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Ralph Vaughan Williams

SIR JOHN IN LOVE [1924-1928]

ACT I
=====

The curtain rises on a street in Windsor. Shallow and


Evans are standing at Page's door. Slender sits in a
corner trying to write a sonnet to Anne Page. Simple
stands by his side with pens, inkhorn, etc.

SHALLOW |
| What-hoa !
EVANS |

SLENDER "O sweet Anne Page ... "

EVANS Got pless your house there.

PAGE (off stage) Who's there ?

EVANS Here is Got's plessing, and your friend


and Justice Shallow, and here young
master Slender.

(Enter Page, Shallow advances angrily).

SHALLOW Master Page, is Sir John Falstaff here ?

PAGE He is within.

SHALLOW He hath wronged me, Master Page.

PAGE He doth in some sort confess it.

SHALLOW If it be confessed it is not redressed


is that not so Master Page? He hath
wronged me, indeed he hath he hath
wronged me at a word he hath,
believe me. Robert Shallow, Esquire,
saith he is wronged.

EVANS He doth confess it good Master Shallow,


and I beseech you be ruled by your
well-wishers.

SLENDER "O sweet Anne Page ..."

PAGE I would I could do a good office between


you. Here comes Sir John.

(Enter Falstaff with Bardolph, Nym and


Pistol; they march solemnly across the
stage).

FALSTAFF (waving his followers away) How


now, Master Shallow, you'll complain
of me to the king?
SHALLOW Knight, you have beaten my men, killed
my deer, and broke 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.

SLENDER "O sweet Anne ..."

(Falstaff perceives Slender and digs


him in the ribs, interrupting him.
Slender starts up scattering his
papers and splashing Simple with
ink which he spends the rest of the
act trying to wipe off).

FALSTAFF Slender, I broke your head; what


matter have you against me?

(Page enters the house).

SLENDER Marry, sir, I have matter in my head


against you; and against your coney-
catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym and
Pistol. They carried me to a tavern
and made me drunk, and afterwards
picked my pocket.

BARDOLPH You Banbury cheese! (he draws his sword).

SLENDER Ay, it is no matter.

PISTOL How now, Mephistophilus! (he also draws).

PAGE Peace, I pray you.

NYM Slice, slice, I say, that's my humour.

FALSTAFF Pistol, is this true Pistol?

PISTOL No, it is false, Sir John and master mine,


I combat challenge of this latten bilbo:
Word of denial in thy labras here;

(slaps his chest)

Word of denial; froth and scum thou liest!


You hear all these matters denied, you hear it!

FALSTAFF |
BARDOLPH | You hear all these matters
NYM | denied, you hear it.

PAGE Now let us hear it, and end it between them.


SLENDER 'Tis no matter, I'll ne'er be drunk
while I live again but in honest, civil,
godly company.

(They drive Slender back towards


Puge's house, he stumbles up against
Anne Page as she enters carrying
wine. Enter also Mrs Page and Mrs Ford).

SLENDER O heavens, 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 (to Anne) Nay, daughter, carry the wine


within (exit Anne). Wife, bid these gentlemen
welcome. Come gentlemen, I hope we shall
drink down all unkindness.

(Exeunt all except Shallow and Evans who


are still upstage, and Slender who retires
again to his corner. Falstaff goes off first
into the house arm in arm with Mrs Ford
and Mrs Page. Page follows. Bardolph,
Nym and Pistol are about to follow but
Falstaff waves them back. They decide to
go off on a thieving expedition Simple slinks
off into the inn. Shallow and Evans come forward).

SHALLOW Sir Hugh, persuade me not, if he were twenty


Sir John Falstaffs he shall not abuse Robert
Shallow Esquire ...

EVANS If Sir John Falstaff hath committed


disparagements unto you . .

SHALLOW Ha! O' my life, if I were young again,


the sword should end it.

EVANS It is petter that friends is the sword and


end it. And there's also another device
in my prain, there is sweet Anne Page
which is a pretty virginity, it were a good
notion if we leave our pribbles and
prabbles, and desire a marriage between
master Slender and mistress Anne Page.

(Gives Shallow a letter).

SHALLOW (reading the letter). Well, well, let us see.

(Simple comes out of the Inn).

EVANS Hark ye, Peter Simple ...

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.


EVANS Go your ways to Doctor Caius' house,
and their dwells one Mistress Quickly ...

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.

EVANS Give her this letter, and the letter is to


desire and require her to solicit her
master's desire to Mistress Anne Page.

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.

EVANS I pray you begone.

(Evans drives Simple off; enter Anne Page)

EVANS Here comes fair Mistress Anne. Would I


were young for your sake Mistress Anne
(kisses her hand).

ANNE The dinner is on the table my father


desires your worship's company.

SHALLOW I will wait upon him fair Mistress


Anne(bows and exit).

EVANS (hurrying back) 'Od's plessed will. I will


not be absence from the grace (exit Evans).

ANNE (to Slender) Ahem.

SLENDER (aside) I had rather than forty


shillings, I had my book of songs and
sonnets here.

ANNE The dinner attends you Sir.

SLENDER I am not a-hungry, I thank you forsooth.

ANNE Will it please your worship to come in Sir ?

SLENDER No I thank you forsooth heartily, I


am very well.

ANNE I may not go in without your worship,


they will not sit till you come.

SLENDER I' faith I'll eat nothing, I thank you


as much as tho' I did.

ANNE I pray you sir, walk in we stay for you

(Slender walks in gingerly).

SLENDER (hesitating) Nay, pray you lead the way ...

ANNE Come on, sire.

SLENDER Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first ...


ANNE Not I sir, pray you keep on ...

SLENDER Truly I will not go first.

ANNE I pray you sir (Slender finally makes up his mind).

SLENDER I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome,


you do yourself wrong indeed, la.

(Exit Slender. Anne lingers outside).

ANNE This is my father's choice, O what a


world of vile, ill-favoured faults looks
handsome on three hundred pounds a year

(she sits down sadly).

"Weep eyes, break heart,


My love and I must part,
Cruel Fates true Love do soonest sever
O, I shall see thee never, never.
O, happy is the maid whose life takes end
Ere it knows parents' frown or loss of friend.
Weep eyes, break heart,
My love and I must part."

(She walks slowly towards the house, but


stops when she hears Fenton's voice in the
distance. At first Anne does not move, but
gradually she recognises Fenton's voice).

FENTON (off stage)

"Do but look on her eyes, they do light


All that love's world compriseth,
Do but look on her hair, it is bright
As Love's star when it riseth"

ANNE Ah! ... It is my love, and thus and thus


we meet (she goes to meet him. He enters).

ANNE | And thus and thus we greet


FENTON | (they embrace).

FENTON "Have you seen but a bright lily grow


Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you marked but the fall of the snow
Before the soil hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of the beaver,
Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt of the bud of the briar ?
Or the nard in the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white, O so soft, O so sweet is she"

ANNE "Come, O come my life's delight


Let me not in langour pine."
(They meet again and embrace and sit
down on the bench out of sight of Page's
house).

FENTON I see I cannot get thy father's love,


therefore no more turn me to him sweet Annie ...

ANNE Alas, how then?

FENTON Why thou must be thyself,


He doth object I am too great of birth,
And that my state being galled with my expense
I seek to heal it only with his wealth.

ANNE Maybe he tells you true.

FENTON No, Heaven so speed me in the time to come,


For wooing thee I found thee of more value
Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags,
And 'tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.

ANNE Yet seek my father's love, still seek it.

PAGE (off stage) Daughter Anne.

ANNE (starts up) I must needs go in, my father


will be angry (they embrace). Farewell.

FENTUN Farewell, sweet mistress, farewell, sweet Nan.

(Enter Page, he stands at the house door).

PAGE Hark ye, master Slender would speak a


word with you.

ANNE I come to him (exit Anne slowly into the


house. Page sees Fenton and advances).

PAGE How now, what does master Fenton here?


You wrong me sir, thus still to haunt my
house. I told you sir, my daughter is
disposed of.

FENTON Will you not hear me?

PAGE No, master Fenton, knowing my mind you


wrong me, Master Fenton.

ANNE Ah------

(Exit Page: Fenton lingers and looks


longingly at Page's house Enter [L. to R.]
a procession in single file of Dr Caius,
Mrs Quickly and Rugby. Seeing them,
Fenton, who is about to go off; hides. They
march in a preoccupied manner round the
stage. Caius suddenly stops).
CAIUS Vere is dat knave, Rugby?

RUGBY Here, sir.

CAIUS Follow my heels, Rugby.

(Rugby and Mrs Quickly change places-


the procession starts again).

CAIUS Ma foi; je m'en vais a la cour, la grande


affaire (stops again), Rugby.

RUGBY Sir.

CAIUS What is de clock, Jack?

RUGBY 'Tis past the hour sir.

CAIUS By my trot, I tarry too long, come,


take-a my rapier.

RUGBY I will, Sir.

CAIUS And come after my heels to de court.

(Caius gives his rapier to Rugby and busies


himself adjusting Rugby's equipment. Enter
Simple, he sidles up to Mrs Quickly and plucks
her cloak. She turns round. He gives her the
letter).

SIMPLE This letter is to desire and require you


to solicit ...

MRS QUICKLY (hushing him up) Peace I pray


you; Peter Simple your name is?

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.

MRS QUICKLY And master Slender's your master?

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.

