Dramatis Perfonæ.

Sir John Falftaff.

Fenton, a young Gentleman of Small Fortune, in Love with Mrs. Ann Page.

Shallow, a Country Juftice.

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.

Hoft of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow.

Nym,

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. Ann Page, Daughter to Mr. Page, in Love with

Fenton.

Mrs. Quickly, Servant to Dr. Caius.

Servants to Page, Ford, &c.

SCENE, Windfor: and the Parts adjacent.

THE

THE

(1) MERRY WIVES of WINDSOR.

ACTI.

SCENE, before Page's Houfe in Windfer. Enter Juftice 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 Sir John Falftaffs, he fhall not abufe Robert Shallow, Efq; Slen. In the county of Gloucester, juftice of peace, and Coram.

To this

(1) The Merry Wives of Windfor.] Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleas'd with the admirable character of Falstaff in the Two Parts of Henry IV, that, as Mr. Rowe informs us, the commanded Shakespeare to continue it for one play more, and to fhew him in love. command we owe this comedy of the Merry Wives of Windfor: which, Mr. Gildon fays, he was very well affur'd, our Author finish'd in a fortnight. But this must be meant only, as Mr. Pope has obferv'd, of the first imperfect sketch of this comedy, printed in 1619. The notice of a play, publifh'd feventeen years after Queen Elizabeth's death, does no ways come in fupport of the tradition, that it was perform'd for that Princess's entertainment. But I have

another old quarto edition of this comedy, (which, I prefume, Mr. Pope never faw;) printed in 1602; which fays in the title-pageAs it hath been diverfe times afted both before her Majesty and elf where. The reader will find the title of this old play at length, in my catalogue of editions prefix'd to this work.