The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare (best books to read in your 20s .TXT) ๐
Description
First published in 1602 by William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor features the popular figure Sir John Falstaff, who first appeared in Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2. Some speculate that Merry Wives was written at the behest of Queen Elizabeth I, who wanted to see Falstaff in love; and that Shakespeare was forced to rush its creation as a result, and so it remains one of Shakespeareโs lesser-regarded plays.
The play revolves around two intertwined plots: the adventures of the rogue Falstaff who plans to seduce several local wives, and the story of young Anne Page who is being wooed by prominent citizens while she has her sights set on young Fenton. The wives come together to teach Falstaff a lesson, and in the end love triumphs.
The Merry Wives of Windsor is believed to have been first performed in 1597 and was subsequently published in quarto in 1602, in a second quarto in 1619, and then in the 1623 First Folio. Despite holding a lesser place in Shakespeareโs canon, it was one of the first Shakespearean plays to be performed in 1660, after the reinstatement of Charles II and theatre once again was permitted to be performed in London.
This Standard Ebooks production is based on Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch and John Dover Wilsonโs 1923 Cambridge edition.
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- Author: William Shakespeare
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By William Shakespeare.
Table of Contents Titlepage Imprint Dramatis Personae The Merry Wives of Windsor Act I Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Act II Scene I Scene II Scene III Act III Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Act IV Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Scene VI Act V Scene I Scene II Scene III Scene IV Scene V Colophon Uncopyright ImprintThis ebook is the product of many hours of hard work by volunteers for Standard Ebooks, and builds on the hard work of other literature lovers made possible by the public domain.
This particular ebook is based on a transcription produced for Project Gutenberg and on digital scans available at the Internet Archive.
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Dramatis PersonaeSir John Falstaff
Fenton, a young gentleman
Shallow, a country justice
Slender, cousin to Shallow
Ford, a Gentleman dwelling at Windsor
Page, a Gentleman dwelling at Windsor
William Page, a boy, son to Page
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson
Doctor Caius, a French physician
Host of the Garter Inn
Bardolph, Pistol, Nym; followers of Falstaff
Robin, page to Falstaff
Simple, servant to Slender
Rugby, servant to Doctor Caius
Mistress Ford
Mistress Page
Anne Page, her daughter, in love with Fenton
Mistress Quickly, servant to Doctor Caius
Servants to Page, Ford, etc.
Scene: Windsor and the neighbourhood
The Merry Wives of Windsor Act I Scene IWindsor. Before Pageโs house.
Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. Justice Shallow Hotly. 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. Slender Nodding. In the county of Gloucester, Justice of Peace, and โcoram.โ Justice Shallow Ay, cousin Slender, and โcust-alorum.โ Slender Ay, and โrato-lorumโ too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson, who writes himself โarmigeroโ in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligationโ โโarmigero.โ Justice Shallow Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three hundred years. Slender All his successors, gone before him, hath doneโt; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Justice Shallow Proudly. It is an old coat. Sir Hugh Evans The dozen white louses do become an old coat well; it agrees well, passant; it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies love. Justice Shallow Coldly. The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat. Slender I may quarter, coz? Justice Shallow You may, by marrying. Sir Hugh Evans It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. Justice Shallow Not a whit. Sir Hugh Evans Yes, pyโr 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. Justice Shallow The Council shall hear it; it is a riot. Sir Hugh Evans 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. Justice Shallow Ha! oโ my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it. Sir Hugh Evans 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. Slender Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman. Sir Hugh Evans It is that fery person for all the โorld, as just as you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and gold, and silver, is her grandsire upon his deathโs-bedโ โGot deliver to a joyful resurrections!โ โgive, 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. Justice Shallow Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound? Sir Hugh Evans Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. Justice Shallow I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts. Sir Hugh Evans Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts. Justice Shallow Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff there? Sir Hugh Evans 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 for Master Page. Knocks. What, hoa! Got pless your house here! Page Within. Whoโs there? Sir Hugh Evans Here is Gotโs 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. Enter Page. Page I am glad to see your worships well. I thank you for my venison, Master Shallow. Justice Shallow Master
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