MRS QUICKLY Tell master Parson Evans I'll do what I


can for your master, Anne's a good girl,
and I wish ... (The procession starts again.
Mrs Quickly hurries to join it. Caius stops
suddenly).

CAIUS Vere is my box? My green-a box?

MRS QUICKLY Is it this sir? (she hides Simple


behind her cloak) [aside] Ah,
me, he'll find the young man
here and be mad.

CAIUS Oui, mettez le dans ma pocket, depeche, quickly.

MRS QUICKLY (singing to distract Caius's attention


while she puts the box in his pocket)

"Derry, Derry down, and called


for the piper to play,
And made the bishop to dance
in his boots
He went gladly on his ..."

CAIUS Vat is dat you sing I do not like dese toys,


(perceiving Simple) diable, diable, what is
dat behind your cloak? Rugby, my rapier.
(dragging Simple forward) Villain! Larron!

MRS QUICKLY Out, alas, we shall all be shent.


Peace, I pray you, the young
man is an honest man ...

RUGBY Good master, be content.

CAIUS Verefore should I be content, Ah, villain, larron!

RUGBY I beseech you hear the truth of it.

CAIUS Vat should an honest man do here?

MRS QUICKLY He came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.

CAIUS An errand?

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth, to desire this honest


gentlewoman to speak a good word to
mistress Anne Page ...

CAIUS Mistress Anne?

SIMPLE ... for my master in the way of marriage.

CAIUS Sir Hugh send-a you (throws his glove in


his face), you Jack-a-napes, give-a dis
shallenge ...

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth, etc.

CAIUS ... I will cut his throat in de park by gar,


dis is a shallenge I will teach de scurvy
Jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make, it
is no matter for dat, by gar, I will kill de
Jack priest ... A shallenge, etc. You may begone...

MRS QUICKLY Out alas run, run, young man. (to Caius) Alas,
he speaks but for his friend, run, young man.
Jesu bless us, we are all undone, Go...

SIMPLE (O God, what a furious man is this)


Ay forsooth, etc.

RUGBY Alas, good master, alas, he speaks but


for his friend. Pray you use your patience
in good time, good master, be content,
I beseech you.

CAIUS I will myself marry Anne Page (Caius's


mood suddenly changes to extreme
sentiment). Anne Page ...

MRS QUICKLY (to Caius) Sir the maid loves


you and all will be well.

CAIUS "Vrai dieu d'amours confortez moy


Vous m'avez mis en grand emoy... "

RUGBY My master is himself in love with


mistress Anne.

CAIUS "... Pour la belle que point ne voy


En cette nouvelle saison.
Helas, comment passerai
Donc ce mois de May
Qui est si long"
Anne Page.

MRS QUICKLY I know Anne's mind for that, never a woman in


Windsor more than I do, nor could do more than
I do her, I thank heaven. Sir, the maid loves
you and all shall be well.

RUGBY We must give folks leave to prate.

CAIUS (pulls himself together) By gar I will kill


ze Jack priest, and I will appoint mine
host de Garter to measure our weapons.
Follow my heels. (the procession moves on)
Rugby, ma foi, je m'en vais la cour, la
grande affaire.

(Exeunt Caius and Rugby. Mrs Quickly is


about to follow when Fenton comes out of
his hiding place and signals to her).

FENTON Psst!

MRS QUICKLY (on seeing Fenton, turns back)


Master Fenton.

FENTON How now, good woman, shall I not


lose my suit?

MRS QUICKLY (piously) Truth sir, all is in His hands


above, but not withstanding, master Fenton,
I'll be sworn she loves you.

FENTON I thank thee, and I pray you once tonight give


my sweet Nan this ring (gives her ring and money).
Here's for thy pains.

(Exit Fenton, Mrs Quickly counts the money).

MRS QUICKLY Now heaven send thee good fortune (picks out
copper coin). But yet I would that my master
had mistress Anne (picks out silver coin) Or
I would master Slender had her (picks out gold
coin), or in sooth I would master Fenton had her
I will do what I can for them all three, but
speciously (bites coin) for master Fenton.

(Enter Bardolph, Nym and Pistol, laden with the spoils of


their thieving expedition).

BARDOLPH |
NYM | How now, mine host of the
PISTOL | Garter.

(Enter Host followed by Drawer and Robin - a very


small boy carrying a very large pot of sack).

HOST Here boys, here! Will you drink an-heires?

BARDOLPH | "Back and side go bare


NYM | Both foot and hand go cold
PISTOL | But belly, God send thee good ale enough
HOST | Whether it be new or old
Jolly good ale and old"

HOST "I cannot eat


But little meat,
My stomach is not good,
But sure I think
That I can drink
With him that wears a hood.
Though I go bare,
Take ye no care
I nothing am a-cold
I stuff my skin
So full within
Of jolly good ale and old"

OTHERS "Jolly good ale and old".

(During this, Falstaff has entered and


watches the others gloomily. Robin
brings him his pot of sack.

FALSTAFF (beckoning to Host) Mine host of the Garter.

HOST What says my bully-rook?

FALSTAFF Truly, mine host, I must turn away


some of my followers.

HOST Discard bully Hercules, cashier; let them wag.

FALSTAFF I sit at ten pounds a week.

HOST Thou art an emperor-Caesar Keisar and


Pheazar. I will entertain Bardolph, he shall
draw, he shall tap, said I well bully Hector?
FALSTAFF Do so, good mine host.

HOST (to Bardolph who comes forward singing) I


have spoken, let him follow, let me see thee
froth and lime; I am at a word, follow.

(Host ties apron round Bardolph's waist.


Falstaff shakes him by the hand. During the
exchange between Falstaff and the host,
he has been singing the following verse:

BARDOLPH "Now let them drink


Till they nod and wink
Even as good fellows should do,
They shall not miss
To have the bliss
Good ale doth bring men to,
And all poor souls
That scour black bowls
Or have been lustily trowled ...")

BARDOLPH |
| "God save the lives
NYM | Of them and their wives
| Whether they be young or old."
PISTOL |

FALSTAFF Bardolph, follow him, go, adieu.

NYM |
HOST | "Back and side go bare, etc."
PISTOL |

BARDOLPH This is a life that I have desired,


I will thrive. "Jolly good ale and old".

FALSTAFF Hold, sirs! which of you know Ford


of this town?

PISTOL I ken the wight - he is of substance good.

FALSTAFF My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.

PISTOL Two yards, and more.

FALSTAFF No quips now Pistol ... Indeed I am


in the waist two yards about: but I
am now about no waste: I am about
thrift - Briefly, I do mean to make
love to Ford's wife!

(Sensation. Falstaff walks up and


down admiring himself): The others
titter).

FALSTAFF I spy entertainment in her - she


discourses: she carves: she gives the
leer of invitation ...
PISTOL He hath studied her well and translated
her will out of honesty into English. He
hath a legion of angels, as many devils
entertain and 'to her boy' say I.

NYM The anchor is deep. Will that humour


pass? The humour rises, it is good, 'tis
good. Humour me, the angels and make no
more ado.

FALSTAFF ... and every part of her to be


construed rightly is 'I am Sir John
Falstaff's'.

BARDOLPH The report goes she hath all the


rule of her husband's purse.

BARDOLPH | John come kiss me now come


| kiss me bye and bye and make
HOST | no more ado.

FALSTAFF (shows them a letter) I have writ me


here a letter to her; (shows another
letter) and here another to Page's wife.

NYM Another letter.

BARDOLPH She bears the purse too.

FALSTAFF Who even now gave me good eyes


too, examined my parts with most
judicious oeillades: sometimes the
beam of her view gilded my foot,
sometimes my portly belly. They
shall be exchequers to me I will
trade to them both. We will thrive lads.

PISTOL Then did the sun on dunghill shine.

NYM I thank thee for that humour.

BARDOLPH She is a region in Guiana: all gold and bounty.

HOST |
| John, come kiss me now, etc.
PISTOL |

BARDOLPH We will thrive lads, etc.

FALSTAFF (to Pistol) So bear thou this letter to


mistress Ford. (Pistol makes a gesture of
virtuous indignation).

(To Nym) And thou this to mistress Page


(Nym makes a gesture of virtuous indignation.
Falstaff holds letter out again to Pistol).

PISTOL Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become?


(Falstaff holds out letter again to Nym).

NYM I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.

(They both throw letters on the table).

FALSTAFF (To Robin with an angry gesture) Hold,


sirrah, bear you these letters tightly,
Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.

(to Pistol and Nym) Rogues hence


avaunt! vanish like hail-stones go!
Trudge, plod away o' the hoof; seek
shelter pack ...

(Drives out Pistol and Nym).

Falstaff will learn the honour of the age


French thrift, you rogues; myself and skirted page!

(Exit Falstaff majestically into the Inn leaning on


Robin's shoulder. Host and Bardolph bow him out and
then follow. Pistol pokes his head on the stage, but
quickly withdraws it. Nym does the same. They enter
cautiously and meet in the middle of the stage).

PISTOL Wilt thou revenge?

NYM By welkin and her star!

PISTOL By wit or steel?

NYM With both the humours, I


Will discuss this love to Ford.

PISTOL And I to him shall eke unfold.


How Falstaff, varlet vile,
His dove will prove, his gold will hold
And his soft couch defile.

(Nym joins Pistol in the vow; enter Ford gloomily).

NYM Here comes master Ford. A word with you master Ford.

