In his own conduct, purposely to take
His brother here, to put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came ;
Where, meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprize, and from the world:
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restor❜d to them again,
That were with him exil'd: This, to be true,
I do engage my life.

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,
When earthly things made even
Atone together.

Good Duke, receive thy daughter,
Hymen from heaven brought her,
Yea, brought her hither;

That thou might'st join her hand with his,
Whose heart within his bosom is.

[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:
And after, every of this happy number,

That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us,
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of their states.
Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity,
And fall into our rustic revelry:-

Play, music;—and you brides, and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall.
Jaques. Sir, by your patience;-If I heard you
rightly,

The duke hath put on a religious life,

And thrown into neglect the pompous court?
Jaq. de B. He hath.

Jaques. To him will I: out of these convertites
There is much matter to be heard and learn'd.-
You, to your former honour I bequeath;

[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