In his own conduct, purposely to take Duke. Welcome, young man: Thou offer'st fairly to thy brother's wedding. A Dance, then enter HYMEN, attended. Hym. Then is there mirth in heaven, Good Duke, receive thy daughter, That thou might'st join her hand with his, [HYMEN goes to the Top of the Stage, brings forward ROSALIND, and presents her to the DUKE-CELIA comes forward. Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours. [To the DUKE. To you I give myself, for I am yours. [To ORLANDO. Duke. If there be truth in sight, you are my daugh ter. Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosa→ lind. Phebe. If sight and shape be true, Why, then-my love, adieu! 4 Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he: I'll have no husband, if you be not he: [To the DUKE. [TO ORLANDO. Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. [To PHEBE. Hym. Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing, Feed yourselves with questioning. Duke. Oh, my dear niece, welcome thou art to me; Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. First, in this forest, let us do those ends, That, here, were well begun, and well begot: That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us, Play, music;—and you brides, and bridegrooms all, The duke hath put on a religious life, And thrown into neglect the pompous court? Jaques. To him will I: out of these convertites [To the DUKE. Your patience, and your virtue, well deserves it: You, to a love, that your true faith doth merit : You, to your land, and love, and great You, to a long and well-deserved bed : [To ORLANDO. allies: [TO OLIVER. [TO SYLVIUS. And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage Is but for two months victual'd [To TOUCHSTONE. Touch. Come along, Audrey. [Exit with AUDREY. Jaques. So to your pleasures; I am for other, than for dancing measures. Duke. Stay, Jaques, stay. Jaques. To see no pastime, I:-what you would have, I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. [Exit. Duke. Proceed, proceed we will begin these rites, As we do trust they'll end, in true delights. EPILOGUE. Ros. If it be true, that, "Good wine needs no bush,' 'tis true, that a good play needs no epilogue: Yet, to good wine, they do use good bushes; and good plays prove the better, by the help of good epilogues.What a case am I in then, that am neither a good epilogue, nor can insinuate with you, in the behalf of a good play? I am not furnished like a beggar, therefore, to beg, will not become me: my way is, to conjure you, and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, () women! for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as pleases them: and I charge you, O men! for the love you bear to women (as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hate them), that, between you and the women, the play may please. If I were among you, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me: and, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, will, for my kind offer, when I make a courtesy, bid me farewell. [Exeunt omnes. THE END. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR; A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS; BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, DRURY LANE AND COVENT GARDEN. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK. WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER ROW |