PISTOL A word with you master Ford.

FORD With me?

PISTOL Sir John affects your wife.

FORD My wife?

NYM He loves your wife.

FORD Why sir, my wife is not young.

PISTOL He loves both high and low, both rich and poor,
one with another, Ford, Ford, perpend ...
FORD Love my wife?

PISTOL With liver burning hot, take heed.

NYM Take heed.

PISTOL Have open eye, for thieves do foot by night.

NYM For thieves do foot by night.

PISTOL | Take heed, ere summer comes, or


NYM | cuckoo-birds do sing.

PISTOL Farewell, I Pistol am.

NYM Farewell, my name is Nym.

PISTOL | And Falstaff loves your wife.


NYM | (Exit both).

FORD Love my wife? I will be patient, I will find


out this. Love my wife? I will seek out
Falstaff, he lies at the Garter, mine host
shall give me recourse to him, and tell him
my name is ... Brook! Ha, ha, only for a
jest, my name shall be Brook, A-ha, 'tis a
merry knight, love my wife! what a
damned epicurean rascal is this! my heart
is ready to crack with impatience. See the
hell of having a false woman. Love my
wife? My bed shall be abused, my coffers
ransacked my reputation gnawed at,
cuckold! Amaimon sounds well, Lucifer
well, Barbason well, yet they are the names
of fiends; but cuckold, the devil himself
has not such a name. I will prevent this, I
will detect my wife, be revenged on
Falstaff. Heaven be praised for my jealousy.

MRS FORD (off stage)


"When daisies pied and violets blue,
And lady smocks all silver-white,
And cuckoo buds of yellow hue
Do paint the meadows with delight
When turtles tread and rooks and daws
And maidens bleach their summer smocks.

MRS PAGE (off stage)


"When shepherds pipe on oaten straws
And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks.
Ah!

(Ford listens with growing uneasiness).

MRS FORD | "The cuckoo then on every tree


| Mocks married men for thus sings he:
MRS PAGE | Cuckoo, cuckoo - O, word of fear,
Unpleasing to the married ear,
Cuckoo, cuckoo ... "
(Ford steps up roughly and interrupts Mrs Ford).

MRS FORD How now, sweet Frank, why art thou melancholy

FORD (controlling himself with difficulty) I


melancholy? I am not melancholy: get you
home, go!

MRS FORD Faith! thou hast some crotchets in


thy head, now will you go mistress Page?

MRS PAGE Have with you.

(They curtsey and go off arm in arm).

MRS FORD | La, la, la la etc.


| "... cuckoo then on every tree
MRS PAGE | Mocks married men, for thus sings he ...

FORD (outburst) Cuckold!

ACT II
======

Scene I
-------
A room in Page's house (half stage). There is a
practicable window in the centre. Enter Mrs Page
reading a letter. She comes to the words 'that I love
thee' ...

MRS PAGE 'Thine own true Knight, by day or night:


Or any kind of light, with all his might,
For thee to fight,
JOHN FALSTAFF'.

John Falstaff! What Herod of Jewry


is this! O wicked, wicked world!
Have I 'scaped love-letters in the
holiday-time of my beauty, and am
I now a subject for them? What
hath this Flemish drunkard picked
out of my conversation, that he
dares in this manner to assay me?
How shall I be revenged on him?
for revenged I will be, as sure as
his guts are made of puddings.

MRS FORD (off stage) What ho, Gossip Page, Gossip Page.

(Mrs Page goes to the door. Mrs Ford comes forward).

MRS PAGE Mistress Ford, you look very ill!

MRS FORD O, Mistress Page, give me some counsel.

MRS PAGE What's the matter, what is it?


MRS FORD If I could but go to Hell for an
eternal moment I could be knighted.

MRS PAGE What? thou liest! Sir Alice Ford?

MRS FORD Listen, listen, perceive how I might be knighted.

MRS FORD | (in canon)


|
MRS PAGE | 'Ask me no reason why I love
you, for love admits not reason
for his counsellor, you are not
young, no more am I, go to then,
there's sympathy (they both turn
over a page). You are merry so
am I, ha, ha, then there's more
sympathy. You love sack and so
do I, would you desire better
sympathy?' (Mrs Page steps
nearer to Mrs Ford and looks at
her letter). 'Let it suffice thee
Mistress Ford (Mistress Page)
(they correct each other and
exchange letters).

'That I love thee,


'thine own true knight, by day and night:
Or any kind of light, with all his might
For thee to fight,
JOHN FALSTAFF!'

MRS FORD Did you ever see the like?

MRS PAGE The very same.

MRS FORD The very hand.

MRS PAGE The very words.

MRS FORD What doth he think of us?

MRS PAGE Nay, I know not.

MRS PAGE |
| Let's be revenged on him!
MRS FORD |

MRS FORD Let's appoint him a meeting.

MRS PAGE And lead him on.

MRS FORD And give him hope.

MRS PAGE With fine-baited delay.

MRS FORD And bring him to punishment.


Come, to the forge with it.
MRS PAGE To the forge with it.

MRS FORD Shape it.

MRS PAGE | I would not have things cool


MRS FORD |

MRS QUICKLY (passing the window off stage).

"A noble knight there was indeed,


He mounted on his milk-white steed ... "

MRS FORD Look who comes yonder?

MRS PAGE Mistress Quickly.

MRS FORD She shall be our messenger.

MRS PAGE Trust me she'll fit it.

MRS QUICKLY " ... He rode, he rode himself alone


Until he came to lovely Joan."

(Enter Mrs Quickly. Mrs Page and Mrs Ford run to


meet her and show her the letters).

MRS FORD Come Mistress Quickly, a word with you.

MRS PAGE Come Mistress Quickly, go in with us

(they all come forward).

MRS PAGE | You shall be our messenger to


MRS FORD | this paltry knight.

(Great agitation on the part of Mrs Page and


Mrs Ford. Mrs Quickly tries to soothe them).

MRS QUICKLY | "Sigh no more ladies, ladies sigh no more,


MRS PAGE | Men were deceivers ever,
MRS FORD | One foot in sea, and one on shore,
(joining in) To one thing constant never.
Then sigh not so
But let them go
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your songs of woe
Into hey nonny, nonny

"Sing no more ditties, sing no more


Of dumps so dull and heavy,
Fraud of man was ever so
Since summer first was leavy,
Then sigh not so
But let them go
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into hey, nonny, nonny.
Hey! Men were deceivers ever."

(Exeunt, consulting feverishly).


[Entr'acte]

Scene 2
-------
The parlour of the Garter Inn. Door (L.) with a few
steps leading to Falstaff's bedroom A table near the
fireplace with writing materials. Falstaff sits at the
table.

FALSTAFF Bardolph, Bardolph, I say!

BARDOLPH Here sir.

FALSTAFF Go brew me a pottle of sack finely.

BARDOLPH With eggs sir?

FALSTAFF Simple, of itself I'II no pullet sperm


in my brewage (exit Bardolph)

"A cup of wine that is brisk and fine


And drink unto the leman mine.
A merry heart lives long-a.
Do me right and dub me knight
Samingo, Samingo, (drinks)
A merry heart lives long-a."

(Enter Bardolph with drink).

BARDOLPH Sir, there's a woman would speak with you.

FALSTAFF (eagerly) A woman? let her approach.

(Enter Mistress Quickly, she curtseys twice. Falstaff


looks up and is instantly disappointed).

MRS QUICKLY Give your worship good morrow.

FALSTAFF Good morrow, good wife.

MRS QUICKLY Not so an' it please your worship.

FALSTAFF Good maid then.

MRS QUICKLY I'll be sworn as my mother


was, the first hour I was born.

FALSTAFF What with me?

MRS QUICKLY A word or two.

FALSTAFF Two thousand, fair woman.

MRS QUICKLY Your worship I pray you come nearer this


ways. There is one Mistress Ford ...

FALSTAFF (putting down his drink and rising


hurriedly) Mistress Ford you say?
MRS QUICKLY There's one Mistress Ford ...

FALSTAFF Mistress Ford, well on ...

MRS QUICKLY I pray you come nearer this ways.

FALSTAFF I warrant thee nobody hears.

MRS QUICKLY Come nearer!

FALSTAFF (coming up nearer and seizing her hand)


Come Mistress Ford, what of her?

MRS QUICKLY (standing back and snatching her hand away)


Lord! your worship's a wanton!

FALSTAFF (letting go her hand) Come, come,


Mistress Ford, what says she to me?

MRS QUICKLY Marry, this is the long and the short of it:

FALSTAFF What says she to me?

MRS QUICKLY You have brought her to such a canaries


'tis wonderful!

FALSTAFF What says she to me? Be brief my good she-Mercury.

MRS QUICKLY Yet there's been knights and lords and gentlemen
with their coaches, I warrant you, coach after
coach, letter after letter, gift after gift,
smelling so sweetly ...

FALSTAFF But what says she to me?

MRS QUICKLY ... All musk and so rushling I warrant you,


in silk and gold and in such alligant terms,
I warrant you, that would have won any woman's
heart, I warrant you. Marry, marry, (I pray you
step nearer this ways)
(she whispers incisively in his ear).
She hath received your letter, and she gives
you to notify that her husband will be absent
from his house between ten and eleven ...

FALSTAFF Ten and eleven?

MRS QUICKLY Ten and eleven.

FALSTAFF Woman, commend me to her.

MRS QUICKLY Why you say well.

