The Merry Wives of Windsor or Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 119

Beschreibung

The Merry Wives of Windsor or Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor - William Shakespeare - The Merry Wives of Windsor or Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a reference to the town of Windsor, also the location of Windsor Castle, in Berkshire, England. Though nominally set in the reign of Henry IV or early in the reign of Henry V, 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, Part 1 and Part 2. It has been adapted for the opera at least ten times. The play is one of Shakespeare's lesser-regarded works among literary critics. Tradition has it that The Merry Wives of Windsor was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. After watching Henry IV Part I, she asked Shakespeare to write a play showing Falstaff in love. The play is nominally set in the early 15th century, during the same period as the Henry IV plays featuring Falstaff, but there is only one brief reference to this period, a line in which the character Fenton is said to have been one of Prince Hal's rowdy friends (he "kept company with the wild prince and Poins"). In all other respects, the play implies a contemporary setting of the Elizabethan era, c. 1600. Falstaff arrives in Windsor very short on money. He decides that, to obtain financial advantage, he will court two wealthy married women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Falstaff decides to send the women identical love letters and asks his servants – Pistol and Nym – to deliver them to the wives. When they refuse, Falstaff sacks them, and, in revenge, the men tell the husbands Ford and Page of Falstaff's intentions. Page is not concerned, but the jealous Ford persuades the Host of the Garter Inn to introduce him to Falstaff as a 'Master Brook' so that he can find out Falstaff's plans. Meanwhile, three different men are trying to win the hand of Page's daughter, Anne Page. Mistress Page would like her daughter to marry Doctor Caius, a French physician, whereas the girl's father would like her to marry Master Slender. Anne herself is in love with Master Fenton, but Page had previously rejected Fenton as a suitor due to his having squandered his considerable fortune on high-class living. Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson, tries to enlist the help of Mistress Quickly (servant to Doctor Caius) in wooing Anne for Slender, but the doctor discovers this and challenges Evans to a duel. The Host of the Garter Inn prevents this duel by telling each man a different meeting place, causing much amusement for himself, Justice Shallow, Page and others. Evans and Caius decide to work together to be revenged on the Host. When the women receive the letters, each goes to tell the other, and they quickly find that the letters are almost identical. The "merry wives" are not interested in the ageing, overweight Falstaff as a suitor; however, for the sake of their own amusement and to gain revenge for his indecent assumptions towards them both, they pretend to respond to his advances. This all results in great embarrassment for Falstaff. Mr. Ford poses as 'Mr. Brook' and says he is in love with Mistress Ford but cannot woo her as she is too virtuous. He offers to pay Falstaff to court her, saying that once she has lost her honour he will be able to tempt her himself. Falstaff cannot believe his luck, and tells 'Brook' he has already arranged to meet Mistress Ford while her husband is out. Falstaff leaves to keep his appointment and Ford soliloquizes that he is right to suspect his wife and that the trusting Page is a fool.

Leseprobe

William Shakespeare

The Merry Wives of Windsor

ACT 1

Scene 1

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 JohnFalstaffs, 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 anybill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, 'Armigero.'

SHALLOW

Ay, that I do; and have done any time these threehundred years.

SLENDER

All his successors gone before him hath done't; andall his ancestors that come after him may: they maygive 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 toman, 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 mysimple conjectures: but that is all one. If SirJohn Falstaff have committed disparagements untoyou, I am of the church, and will be glad to do mybenevolence to make atonements and compremisesbetween 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 nofear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, shalldesire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear ariot; take your vizaments in that.

SHALLOW

Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, the swordshould 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, whichperadventure prings goot discretions with it: thereis Anne Page, which is daughter to Master ThomasPage, which is pretty virginity.

SLENDER

Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and speakssmall like a woman.

SIR HUGH EVANS

It is that fery person for all the orld, as just asyou will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys,and gold and silver, is her grandsire upon hisdeath's-bed--Got deliver to a joyful resurrections!--give, when she is able to overtake seventeen yearsold: it were a goot motion if we leave our pribblesand prabbles, and desire a marriage between MasterAbraham and Mistress Anne Page.

SLENDER

Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?

SIR HUGH EVANS

Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.

