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Because I ove him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him, when he parted from me,
To bind hire to remember my good will:
And now am I (unhappy messenger)

To plead for that which I would not obtain;
To carry that which I would have refus'd;
To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd.
I am my master's true confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet I will woo for him; but yet so coldly,
As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.
Enter SILVIA attended.

Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean
To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia.
Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she?
Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience
To hear me speak the message I am sent on.
Sil. From whom?

Jul. From my master, sir Proteus, madam
Sil. O!-he sends you for a picture!
Jul. Ay, madam.

Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.

[Picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia that his changing thoughts forget, Would better fit his chamber than this shadow. Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.— Pardon me, madam; I have unadvis`d Deliver'd you a paper that I should not; This is the letter to your ladyship.

Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again.
Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.
Sil. There, hold,

I will not look upon your master's lines:
I know they are stuff'd with protestations,

And full of new-found oaths; which he will break
As easily as I do tear his paper.

Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring. Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me: For I have heard him say a thousand times, His Julia gave it him at his departure: Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring, Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong. Jul. She thanks you.

Sil. What say'st thou?

Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her: Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much. Sil. Dost thou know her?

Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself. To think upon her woes, I do protest, That I have wept a hundred several times. Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath forsook

her.

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Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: When she did think my master loved her well, She, in my judgment, was as fair as you: But since she did neglect her looking-glass, And threw her sun-expelling mask away, The air hath starv'd the roses in her checks And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face, That now she is become as black as 1.

Sil. How tall was she?

Jul. About my stature for at Pentecost.
When all our pageants of delight were play'd,
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown;
Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore I know she is about my height.
And, at that time, I made her weep a-good,
For I did play a lamentable part:
Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning
For Theseus' perjury, and unjust fight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth!Alas, poor lady! desolate and left!

I weep myself to think upon thy words.
Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her
Farewell.
[Exit SILVIA.

Jul. And she shall thank you for 't, if e'er you

know her.

A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful.
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a color'd periwig.

Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high.
What should it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and ador'd
And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That us'd me so; or else, by Jove I vow,

I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee. (Erit.

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For I had rather w.na than look on them.
Thu. How likes she my discourse?
Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.

[Aside. These are my inates, that make their wills their law.
Have some unhappy passenger in chase:
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?
[Steps aside.

Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace?

Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your

peace.

Thu. What says she to my valor?

Pro. 0, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

[Aside.

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice. (Though you respect not aught your servant doth,) Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well derived.

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. Thu. Considers she my possessions!

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Aside.

To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forc'd your honor and your love
Aside. Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair fook;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,

And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear!

Ju!. That such an ass should owe them. [Aside. Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Aside.
Pro That they are out by lease.
Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter DUKE.

Duke. How now, sir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Pro. Duke.

Pro.

Nor I.

Saw you my daughter? Neither. Duke. Why, then, she's fled unto that peasant Valentine;

And Eglamo ir is in her company.

'T's true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the forest:
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she;
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it:
Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not:
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain foot

That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:
De-patch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exil.
Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her:

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Out. Come, come;

of patient, we must bring you to our captain. St. A thousand more mischances than this one Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. 2 Out. Come, bring her away.

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her?

3 Out. Beinz nimble-footed, he hath out-run us, Put Moyses, and Valerius, follow him.

Go thou with her to the west end of the wood,
There is our captain; we'll follow him that's fled;
The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape.

1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's

cave;

Fear not; he bears an honorable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee! [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest.
Enter VALENTINE.

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
0 thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless;
Lest, crowing ruinous, the building fail,
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Thoa gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! -
What halloing, and what stir is this to-day?

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Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came; But, by my coming, I have made you happy. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st ine most unhappy.

Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
presence.
[Aside.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,'
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
whose life's as tender to me as my soul;
O, heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
And full as much (for more there cannot be)
I do detest false perjur d Proteus;
Therefore begone, solicit me no more.

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look?

O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,
When women cannot love where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's

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Sil. All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end; And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you. Sil. O heaven!

Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire. Thou friend of an ill fashion! Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch;

Valentine!

Pro.
Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith

(For such is a friend now,) treacherous man!
or love,
Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye
Now I dare not say
Could have persuaded me:
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest: O time, most curst!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confound me.-
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence.
I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val.
Then I am paid;
And once again I do receive thee honest:
Who by repentance is not satisfied,

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Look up; speak.
Jul.

O good sir, my master charg'd me
To delive 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. [Gives a ring.
Pro. How! let me see:

Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.
Jul. O, cry your mercy, sir, I have mistook;
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

Shows another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart,

I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root ?*
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.

Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true: O heaven!

were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error

Come not within the measure of my wrath:3
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands
Take but possession 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 she is thine.
Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.-
Now, by the honor of my ancestry,

I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empress' love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.-
Plead a new state in thy unrivall'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe,-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 ine
happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall 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 endued with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:

Fills him with faults; inakes him run through all They are reformed, civil, full of good

sins:

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And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

Duke. Thou hast prevail'd: I pardon them, and
thee;

Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will includes all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold,
With our discourse to make your grace to smile:
What think you of this page, my lord?

Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him: he

blushes.

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SCENE I-Windsor. Before Page's House.
Enter Justice SHALLOW, SLENDER, and Sir HUGH
EVANS.

Sal. Sin HuGa, persuade me not; I will make
Star-chamber matter of it; if he were twenty

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Era. 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.

John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shal-end it: and there is also another device in my prain, Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and

low, esquire.

Sen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace,

and coram.

Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and Cust-alorum. Sen. Ay, and ratolorum too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself armigero; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armiShal. Ay, that we do: and have done any time these three hundred years.

Sen. All his successors, gone before him, have donet; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their

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Sen. I may quarter, coz?

Shal. You may, by marrying.

En. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Mal. Not a whit.

E. Yes, py'r lady; if he has a quarter of four 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 Senevolence, to make atonements and compromises between you.

Shal. The Council shall hear it; it is a riot.
A title formerly appropriated to chaplains.
Custos Rotulorum.
3 By our.

it: There is Anne Page, which is daughter to
which, peradventure, prings goot discretions with
master George Page, which is pretty virginity.

and speaks small like a woman.
Sten. Mistress Anne Page! She has brown hair,

just as you will desire: and seven hundred pounds
Eva. It is that fery person for all the 'orld, as
of monies, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire,
upon his death's bed (Got deliver to a joyful resur-
rections!) give, when she is able to overtake seven-
teen 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 pounds?

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.

Shat. 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 What, hoa! pless your house here! I will peat the door [knocks for master Page.

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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. Prge. I am glad to see you, good master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say he was outrun at Cotsale.s

Page. It could not be judged, sir.

Sten. 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?

Puge. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good office between you.

Eva. It is spoke as a Christian 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, NYм, 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! good cabbage.- Slender, I broke your head; What matter have you against me? Sten. 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, and afterwards picked my pocket.

Bar. You Banbury cheese!
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.

Pist. How, now, Mephostophilus ?
Sen. Ay, it is no matter.

Num. Slice, I say, pauca, pauca; slice! that's

'ny humor.

Sten. Where's Simple, my man? —can you tell,

cousin?

Era. Peace: I pray you! Now let us understand: There is three umpires in this matter as I under stand: 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.

Era. Fery goot: I will make a brief 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.

Era. The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, He hears with ear? 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 ine two shillings and two pence a-piece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

Cotswold in Gloucestershire.

Worts was the ancient naine of all the cabbage kind.
Sharpers.
Nothing but paring!

The name of an ugly spirit.

King Edward's shilling used in the game of shuffleboard

Fal. Is this true. Pistol?
Era. 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 bilboa
Word of denial in thy labras here;
Word of denial; froth and scum, thou liest.
Sen. By these gloves, then 'twas he.
Nym. Be advised, sir, and pass good humors: I
will say, marry trap, with you if you run the nut-
hook's humor on me; that is the very note of t

Sten. 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? Bar. Why, sir. for my part, I say, the gentlen.an had drunk himself out of his five sentences. Era. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

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

Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 1's 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 PAGE following.

Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within. Erit 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., SLENDER, and EVANS Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book of Songs and Sonnets here:

Enter SIMPLE.

wait on myself, must I? You have not The Book How now, Simple! where have you been? I must of Riddles about you, have you?

to Alice Shortcake upon Allhallowmas last, a fortSim. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it night 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 o by sir Hugh here;-Do you understand me?

Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; i it be so, I shall do that that is reason.

Shal. Nay, but understand me.

Slen. So I do, sir.

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

I pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in Sten. Nay I will do as my cousin Shallow says: his country, simple though I stand here.

is concerning your marriage. Era. But this is not the question; the question

Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.

Eva. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to mistress Anne Page.

Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her, upon any reasonable demands.

Eva. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command to know that of your mouth, or of your lips; for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of the mouth; - Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will to the maid?

Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her? Slen. I hope, sir.-I will do, as it shall become one that would do reason.

Eva. Nay, Got's lords and his lacties! you must Lips • Drunk

2 Blade as thin as a lath.

If you say I am a thief.

The bounds of good behavior.

An intended blunder.

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