FALSTAFF I will not fail her.

MRS QUICKLY Ay, forsooth.

(Falstaff seizes Mrs Quickly and dances her round. He


kisses her. She escapes; they both sit down on each
side of the table).

MRS QUICKLY But I have another messenger


to your worship - Mistress Page.

FALSTAFF Mistress Page?

MRS QUICKLY Her husband is seldom from


home, but she hopes there will
come a time. I never knew a
woman so dote on a man.
Surely you have charms indeed, la!

FALSTAFF No, not I.

MRS QUICKLY Yes, in truth.

FALSTAFF Not I, I assure thee.

MRS QUICKLY (holding out her hand) Farewell, your worship.

FALSTAFF Farewell, commend me to them


both. Here's my purse (shaking out
his purse, he finds it empty). I am yet
thy debtor. (Exit Mrs Quickly
angrily). Go thy ways, go thy ways
old Jack. I'll make more of thy old
body than I have done. A-ha,
mistress Page, (blows kiss) Mistress
Ford, (blows another kiss) have I
encompassed you both? Go to!
Via, Mistress Page. Ten and eleven.

(He sits at the table with his back to the street


door, takes a sheet of paper and prepares a pen.
He begins to compose a love-song).
Mistress Ford ------

"O that joy so soon should waste!


O so sweet a bliss
As a kiss
Might not for ever last ...
So sugared, so melting, so soft, so delicious;
The dew that lies on roses
When the morning herself discloses
Is not so precious . .
O rather than I would it smother
Were I to taste such another
It would be my wishing
That I might die ----- kissing.
That I might die ... "

(Enter Bardolph).

BARDOLPH There's one master Brook below would fain


speak with you and hath sent you a morning
draught of sack.
FALSTAFF Brook is his name?

BARDOLPH Ay, sir.

FALSTAFF Call him in, such Brooks are


welcome to me that overflow with
such liquor (he takes a long draught
and then continues writing)
'kissing ----'

FORD (entering disguised) I will catch the lecher,


he shall not escape me.

FALSTAFF (reading over what he has written)


"O rather than I would it smother, etc."

FORD (aside) If I suspect without cause, then


make sport of me. Would anyone have
thought this? My intelligence is true, my
jealousy is reasonable. Better three hours
too soon than a minute too late.
(Approaches Falstaff) Bless you sir.

FALSTAFF (engrossed in his composition) ... And


you sir; 'kissing' (he rises) What is
your will? Would you speak with me?

FORD Sir my name is Brook.

FALSTAFF Good master Brook, I desire more


acquaintance with you.

FORD Sir John, I have some money here troubles me.

FALSTAFF Money is a good soldier and will on.

FORD (producing two bags of money) If you will


help me bear it, take all (deprecating
gesture by Falstaff) or half -- (Ford is
about to remove one bag, when Falstaff
quietly annexes both) to ease me of the
carriage.

FALSTAFF I know not, sir, how I may deserve


to be your porter. (Ford comes up
close to Falstaff).

FORD There is a gentlewoman of this town, her


name is Mistress Ford.

FALSTAFF (aside) Ford ten and eleven.

FORD (aside) Ha; ha, he cannot escape me.

FALSTAFF Very well, sir, proceed.

FORD (simulating great emotion) I have long


loved her, I have pursued her as love hath
pursued me.
"But Love like a shadow flies
When substance Love pursues
Pursuing that that flies
And flying what pursues."

FALSTAFF (completely mystified) To what purpose


have you unfolded this to me?

FORD (testing the effect of his words) Some say that though
she appear honest to me yet in other places she enlarges
her mirth so far that there is shrewd construction made
of her.

FALSTAFF (aside) Ha, ha.

FORD Now, Sir John, you are a gentleman of


excellent breed

FALSTAFF O, Sir!

FORD Believe it, for you know it; here is money:


spend it, spend more, spend all I have to
lay siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife;
win her to consent to you.

FALSTAFF (more mystified)


Should I win what you would enjoy?

FORD O understand my drift. She dwells so securely


on the excellency of her honour, she is too
bright to be looked against ... Now, could I
come to her with any detection in my hand, I
could drive her then from her ward of purity,
her reputation, her marriage vow, and a thousand
other her defences which now are too, too strongly
embattled against me. What say you t'it Sir John?

FALSTAFF Master Brook, I will first make bold


with your money and next give me
your hand (Ford is scarcely able to
control himself). And last as I am a
gentleman you shall, if you will,
enjoy Ford's wife.

FORD (furiously) O, good sir!

FALSTAFF I say you shall. I shall be with her


(I may tell you) by her own appointment
between ten and eleven.

FORD (starting) Ten and eleven?

FALSTAFF Ten and eleven.

FORD 'Tis past nine already sir.

FALSTAFF Is it? I will then address me to my


appointment; adieu.
FORD (forcing a smile) Adieu, Sir John.

(Falstaff is about to go out, but turns


and whispers to Ford).

FALSTAFF You shall have her Master Brook


you shall have her; you shall
cuckold Ford (Exit singing: "The
dew that lies on roses, etc.")

FORD Ha, is this a vision? Is this a dream? Do I


sleep? (tears off his disguise) Awake,
awake Master Ford, there's a hole made
in your best coat, Master Ford, ... my
wife hath sent for him, the hour is fixed,
the match is made, eleven o'clock the hour.
I must be about it, detect my wife with
half Windsor at my heels, awake Master
Ford ... (enter Caius).

CAIUS Vere is mine 'ost of de Garter (Ford hides).

HOST (entering) How now, bully doctor!

CAIUS By gar, me vill kill ze Jack priest.

HOST He is not here.

CAIUS Me vill kill de Jack priest, and mine host ...

(Enter Slender Shallow, Page).

SLENDER |
SHALLOW | Bless you master Doctor!
PAGE |

CAIUS ... Mine host shall measure our weapons.


By gar ... (exit).

HOST I will provoke him to it.

SLENDER |
SHALLOW | Adieu, master doctor Let him
PAGE | die, bully Hector, let him ...

FORD (coming out of hiding) Shhh!

HOST Master Ford! thou hast no suit against my knight?

FORD (whispering) None, I protest, a jest only.

PAGE Master Ford, will you go with us?

FORD With you?

PAGE |
SLENDER | There's a fray to be fought
SHALLOW | 'tween Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius.
HOST |

FORD Doctor Caius?

PAGE The Frenchman!

FORD And Sir Hugh?

HOST The parson.

FORD A fight?

OTHERS A challenge! Will you come master


Ford to behold it? (The Host imitates
the actions of fencing with a stick).

FORD Shhh! Good plots, they are laid, I will


take him and all my neighbours shall cry
'aim', (to Page) Have with you gentles, I
will come.

PAGE Shhh! Thy hand, bully, here, boys,


here shall we wag?

SLENDER |
SHALLOW | Here, boys, here, shall we wag?
PAGE |

HOST (takes Ford's arm - they go out on


tiptoe. The others follow) Shhh! Shall he
die, bully Hector, shall he die?

SLENDER |
SHALLOW | Shall he die?
PAGE |

(exeunt omnes on tiptoe)

(Enter Falstaff from his room, magnificently attired.


He stands at the door a moment then swaggers across
the room, picks up his hat and stick and admires
himself in the mirror then crosses to the street door
where he stands a moment, full of dignity. He leaves,
shutting the door quickly).

ACT III
=======

(scene I - Interlude [1933])


----------------------------

A footpath near Windsor, enter Fenton and Host.

FENTON Yet hear me speak; from time to time


I have acquainted you with the dear
love I bear to fair Anne Page, who
mutually hath answered my affection
Help me in my suit!
HOST Sheath thy impatience, go about the
fields with me and I will bring thee where
Mistress Anne Page is at a farmhouse
a-feasting; and thou shalt woo her. (Sound
of pipe heard in distance) But stay, here
they come. I will be your friend and
question her how she loves you.

FENTON Woo her, win her for me.

CHORUS (distant)
"A-maying, a-playing
Love hath no gain-saying
So merrily trip and go.
Jog on, jog on the foot-path way
And merrily bent the stile-a;
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a ...
A-maying, a-playing ..."

(Enter Anne accompanied by a party of


young men and women with a piper and
drummer. They cross the stage and have
nearly disappeared on the other side when
the Host draws Anne away from the others).

HOST Mistress Anne, a word with you.

(the chorus gradually returns to the stage)

MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS How now? Mine host of the


Garter'. What should this be
that he looks so merrily?

HOST (aside) What say you to young master Fenton?

CHORUS Ha! young master Fenton!

HOST He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth.

CHORUS He has eyes of youth.

HOST He speaks holiday, he smells April and May.

CHORUS April and May. He'll carry it, 'tis in


his talons he'll carry it.

ANNE Ah, mine host, he is of too high a region ;


he knows too much, he kept company
with the wild Prince and Poyns.

HOST Nay but hear me.

CHORUS Nay but hear us.

ANNE Let him woo for himself (Fenton comes forward).

FENTON Beauty clear and fair


Where the air
Rather like a perfume dwells.
Where the violet and the rose
Their blue veins and blush disclose
And come to honour nothing else.

CHORUS Beauty clear, etc.

FENTON Dear, again back recall to this light


A stranger to himself and all.
Both the wonder and the story
Shall be yours and eke the glory
I am your servant and thrall

CHORUS Both the wonder and the story


Shall be yours and eke the glory
(Anne raises Fenton to his knees)
Here kneels your servant and your thrall.

