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The Merry Wives of Windsor

William Shakespeare

Format: Global Grey free PDF, epub, Kindle ebook
Pages (PDF): 161
Publication Date: 1602

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Summary:

The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a reference to Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, and though nominally set in the reign of Henry IV, the play makes no pretence to exist outside contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life. It features the character Sir John Falstaff, the fat knight who had previously been featured in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.

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Excerpt:

Windsor. Before PAGE's house.

Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS

SHALLOW
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
In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and 'Coram.'

SHALLOW
Ay, cousin Slender, and 'Custalourum.

SLENDER
Ay, and 'Rato-lorum' too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself 'Armigero,' in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, 'Armigero.'

SHALLOW
Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three hundred years.

SLENDER
All his successors gone before him hath done't; and all his ancestors that come after him may: they may give the dozen white luces in their coat.

SHALLOW
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.

SHALLOW
The luce is the fresh fish; the salt fish is an old coat.

SLENDER
I may quarter, coz.

SHALLOW
You may, by marrying.

SIR HUGH EVANS
It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

SHALLOW
Not a whit.

SIR HUGH EVANS
Yes, py'r 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 compremises between you.

SHALLOW
The council shall bear 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.

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