SLENDER

I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts.

SIR HUGH EVANS

Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts.

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 dodespise one that is false, or as I despise one thatis not true. The knight, Sir John, is there; and, Ibeseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. I willpeat the door for Master Page.

Knocks

What, hoa! Got pless your house here!

PAGE

[Within] Who's there?

Enter PAGE

SIR HUGH EVANS

Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and JusticeShallow; and here young Master Slender, thatperadventures shall tell you another tale, ifmatters grow to your likings.

PAGE

I am glad to see your worships well.I thank you for my venison, Master Shallow.

SHALLOW

Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good do ityour good heart! I wished your venison better; itwas ill killed. How doth good Mistress Page?--and Ithank you always with my heart, la! with my heart.

PAGE

Sir, I thank you.

SHALLOW

Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.

PAGE

I am glad to see you, good Master Slender.

SLENDER

How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard say hewas outrun on Cotsall.

PAGE

It could not be judged, sir.

SLENDER

You'll not confess, you'll not confess.

SHALLOW

That he will not. 'Tis your fault, 'tis your fault;'tis a good dog.

PAGE

A cur, sir.

SHALLOW

Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog: can there bemore said? he is good and fair. Is Sir JohnFalstaff here?

PAGE

Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a goodoffice between you.

SIR HUGH EVANS

It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak.

SHALLOW

He hath wronged me, Master Page.

PAGE

Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.

SHALLOW

If it be confessed, it is not redress'd: is not thatso, Master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed hehath, at a word, he hath, believe me: RobertShallow, esquire, saith, he is wronged.

PAGE

Here comes Sir John.

Enter FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, NYM, and PISTOL

FALSTAFF

Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?

SHALLOW

Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my deer, andbroke open my lodge.

FALSTAFF

But not kissed your keeper's daughter?

SHALLOW

Tut, a pin! this shall be answered.

FALSTAFF

I will answer it straight; I have done all this.That is now answered.

SHALLOW

The council shall know this.

FALSTAFF

'Twere better for you if it were known in counsel:you'll be laughed at.

SIR HUGH EVANS

Pauca verba, Sir John; goot worts.

FALSTAFF

Good worts! good cabbage. Slender, I broke yourhead: what matter have you against me?

SLENDER

Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you;and against your cony-catching rascals, Bardolph,Nym, and Pistol.

BARDOLPH

You Banbury cheese!

SLENDER

Ay, it is no matter.

PISTOL

How now, Mephostophilus!

SLENDER

Ay, it is no matter.

NYM

Slice, I say! pauca, pauca: slice! that's my humour.

SLENDER

Where's Simple, my man? Can you tell, cousin?

SIR HUGH EVANS

Peace, I pray you. Now let us understand. There isthree umpires in this matter, as I understand; thatis, Master Page, fidelicet Master Page; and there ismyself, 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.

SIR HUGH EVANS

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

FALSTAFF

Pistol!

PISTOL

He hears with ears.

SIR HUGH EVANS

The tevil and his tam! what phrase is this, 'Hehears with ear'? why, it is affectations.

FALSTAFF

Pistol, did you pick Master Slender's purse?

SLENDER

Ay, by these gloves, did he, or I would I mightnever come in mine own great chamber again else, ofseven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edwardshovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and twopence apiece of Yead Miller, by these gloves.

FALSTAFF

Is this true, Pistol?

SIR HUGH EVANS

No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.

PISTOL

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!

SLENDER

By these gloves, then, 'twas he.

NYM

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

SLENDER

By this hat, then, he in the red face had it; forthough I cannot remember what I did when you made medrunk, yet I am not altogether an ass.

FALSTAFF

What say you, Scarlet and John?

BARDOLPH

Why, sir, for my part I say the gentleman had drunkhimself out of his five sentences.

SIR HUGH EVANS

It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!

BARDOLPH

And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered; andso conclusions passed the careires.

SLENDER

Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis nomatter: 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 havethe fear of God, and not with drunken knaves.

SIR HUGH EVANS

So Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind.

FALSTAFF

You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen; you hear it.

Enter ANNE PAGE, with wine; MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE, following

PAGE

Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink within.