ANNE Let us all join our hearts that nothing can estrange us.

(song and dance while the lovers are


crowned with flowers)

CHORUS "Fair and fair and twice so fair


As fair as any may be ;
The fairest shepherd on our green,
A love for any lady;

"Fair and fair and twice so fair


As fair as any may be;
Thy love is fair for thee alone
And for no other lady"

FENTON My love is fair, my love is gay,


As fresh as bin the flowers in May.
And of my love my roundelay,
My merry, merry roundelay,
Concludes with Cupid's curse.

ANNE |
FENTON | They that do change old love for new,
HOST | Pray gods they change for worse.
CHORUS |

CHORUS "Fair and fair, etc."

ANNE My love can pipe, my love can sing,


My love can many a pretty thing
And of his lovely praises ring
My merry, merry roundelays;
Amen to Cupid's curse.

ANNE |
FENTON | They that do change old love for new,
HOST | Pray gods they change for worse
CHORUS |

ANNE My love is fair


A love for any lady,

FENTON My love is gay


A love for no other lady.

HOST |
| "Fair and fair, etc."
CHORUS |

ANNE But listen, good mine host, my father hath


commanded me with Master Slender
immediately to marry. I have consented.

CHORUS She hath consented?

ANNE My mother, strong against the match is


firm for Doctor Caius, I seemingly
obedient, hath made promise to the doctor.

CHORUS Doctor Caius!

HOST Which mean you to deceive? father or mother?

FENTON (coming in between them) Both, my


good host, to go along with me. And
here it rests that you'll provide the
Vicar to stay for us at church 'twixt
twelve and one tomorrow.

HOST Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest.

(The chorus circle round the lovers with


ceremonial gestures).

CHORUS "Honour, riches, marriage blessing,


Long continuance and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you,
Thus we sing our blessings on you".

FENTON Now to our feast; fair mistress, lead the way.

ANNE And you, mine host, will you not join our company?

HOST I must to my honest knight Falstaff and


drink canary with him. Farewell.

(he turns to go, but once more turns back


and sings jokingly to Fenton).

"I mun be married a-Sunday


I mun be married a-Sunday;
Whosoever shall come that way,
I mun be married a-Sunday."
Farewell.

CHORUS "I mun be married, etc." (leaves stage)

ANNE |
| Will you be true to us?
FENTON |

HOST Ay, I'll be sworn.

ANNE |
| Farewell (exeunt)
FENTON |

HOST "When shall we make our wedding feast?


There shall be cheer for man and beast;
I mun be married a-Sunday."

Scene 1 (2)
-------
(Enter Simple sheering around. Host
hides. Enter Evans sheering around in
doublet and hose with a sword in one
hand and a book in the other).

EVANS "As we sat down in Papylon, the rivers


there about, and in remembrance of Zion ..."
I pray you now friend Simple, which
way have you looked for master Caius?

SIMPLE Marry, sir, every way but the town way.

EVANS I most fehemently desire you will also


look that way

SIMPLE Ay, forsooth.

EVANS (reading again)


"And tears of grief gushed out ..."
Pless my soul, how full of cholers I am
and trempling of mind. I shall be glad if
he have deceived me. How melancholies I am.
(reads in another part of his book)
"To shallow rivers by whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals,
There will we make our peds of roses
And a thousand fragrant ..."
(breaks off)
Mercy on me, I have a great disposition to cry
(reads again)
"Melodious birds sing madrigals . .
We sat in - in Papy - in Papylon
The rivers there a-- ..."

SIMPLE (running in) Yonder he's coming.

EVANS Which way?

SIMPLE This way, Sir Hugh.

EVANS What weapons has he?

SIMPLE No weapons, Sir.


EVANS (striking an attitude) Heaven prosper the right ...

(Enter Shallow, Page, Ford, Slender


and Host. Ford takes no part in the
proceedings but stands gloomily apart)

SHALLOOW How now master Parson?

(Slender establishes himself in a corner and goes


with his sonnet)

PAGE Good morrow, good Sir Hugh.

SLENDER "O sweet Anne Page ..."

EVANS Pless you from His mercies' sake all of you.

SHALLOW |
| We are come to you to do a good
PAGE | office

EVANS Fery well, what is it?

(during the following, Host goes through


appropriate actions with his stick, much
to Evans's alarm)

HOST To see thee fight, to see thee foin, to see


thee traverse, to see thee here, to see thee
there, to see thee pass thy punto, thy stock,
thy reverse, thy distance, thy montant, is
he dead?

EVANS (aside) Dead?

HOST Bully parson, is he dead?

EVANS Dead? I will smite his noddles for missing his


meetings and appointments, as cowardly a knave ...
(enter Caius and Rugby. Evans hides behind a tree)

CAIUS Vere is de coward, vere is de John-ape


vere is de coward Jack Priest of de world?

SLENDER "O Sweet Anne Page ..."

EVANS There is reasons and causes for it ...

CAIUS (catching sight of Evans) By gar, by gar,


he is de coward, the Jack dog he dare
not show his face, by gar, me will kill de
Jack priest for he spoke for a Jack-a-nape
for Anne Page, scurvy priest, by gar me
will cut his ears, diable, diable, have I not
stay for him to kill him.

SHALLOW Disarm them, disarm them. Nay,


good Master Doctor, keep in your
weapon, so do you, good Master
Parson. Master Doctor, I am sworn
of the peace, I am come to fetch you
home ...

EVANS Pray you use your patience, I desire you


in friendship, in good time, I desire your
friendship, I will one way or other make
amends, alas, I cannot fence.

PAGE Keep them asunder, Nay good master


doctor, keep in your weapon ... disarm
them, and let them question, disarm them.

RUGBY Disarm them, master doctor, you must go with me.

HOST Disarm them, disarm them.


(knocking up Caius's sword) Peace, I say
hear mine host of the Garter, Gallia and
Gaul, French and Welsh, soul curer and
body curer, shall I lose my doctor? No!
he gives me the potions and the motions;
shall I lose my Parson? No! he gives me
the proverbs and the no-verbs, give me thy
hand, celestial; so. Give me thy hand,
terrestrial, so. Your hearts are mighty,
your skins are whole, and let burnt sack be
the issue (Simple gets excited). Follow me
lads, of peace, follow, follow ...

PAGE Trust me, a mad host.

OTHERS (except Slender and Ford)


Follow, gentlemen, follow.

(a distant clock strikes ten)

PAGE Come master Ford.

FORD The clock gives me my cue and my


assurance bids me search, there I shall find
Falstaff, for it is positive as the earth is
firm that Falstaff is there. I will go.
(Aloud)
Gentlemen I beseech you heartily, go
home with me to dinner, beside your
cheer, you shall have sport. I will show
you a monster.

EVANS |
PAGE |
| A monster?
HOST |
RUGBY |

SIMPLE |
SHALLOW | A monster?
CAIUS |

FORD I bid you come, (to Host) if I find my wife


honest it is not lost labour; if it be
otherwise...

SIMPLE |
SHALLOW |
CAIUS | Have with you to see this
EVANS | monster.
PAGE |
RUGBY |

HOST (he takes Ford's arm - they go off together)

"When I was a bachelor, I lived a merry life,


But now I am a married man and troubled with a wife ...

ALL (except Slender and Ford)

"Oh, give me my yellow hose,


For now my wife she watcheth me,
See yonder where she goes ... etc."

(They all gradually go out except Slender who is


left alone, working on his sonnet. Finding
himself left behind, he hurries on to join the
others).

[Entr'acte]

Scene 2 (3)
-------
A room in Mrs Ford's house containing a table and
lute, a long couch, a gallery at the back. Below the
gallery there is an arras curtain. There are two door-
ways with curtains L. & R. Enter Mrs Ford and Mrs Page.

MRS FORD (calling off stage)


What, John! What, Robert!

MRS PAGE (calling off stage)


Quickly, quickly, the bucket-basket.

MRS FORD (to Mrs Page) I warrant (calling


off stage) Here Robert! Here John!

MRS PAGE Come, come, come, we must be


brief (enter John and Robert - two
servants - carrying a large basket
supported on two poles).

MRS FORD Here, set it down. Be ready here


hard by and when I suddenly call
you, come forth and take this basket
on your shoulders; that done,
trudge with it in all haste and empty
it in a muddy ditch close by the
Thames-side. You'll do it?

JOHN & |
| Ay, forsooth.
ROBERT |

MRS FORD Begone! (exeunt servants; enter Mrs Quickly).

MRS QUICKLY Here comes Sir John!

MRS PAGE | Sir John Falstaff (they come


MRS FORD | down stage together).

MRS FORD |
MRS PAGE | Go to then.
MRS QUICKLY |

(they hastily prepare the room.


Mrs Ford takes the lute and lies
on the couch. Mrs Page hides
behind the arras, Mrs Quickly
behind a door.)

MRS FORD (to Mrs Quickly) Have you been true?

MRS QUICKLY (peeping out) I'll be sworn.

MRS FORD (to Mrs Page) Mistress Page, remember your cue.

MRS PAGE (peeping out) I warrant you!

(Mrs Ford arranges herself in a


seductive attitude on the couch, takes
her lute and begins thrumming it).

MRS FORD "Alas my love, you do me wrong,


To cast me off discourteously,
And I have loved you so long
Delighting in your constancy.
Greensleeves is all my joy,
Greensleeves is my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady
Greensleeves, etc.".

