Ford?

Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met: by your leave, good mistress.[kissing her.

Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome:come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. [exeunt all but Shal. Slen. and Eva.

Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book of songs and sonnets here:Enter Simple.

How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? you have not the book of riddles about you, have you?

Sim. Book of riddles ! why, did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake, upon Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaelmas?

Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word with you, coz; marry, this, coz; there is, as 'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by sir Hugh here;-do you understand me?

Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so, I shall do that that is reason, Shal. Nay, but understand me. Slen. So I do, sir.

Eva. Give ear to his motions, master Slender: I will description the matter to you, if you be ca pacity of it.