Exit ANNE PAGE

SLENDER

O heaven! this is Mistress Anne Page.

PAGE

How now, Mistress Ford!

FALSTAFF

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

Kisses her

PAGE

Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome. Come, we have ahot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hopewe shall drink down all unkindness.

Exeunt all except SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS

SLENDER

I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book ofSongs and Sonnets here.

Enter SIMPLE

How now, Simple! where have you been? I must waiton myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddlesabout you, have you?

SIMPLE

Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to AliceShortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnightafore Michaelmas?

SHALLOW

Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word withyou, coz; marry, this, coz: there is, as 'twere, atender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hughhere. Do you understand me?

SLENDER

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

SHALLOW

Nay, but understand me.

SLENDER

So I do, sir.

SIR HUGH EVANS

Give ear to his motions, Master Slender: I willdescription the matter to you, if you be capacity of it.

SLENDER

Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I prayyou, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in hiscountry, simple though I stand here.

SIR HUGH EVANS

But that is not the question: the question isconcerning your marriage.

SHALLOW

Ay, there's the point, sir.

SIR HUGH EVANS

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

SLENDER

Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon anyreasonable demands.

SIR HUGH EVANS

But can you affection the 'oman? Let us command toknow that of your mouth or of your lips; for diversphilosophers hold that the lips is parcel of themouth. Therefore, precisely, can you carry yourgood will to the maid?

SHALLOW

Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?

SLENDER

I hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one thatwould do reason.

SIR HUGH EVANS

Nay, Got's lords and his ladies! you must speakpossitable, if you can carry her your desirestowards her.

SHALLOW

That you must. Will you, upon good dowry, marry her?

SLENDER

I will do a greater thing than that, upon yourrequest, cousin, in any reason.

SHALLOW

Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz: what I dois to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid?

SLENDER

I will marry her, sir, at your request: but if therebe no great love in the beginning, yet heaven maydecrease it upon better acquaintance, when we aremarried and have more occasion to know one another;I hope, upon familiarity will grow more contempt:but if you say, 'Marry her,' I will marry her; thatI am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

SIR HUGH EVANS

It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is inthe ort 'dissolutely:' the ort is, according to ourmeaning, 'resolutely:' his meaning is good.

SHALLOW

Ay, I think my cousin meant well.

SLENDER

Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la!

SHALLOW

Here comes fair Mistress Anne.

Re-enter ANNE PAGE

Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!

ANNE PAGE

The dinner is on the table; my father desires yourworships' company.

SHALLOW

I will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.

SIR HUGH EVANS

Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the grace.

Exeunt SHALLOW and SIR HUGH EVANS

ANNE PAGE

Will't please your worship to come in, sir?

SLENDER

No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very well.

ANNE PAGE

The dinner attends you, sir.

SLENDER

I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon mycousin Shallow.

Exit SIMPLE

A justice of peace sometimes may be beholding to hisfriend for a man. I keep but three men and a boyyet, till my mother be dead: but what though? Yet Ilive like a poor gentleman born.

ANNE PAGE

I may not go in without your worship: they will notsit till you come.

SLENDER

I' faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much asthough I did.

ANNE PAGE

I pray you, sir, walk in.

SLENDER

I had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruisedmy shin th' other day with playing at sword anddagger with a master of fence; three veneys for adish of stewed prunes; and, by my troth, I cannotabide the smell of hot meat since. Why do yourdogs bark so? be there bears i' the town?

ANNE PAGE

I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.

SLENDER

I love the sport well but I shall as soon quarrel atit as any man in England. You are afraid, if you seethe bear loose, are you not?

ANNE PAGE

Ay, indeed, sir.

SLENDER

That's meat and drink to me, now. I have seenSackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him bythe chain; but, I warrant you, the women have socried and shrieked at it, that it passed: but women,indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill-favoredrough things.

Re-enter PAGE

PAGE

Come, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for you.

SLENDER

I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir.

PAGE

By cock and pie, you shall not choose, sir! come, come.

SLENDER

Nay, pray you, lead the way.

PAGE

Come on, sir.

SLENDER

Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first.

ANNE PAGE

Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.

SLENDER

I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome.You do yourself wrong, indeed, la!

Exeunt