(Enter Robin. He holds back the curtain door).

FALSTAFF (off stage)


"Greensleeves is all my joy, etc."

(enter Falstaff; exit Robin. He


suddenly perceives Mrs Ford, who is
apparently asleep).

"Have I caught my heavenly jewel,


Teaching sleep most fair to be?
Now will I teach her that she
When she wakes is too, too cruel.

"Since sweet sleep her eyes hath charmed,


The two only darts of love,
Now will I with that boy prove
Some play while he is disarmed

(he leans over and tries to embrace her)

"Ah those lips so sweetly swelling


Do invite a stealing kiss;
Now will I but venture this".

Now let me die, for I have lived long enough,


O blessed hour!

MRS FORD (pretending to start out of sleep)


Alas, alas, O sweet Sir John, Heaven
knows how I love thee!

(Mrs Ford is apparently about to


yield to Falstaff's embraces, but
manages to make a signal to Mrs
Quickly, who comes running in at the
crucial moment. Falstaff starts back.)

MRS QUCKLY Mistress Ford, here's mistress


Page at the door sweating and
blowing, and looking wildly.

FALSTAFF Mistress Page! She must not see me


here. I will ensconce me behind the
arras (hides there).

MRS FORD Pray you do so.

MRS PAGE (entering in simulated agitation)


O Mistress Ford.

MRS FORD What's the matter? How now?

MRS PAGE O well-a-day, well-a-day.

MRS FORD (aside) Speak louder.

MRS PAGE O well-a-day, what have you done,


you're shamed.

MRS FORD What is it?

MRS PAGE Overthrown.

MRS FORD What is it?

MRS PAGE Your husband's here at hand!


(agitated movement behind curtain).

MRS FORD Ah, what shall I do?

MRS PAGE You are undone for ever.

MRS FORD What shall I do?

MRS PAGE Bethink of some conveyance.


MRS FORD Alas ---

MRS PAGE In the house you cannot hide him.

See here, a basket; if he be of any


reasonable stature. (Falstaff's
paunch pushes the curtain out).

MRS FORD He's too big to go in there.

FALSTAFF (enters) Let me see it, oh! I'll in,


I'll in --- (he tries to get in the basket,
but in doing so falls on his knees at
Mrs Page's feet).

MRS PAGE What, Sir John Falstaff, are these your letters,
knight? (shows him letter).

FALSTAFF I love thee, help me away, (to Mrs Ford)


I love thee ... let me creep in here...

MRS PAGE (turning away) You dissembling knight!

MRS FORD (turning away) I fear you love Mistress Page.

MRS QUICKLY Master Ford's hard by at the street end,


he'll be here anon, away!

MRS PAGE |
| Away with him, away!
MRS FORD |

(They push Falstaff into the basket.


Re-enter Robin; he helps them cover
Falstaff with foul linen).

MRS FORD Throw foul linen on him; as if he


were going to bucking!

MRS PAGE Call your men, Mistress Ford.

MRS QUICKLY (to Robin) Help to cover your master, boy.

MRS FORD |
| (shaking their fists at
MRS PAGE | Falstaff) You dissembling
| knight!
MRS QUICKLY |

(the lid flies up again and Falstaff's head


appears; they sit on the basket and jump up and
down on it; then Robin jumps alone as the others
fasten the straps).

CHORUS OF MEN (distant) "When I was a bachelor,


I lived a happy life, etc."

MRS FORD Hide yourself, Mistress Page, they


must not find you here. (Mrs Page
hides behind the arras) What,
Robert; what, John! (enter servants)
Go take up these clothes here
quickly and carry them to the
laundress at Datchet Mead,
(servants take up the basket), come,
come, quickly!

(Enter Ford, followed by Shallow, Slender, Simple,


Caius Rugby, Evans, Page, Host, Bardolph, Nym,
Pistol and some more neighbours whom he has picked
up on the way. Ford runs into the basket. The
servants let it fall).

FORD Ah! How now, where bear you this?

ROBERT To the laundress, forsooth.

MRS FORD Why what have you to do whither


they bear it? You were best meddle
with buck washing

FORD Buck! I wish I could wash myself of the


buck. (kicking the basket) Buck! (he drives
the servants and the basket out. He makes
the sign of horns over his head) Ay, buck,
and of the season too it will appear.

PAGE Good master Ford, be contented: you


wrong yourself too much.

FORD Gentlemen, I have dreamed tonight; I'll


tell you my dream. Here, here be my keys;
ascend my chambers, search, seek, find
out: I warrant you, we'll unkennel the fox,
follow me gentlemen.

PAGE Nay, follow him gentlemen: see the issue


of the search.

(Ford starts searching the house. The others,


including men and women servants of the
house follow in single file. Whenever Ford
comes to a likely place he steps back in
order to examine it. The others do the same
until gradually a sort of dance evolves in a
circle on and off stage until they have finally
all left).

MRS PAGE (peeping out from behind the arras)


Is there not there a double excellency in this?

MRS FORD I know not which pleases me better that my husband


is deceived or false Sir John.

(Ford crosses the gallery above, Mrs. Ford quickly drops


the curtain, the others cross the gallery behind Ford.
The servants of the house and more neighbours begin to
crowd in so that the space gradually fills).

FORD I cannot find him: perchance the knave


bragged of that he could not compass.

EVANS (crossing the gallery) This is ferry


fantastical humours and jealousies.

MRS FORD (lifting up curtain) Heard you that?

MRS PAGE In good sooth.

CAIUS By gar, 'tis no the fashion in France, it is


no jealous in France.

SLENDER |
SHALLOW |
HOST |
PAGE | Follow him, gentlemen.
| (exeunt)
PISTOL |
BARDOLPH |
NYM |

MRS FORD (cautiously pulling the curtain aside)


I think my husband hath some special
suspicion of Falstaff's being here.

(Ford has meanwhile doubled on his tracks and appears


quite suddenly close to Mrs Ford while she still has
the curtain in her hand. She drops it quickly, but the
suspicious Ford seizes her roughly by the wrist and
drags her downstage. The others follow).

FORD A-ha, brazen face! Mistress Ford the


honest woman, the modest wife; I suspect
without cause mistress, do I? gentlemen,
you shall see (draws his sword) Falstaff,
Falstaff, come forth, sirrah!

(Ford strides up to the arras and tears it


down. He discovers Mrs Page standing
demurely behind the curtain and steps back
astonished).

FORD Mistress Page!

PAGE Mistress Page!

(Mistress Page comes forward and curtsies twice)

MRS PAGE Mistress Page.

HOST (aside) The monster.

CAIUS (aside) De monstare.

MRS PAGE Here lies the proof, by that which we do.


Wives may be merry and yet honest too...Ah.
CHORUS Ah, here lies the proof, etc.

(They all gather round Ford except


Mrs Ford, who stands apart feigning
offence attended by Mrs Quickly
The others take up the refrain. Ford
tries to approach his wife but they
surround him and head him off.)

FORD Come wife, come, I pray you, pardon me.

OTHERS A-ha the monster ...


"When I was a bachelor ... etc."

(They all stand pointing at Ford)

ACT IV
======

Scene I
-------
Another room in Ford's house, enter Mr and Mrs
Ford in loving converse.

FORD Pardon me, wife, henceforth do what


thou wilt, I rather will suspect the sun with
cold than thee with wantonness. Pardon
me wife, now doth thine honour stand in
him that was of late an heretic, as firm as
faith. Pardon me wife.

MRS FORD "The falling out of faithful friends,


Renewal is of love".

(Mr and Mrs Ford retire up stage


and converse apart. Enter Mr and
Mrs Page with their son William -
a small boy - and Evans).

PAGE (Holding two letters in his hand, to his wife)


And did he send you both these letters at
an instant?

MRS PAGE Within a quarter of an hour.

PAGE Letter for letter, but that the name of


Page and Ford differs!

EVANS (looking over Page's shoulder) 'Tis one


of the best discretions of a 'oman as ever
I did look upon.

(Mrs Page beckons to Evans).

MRS PAGE (aside to Evans) Sir Hugh, the


children must be practised well to
this, or they'll ne'er do it.
(Page approaches Mr and Mrs Ford and leads them forward).

EVANS I will teach the children their behaviours.

PAGE 'Tis well (patting Ford in the back) 'Tis well.

MRS PAGE That will be excellent


(exit Evans taking William with him).

PAGE (leads them forward) Now let our plot go


forward, let our wives yet once again, to
make us public sport, appoint a meeting
with this old fat fellow, where we may take
him and disgrace him for it.

FORD Fie, fie, he'll never come.

MRS FORD Devise but how you'll use him when


he comes, and let us two devise to
bring him thither (Mrs Page takes
the centre of the stage, the others
gather round her.)

MRS PAGE There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter,
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest,
Doth all the winter time at still midnight
Walk round about an oak with great ragged horns,
And there he blasts the tree and takes the cattle,
And makes milch kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit; and well you know
The superstitious, idle-headed eld
Received and did deliver to our age,
This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth.

PAGE But what of this?

MRS FORD Marry, this is our device:


That Falstaff at Herne's oak shall meet with us.

FORD What is your plot?

MRS PAGE Nan Page, my daughter and my little son


And three or four more of their growth we'll dress
Like urchins, ouphes and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads
And rattles in their hands.

