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- Edition: The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Modern, Folio)
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1567[3.4]
1568Enter Fenton [and] Anne.
1570Fenton
I see I cannot get thy father's love;
1571Therefore, no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
1572Anne
Alas, how then?
1573Fenton
Why, thou must be thyself.
1574He doth object I am too great of birth,
1575And that, my state being galled with my expence,
1576I seek to heal it only by his wealth.
1577Besides these, other bars he lays before me --
1578My riots past, my wild societies --
1579And tells me 'tis a thing impossible
1580I should love thee but as a property.
1581Anne
Maybe he tells you true.
1582Fenton
No, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
1583Albeit I will confess thy father's wealth
1584Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne;
1585Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value
1586Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealèd bags.
1587And 'tis the very riches of thyself
1588That now I aim at.
1589Anne
Gentle M. Fenton,
1590Yet seek my father's love, still seek it, sir.
1591If opportunity and humblest suit
1592Cannot attain it, why then -- Hark you hither!
[Anne draws Fenton aside to whisper.]
Enter Shallow, Slender, [and] Mistress Quickly.
1593Shallow
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly! 1594My kinsman shall speak for himself.
1595Slender
I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't. 'Slid, tis but venturing.
1596Shallow
Be not dismayed.
1597Slender
No, she shall not dismay me. 1598I care not for that, but that I am afeared.
1599Quickly
[To Anne] Hark ye, Master Slender would speak a word with you
1600Anne
I come to him. [Aside] This is my father's choice.
1601Oh, what a world of vile ill-favored faults
1602Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
1603Quickly
And how does good Master Fenton? 1604Pray you, a word with you.
[She takes Fenton aside.]
1605Shallow
She's coming. To her, coz. 1606Oh, boy, thou hadst a father.
[Anne approaches.]
1607Slender
I had a father, Mistress Anne. My uncle can tell you good 1608jests of him. – Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the jest how 1609my father stole two geese out of a pen, good uncle.
1610Shallow
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
1611Slender
Ay, that I do, as well as I love any woman in Glo1612cestershire.
1613Shallow
He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
1614Slender
Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, vnder the 1615degree of a squire.
1616Shallow
He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds 1617jointure.
1618Anne
Good Master Shallow, let him woo for him1619self.
1620Shallow
Marry, I thank you for it. I thank you for 1621that good comfort. -- She calls you, coz. I'll leave you.
[Shallow moves aside.]
1622Anne
Now, Master Slender.
1623Slender
Now, good Mistress Anne.
1624Anne
What is your will?
1625Slender
My will? 'Od's heartlings, that's a pretty 1626jest indeed. I ne'er made my will yet, I thank hea1627ven. I am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven 1628praise.
1629Anne
I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
1630Slender
Truly, for mine own part, I would little or 1631nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath made 1632motions. If it be my luck, so. If not, happy man be his 1633dole. They can tell you how things go better than I can. 1634You may ask your father. Here he comes.
Enter Page [and] Mistress Page.
1635Page
Now, Master Slender. – Love him, daughter Anne.
1636Why, how now? What does Master Fenter here?
1637[To Fenton] You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house.
1638I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.
1639Fenton
Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
1640Mistress Page
Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
1641Page
She is no match for you.
1642Fenton
Sir, will you hear me?
1643Page
No, good M. Fenton. –
1644Come, Master Shallow, come, son Slender, in. –
1645Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
[Exerunt Page, Shallow, and Slender.]
1646Quickly
[Aside to Fenton] Speak to Mistress Page.
1647Fenton
Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter
1648In such a righteous fashion as I do,
1649Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and manners,
1650I must advance the colors of my love,
1651And not retire. Let me have your good will.
1652Anne
Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
1653Mistress Page
I mean it not. I seek you a better hus1654band.
1655Quickly
That's my master, master doctor.
1656Anne
Alas I had rather be set quick i'th earth, 1657and bowled to death with turnips.
1658Mistress Page
Come, trouble not yourself, good Master 1659Fenton.
I will not be your friend, nor enemy.
1660My daughter will I question how she loves you
1661And, as I find her, so am I affected.
1662Till then, farewell, sir. She must needs go in.
1663Her father will be angry. –
[She turns away taking Anne with her.]
1664Fenton
Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
[Exeunt Mistress Page and Anne.]
1665Quickly
[To Fenton] This is my doing now." Nay," said I, "will you 1666cast away your child on a fool and a physician? 1667Look on Master Fenton!" This is my doing.
1668Fenton
I thank thee, and I pray thee once to night,
1669Give my sweet Nan this ring. There's for thy pains.
[Fenton gives Quickly a ring and some money.]
1670Quickly
Now heaven send thee good fortune. – [Exit Fenton.] A kind 1671heart he hath! A woman would run through fire and wa1672ter for such a kind heart. But yet I would my master 1673had Mistress Anne, or I would Master Slender had her, or in 1674sooth I would Master Fenton had her. I will do what I can 1675for them all three, for so I have promised, and I'll be as 1676good as my word, but speciously for Master Fenton. Well, I 1677must of another errand to Sir IJohn Falstaff from my two 1678mistresses. What a beast am I to slack it.
Exit.