MRS FORD Upon a sudden,


As Falstaff, she and I are newly met
Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at once
With some diffused song ...

MRS PAGE Then let them all encircle him about


And fairy-like to pinch the unclean knight
And burn him with their tapers.
The truth being known,
We'll all present ourselves, dishorn the spirit
And mock him home to Windsor.

PAGE |
FORD | And mock him home to
MRS PAGE | Windsor.
MRS FORD |

(enter Evans dancing backwards and conducting the chorus of


fairies. He is fantastically dressed to represent a fairy.)

EVANS Trib fairies, trib and remember your parts,


come, be pold I pray you. Trib, trib, trib ...

(Enter Anne Page, Mrs Quickly and


other women and girls; William, Robin
and a few other boys; Shallow, Bardolph,
Nym, Pistol, Host, John, Robert and other
men [but not Caius and Slender]. They
are all fantastically dressed as fairies and
come on dancing and singing.)

CHORUS "Round about in a fair ring-a


Thus we dance and thus we sing-a
All about, in and out
Over this green-a
Trip and go, to and fro,
Over this green-a ..."

(They dance off stage. Mr and Mrs Ford retire up stage.


Enter Caius dressed as a fairy. He is dancing fantastic steps.)

MRS PAGE (aside to Caius)


Master Doctor, a word with you
(They converse apart.
Enter Slender attired the same and dancing.)

PAGE (aside to Slender) Son Slender a word


with you (they converse apart).

MRS PAGE (aside to Caius) My daughter is in green.

CAIUS In green?

MRS PAGE In green, away with her to the deanery.

CAIUS I know what I haf to do.

PAGE (aside to Slender) Son Slender, my


daughter is in white.

SLENDER In white?

PAGE In white, steal my Nan away and marry her at Eton.

SLENDER Ay, forsooth, I have spoke with her.

PAGE (aloud) Heaven prosper our sport.

(Evans and the fairies dance back onto the stage).


EVANS Trib, fairies and remember your parts.
Come, be pold I pray you, come, come,
trib, etc.

MRS FORD (coming forward) The hour draws


on, to the oak, to the oak, etc.

CHORUS The hour draws on, to the oak ...

(they all run off the stage)

[Entr'acte]

Scene 2
-------
The scene shows Windsor Forest by moonlight. A
large oak stands in the middle of the stage. There is
undergrowth masking the front.
Enter in succession Ford and Page; Mrs Page and
Mrs Ford; a few fairies escorting Anne Page; Pistol
and Mrs Quickly; Shallow; William and Robin
dancing, with girls dresses over their shoulders;
Caius and Rugby; Slender and Simple; Bardolph,
Nym, Alice and Jenny; Host dancing; Evans and
fairies. All collect round Evans who gives them final
instructions. A clock strikes twelve on hearing which
they all run off stage. Enter Falstaff disguised as
Herne - he wears a pair of horns and drags a chain.
He seems much battered by his recent experiences.

FALSTAFF The Windsor bell hath struck twelve,


the minute draws on. Have I lived
to be carried in a basket like a
barrow of butcher's offal, and to be
thrown into the Thames? Mistress
Ford, Mistress Ford, I have had ford
enough, I was thrown into the ford
I have my belly full of ford, yet I will
be thrown into Etna as I have been
thrown into Thames ere I will leave
her thus! Now the hot-blooded gods
assist me! Remember Jove, thou
wast a bull for thy Europa, O
powerful love ... You were also
Jupiter, a swan for thy love of Leda,
O omnipotent love! For me, I am
here a Windsor stag, and the fattest
I think i' the forest.

MRS FORD Ah!

FALSTAFF Who comes here?

MRS FORD (entering) Ah!

FALSTAFF My doe ...


MRS FORD Sir John, art thou there? my deer, my
male deer (Mrs Page shows her head).

FALSTAFF My doe with the black scut (enter


Mrs Page unperceived by Falstaff)
Let the sky rain potatoes, let it
thunder to the tune of Greensleeves,
hail kissing-comfits and snow
eringoes, let there come a tempest of
provocation I will shelter me here
(he tries to embrace Mrs Ford).

MRS FORD Mistress Page is come with me


sweetheart (Falstaff perceives Mrs
Page, hesitates, but at last makes up
his mind).

FALSTAFF Divide me! Divide me like a bribed-


buck, each a haunch' am I a woodman?

MRS FORD | (trying to pull Falstaff in


MRS PAGE | opposite directions) O sweet Sir John!

FALSTAFF Ha! speak I like Herne the hunter?


As I am a true spirit, welcome. .

CHORUS (Off stage) Ooooo!

MRS PAGE Alas, what noise?

MRS FORD Heaven forgive our sins.

FALSTAFF What should this be?

MRS PAGE |
| Away! Away!
MRS FORD |

(The fairies enter one by one


stepping in time to the dance - they
hold tapers in their hands and some
have rattles. Mrs Page and Mrs
Ford run off. Falstaff tries to follow
them but finds each exit in turn
blocked by an advancing fairy. He
finally hides under the brushwood.
Enter Anne Page as Queen of the
Fairies. She is solemnly escorted to
the oak where she takes her stand.
When she is in position the fairies
bow to her with grotesque gestures).

FALSTAFF I think the devil will not have me


damned, lest the oil that's in me
should set Hell on fire; he would
never else cross me thus.

CHORUS OF FAIRIES Ooooo!


(they bow again to Anne Page).
ANNE Fairies, black grey, green and white,
You moonshine revellers and shades of night,
You orphan heirs of fixed destiny,
Attend your office and your quality.

FALSTAFF They are fairies, he that speaks to


them shall die.
I'll wink and couch, no man their
works may eye.

(Mrs Quickly starts up with a


grotesque gesture. During the
following, the dancing fairies enter
gradually and do homage to Anne Page.)

MRS QUICKLY But till 'tis one o'clock, our


dance of custom round about
the oak of Herne the hunter let
us not forget.

CHORUS But till 'tis one o'clock, etc.

ANNE Lock hand in hand, yourselves in order set


And twenty glow-worms shall our lanterns be
To guide our mesure round about the tree

MRS QUICKLY About fairies, about.

CHORUS Lock hand in hand, etc.

(The fairies all bow)

[Dance of the Fairies]

(The main dance retires up stage. Enter


Caius dancing fantastic steps. He stops
and looks about for Anne Page. Then
enter on the opposite side Slender
similarly. They do not see each other.
Robin, dressed as a female fairy in
green dances forward to meet Caius with
alluring gestures. William Page, dressed
as a female fairy in white dances
forward to meet Slender with alluring
gestures. Caius dances with Robin and
William with Slender. They kiss them
and abduct them running in opposite
directions. The main dance comes
down stage, again led by Anne. Enter
Fenton, he pulls Anne out of the dance
which retires up stage without her. They
embrace and run off stage. The main
dance, led by Evans comes down stage
again and stops dead in front of Falstaff.
Evans holds up his hand.

EVANS But stay! I smell a man of middle earth.


FALSTAFF Heaven defend me from that Welsh fairy.
Lest he transform me to a piece of cheese!

HOST |
PISTOL | Vile worm thou wast o'er-looked
BASSES | even in thy birth.

EVANS |
BARDOLPH |
NYM | A trial, come!
BASSES |

HOST | Corrupt, corrupt and tainted in desire


PISTOL | Come, will this wood take fire?
BASSES |

MRS QUICKLY About him fairies, sing a scornful rhyme;

And as you sing, pinch him to your time.

(The fairies pinch him black and blue).

FAIRIES Pinch him, pinch him black and blue


Saucy mortals must not view
What the Queen of Stars is doing
Nor pry into our fairy wooing.

FALSTAFF O--- O---! etc.

FAIRIES Pinch him blue, pinch him black


Let him not lack
Sharp nails to pinch him blue and red
Till sleep has rocked his addle head.
Pinch him fairies mutually,
Pinch him for his villainy
Pinch him and burn him ... and turn him about
Till candles and starlight and moonshine be out!

(Exeunt all but Falstaff; the sound of


hunting horns is heard. Falstaff rises
slowly, takes off his buck's head and
looks round in a bewildered manner.
Enter six servants with torches. They
group themselves round the back of the
stage which is then quite light. Enter
Mr and Mrs Page.)

PAGE (to Falstaff) Nay, do not fly, I think we've


watched you now. Would none but Herne
the hunter serve your turn?

MRS PAGE Now good Sir John, how like you Windsor wives?

(They pass on. Enter Mr and Mrs Ford.)

FORD Now, sir, who's the cuckold now? Master Brook?

MRS FORD Sir John, we have had ill luck we


could never meet. I'll never take
you for my love again, but I will
always count you my deer!

(snaps her fingers; they pass on. Enter Host.)

HOST A hodge pudding. A bag of flax.

(Enter Nym and Alice Shortcake).

NYM A puffed man, and as slanderous as Satan

(Alice puts out her tongue at Falstaff:


Enter Bardolph and Jenny Pluckpears).

BARDOLPH Old, cold, withered, and of intolerable entrails.

(Enter Pistol and Mrs Quickly, lately married.)

PISTOL As poor as Job.

MRS QUICKLY And as wicked as his wife.

EVANS And given to taverns and sack and wine,


and methinks, to drinkings and swearings
and starings and pribbles and prabbles.

(they all gather round Falstaff wagging


their fingers and laughing).

OTHERS And to drinkings and swearings and


pribbles and prabbles, ah ---

FALSTAFF I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass.

PAGE Yet be cheerful knight, I will desire thee to


laugh at my wife that now laughs at thee.
Tell her master Slender hath married her daughter.

MRS PAGE Master Slender!

(enter Shallow, Slender, Simple


dragging along William Page wearing
the tattered remnants of a white garment.)

SHALLOW |
SLENDER | Whoa-ho, father Page, father Page!
SIMPLE |

PAGE How now, how now son?

SLENDER I came yonder to Eton to marry


mistress Anne Page and she's a
lubberly boy. If it had not been in the
church I would have swinged him (or
he should have swinged me): If I did
not think it had been Anne Page
would I might never stir, and it was:

SHALLOW | William Page! (William slips


SLENDER | out of his dress and runs to his
| mother, who pats his head in
SIMPLE | approval.)

(Shallow, Slender and Simple exeunt angrily.)

MRS PAGE Good George, be not angry, if Anne


Page be my daughter, she is, by
this, Doctor Caius' wife.

PAGE Doctor Caius!

(enter Caius and Rugby dragging between


them Robin, who wears the tattered
remnants of a green garment.

CAIUS Vere is Mistress Page? By gar, I'm


cozened. I ha married a garcon, a boy!
It is not Anne Page, by gar, 'tis a boy ---
it is that knave Robin! (Robin slips off his
dress, swaggers up to Falstaff and stands
by him.)

CAIUS (with an angry gesture) By gar! To my


heels, Rugby.

(exeunt Caius and Rugby).

FORD This is strange, who hath the right Anne?

MRS PAGE My heart misgives me.

(A chorus of men and women and a


flute are heard off stage. All on stage
stand still watching and wondering.)

CHORUS (off stage)


"See the chariot at hand here of love
Wherein my lady rideth
Each that draws is a swan or a dove
And well the car Love guideth"

(enter a group of young men dragging a country


cart all decorated with flowers. Young women
walk on each side dressed in white. Anne and Fenton
are riding. All are dressed in holidays attire. Anne
is veiled, Fenton masked:)

CHORUS (on stage)


"As she goes, all hearts do duty
Unto her beauty
And enamoured do wish
So they might but enjoy such a sight
That they still were to run by her side
Though seas wither she should ride"

(Some of the girls put a wreath of flowers on Anne's


hair. Fenton comes forward and puts a ring on her finger).
CHORUS "Do not look on her eyes, they do light
All that Love's world compriseth
Do not look on her hair, it is bright
As Love's star when it riseth"

FENTON Do but mark her forehead's smoother


Than words that soothe her;
And from her arched brows such a grace
Sheds itself through the face
As alone their triumphs to the life
All the gain, all the good of the elements' strife.

CHORUS Do but mark her ...


O so white, o so soft, o so sweet is she.

(Anne takes of her veil. Fenton unmasks.)

PAGE How now, Master Fenton!

ANNE (coming forward) Pardon good father,


good my mother, pardon.

FALSTAFF (stepping forward)


Stand not amazed, here is no remedy.
In love the heavens themselves do guide the state,
Money buys land, and wives are sold by fate.

(The lovers kneel to Anne's parents


Falstaff blesses the whole party. Ford
steps forward with Mrs Ford.)

FORD Let it be so; Sir John, to master Brook


you shall yet hold your word.

MRS PAGE |
MRS FORD | For he tonight shall lie with
PAGE | Mistress Ford!
FORD |

(General reconciliation and handshaking. Falstaff then steps


forward. He has Anne and Fenton on his right, and Mrs
Quickly and Pistol on his left.)

FALSTAFF "Whether men do laugh or weep,


Whether they do wake or sleep,
Whether they die young or old,
Whether they feel heat or cold,
There is underneath the sun
Nothing in true earnest done"

ANNE |
MRS QUICKLY |
FENTON |
PISTOL | "There is underneath the
| sun etc. '
MRS PAGE |
MRS FORD |
CHORUS |
(They all dance a few steps at the end of which a new
formation is taken up, Falstaff being still in the
centre, having on his right Mr and Mrs Ford, and on
his left Mr and Mrs Page.)

MRS PAGE "All our pride is but a jest"

PAGE "None are worst and none are best"

MRS FORD "Grief and joy and hope and fear


Play their pageants everywhere;
Vain opinion all doth sway
And the world is but a play ...

(The others join in, a bagpiper appears on the


scene and plays 'Half Hannikin', and a general
dance ends the opera.)
========
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera,rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: spg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Stephen P. Guthrie)
Date: 18 Jul 1997 08:49:41 GMT

In August, EMI (in the UK) will rerelease the Meredith Davies set of
Vaughan Williams opera Sir John in Love on CD (2CD set).

About time too!

========
To: "Stephen P. Guthrie" <spg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera,rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Re: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: Michael Doerr <doerr@cns.mpg.de>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 11:39:13 +0200

Stephen P. Guthrie wrote:


>
> In August, EMI (in the UK) will rerelease the Meredith Davies set of
> Vaughan Williams opera Sir John in Love on CD (2CD set).
>
> About time too!

Just in UK ?? Do you have a order number by EMI??


I was awaiting this opera on CD quite long ...

Michael

--
-----
-----------
----------------------
--------------------------------------------

Let me show you the world in my eyes ...


http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/8648/

========
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera,rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Re: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: marques@Xsuper.zippo.com (Jose Oscar Marques)
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 14:08:00 GMT

On 18 Jul 1997 08:49:41 GMT spg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Stephen P. Guthrie)


wrote:

>In August, EMI (in the UK) will rerelease the Meredith Davies set of
>Vaughan Williams opera Sir John in Love on CD (2CD set).
>
>About time too!

This is a fantastic opera, I have worn out my old M. Davies LPs, I am


thrilled at the prospect of getting the CD. Thanks for the good news!

--
Jose Oscar Marques
(to reply remove the X from my address)

========
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera,rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Re: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: ducky.nospam@deltanet.com (Matthew B. Tepper)
Date: 18 Jul 1997 15:08:52 GMT

In article <5qnan5$8nj$1@Radon.Stanford.EDU>, spg@Xenon.Stanford.EDU


was heard to remark...
>
>In August, EMI (in the UK) will rerelease the Meredith Davies set of
>Vaughan Williams opera Sir John in Love on CD (2CD set).
>
>About time too!

That leaves, what, _The Poisoned Kiss_?

--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/index.htm
My main music page --- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/berlioz.htm
And my science fiction club's home page --- http://www.lasfs.org/

========
Newsgroups: rec.music.opera,rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Re: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: marques@Xsuper.zippo.com (Jose Oscar Marques)
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 07:16:15 GMT

On Mon, 21 Jul 1997 16:40:55 -0700 CONSTANTIN MARCOU


<conmarcou@earthlink.net> wrote:

>I recently heard a radio announcer imply that the "Greensleeves"


>Fantasia is from this opera ("Sir John," I mean -- not "The Poisoned
>Kiss"). Is that true?

Yes, it is from "Sir John". It is sung by Sir John and Mrs Ford in the
memorable scene of the seduction. Later in the act it appears in a
purely instrumental form. Anyway, I think that the Fantasia we all know
isn't exactly the same as it appears in the opera - it was somehow
adapted to start a career as a separate piece.

--
Jose Oscar Marques
(to reply remove the X from my address)

========
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.recordings
Subject: Re: Sir John in Love released on CD
From: Rob Barnett <barnbax@zetnet.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 19:29:57 +0100

Plenty of Live RVW coming up this winter in UK.

Also rumoured that Hickox will be recording for Chandos a complete


Sir John in Love based on the concert performance - presum out next year.

The EMI recording of Sir J in L on 2 mid-price CDs on EMI CMS 566123-2.

Live RVW perfs

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
OCTOBER: 1st-4th Sussex University, Gardener Arts Centre, Vaughan
Williams: The Poisoned Kiss (Opera) - The Wandering Min-strels. 01273-685861
2nd London Barbican Symposium on Vaughan Williams with Mi-chael
Kennedy, Richard Hickox & Stephen Connock 18.00 London Barbican
Vaughan Williams Cotswold Romance (ex Hugh the Drover) Symphony 2
LSO/Hickox 19.30 tel: 0171 638 8891
12th London Barbican Vaughan Williams Sir John in Love Northern
Sinfonia Orch/Hickox 16.00 tel: 0171 638 8891
19th Cambridge Arts Theatre Vaughan Williams: Riders to the Sea,
Holst Savitri City of London Sinfonia/Hickox
26th London Barbican Vaughan Williams The Poisoned Kiss (extracts),
Symphony 5 - LSO/Hickox 19.30 tel: 0171 638 8891
NOVEMBER: 3rd London Barbican Vaughan Williams Pilgrim s Progress
ROH, Covent Garden at the Barbican/Hickox 19.30 tel: 0171 638 8891
4th London Clerkenwell Music Festival: details TBA provisional
programme includes On Wenlock Edge, 6 Songs from Hugh the Drover,
Phantasy Quintet, 7 Songs from Pilgrim s Progress, String Qt Nos. 1 and 2
30th Birmingham Symphony Hall: as 3rd ROH tel: 0121 212 3333

--
Rob Barnett
Editor, British Music Society, Newsletter
British Music Society promoting neglected British Music. All
enquiries welcomed. Please visit our Web-Site at
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~snc/society.htm

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