Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Quarto 1, 1602)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Merry Wives of Windsor (Quarto 1, 1602)

    Enter M. Fenton, Page, and mistresse
    Quickly.
    1567.1Fen: Tell me sweet Nan, how doest thou yet (resolue,
    Shall foolish Slender haue thee to his wife?
    Or one as wise as he, the learned Doctor?
    Shall such as they enioy thy maiden hart?
    1567.5Thou knowst that I haue alwaies loued thee deare,
    And thou hast oft times swore the like to me.
    An: Good M. Fenton, you may assure your selfe
    My hart is setled vpon none but you,
    Tis as my father and mother please:
    1567.10Get their consent, you quickly shall haue mine.
    Fen: Thy father thinks I loue thee for his wealth,
    Tho I must needs confesse at first that drew me,
    But since thy vertues wiped that trash away,
    I loue thee Nan, and so deare is it set,
    That whilst I liue, I nere shall thee forget.
    Quic: Godes
    A pleasant Comedie, of
    Godes pitie here comes her father.
    1633.1Enter M. Page his wife, M. Shallow, and Slender.
    1635Pa. M. Fenton I pray what make you here?
    1640You know my answere sir, shees not for you:
    Knowing my vow, to blame to vse me thus.
    Fen. But heare me speake sir.
    1641.1Pa. Pray sir get you gon: Come hither daughter,
    Sonne Slender let me speak with you. (they whisper.
    1645Quic. Speake to Misteris Page.
    Fen. Pray misteris Page let me haue your cõsent.
    1646.1Mis.Pa. Ifaith M. Fentõ tis as my husband please.
    For my part Ile neither hinder you, nor further(you.
    Quic. How say you this was my doings?
    1664.1I bid you speake to misteris Page.
    Fen. Here nurse, theres a brace of angels to drink,
    Worke what thou canst for me, farwell. (Exit Fen.(Slēder
    1664.5Quic. By my troth so I will, good hart.
    Pa. Come wife, you an I will in, weele leaue M.
    And my daughter to talke together. M. Shallow,
    You may stay sir if you please.
    Exit Page and his wife.
    Shal. Mary I thanke you for that:
    1620To her cousin, to her.
    1620.1Slen. Ifaith I know not what to say.
    An. Now M. Slender, whats your will?
    Slen. Godeso theres a Iest indeed: why misteris (An,
    1625I neuer made wil yet: I thāk God I am wise inough(for that.
    Shal. Fie cusse fie, thou art not right,
    1605O thou hadst a father.
    Slen. I had a father misteris Anne, good vncle
    Tell the Iest how my father stole the goose out of
    The henloft. All this is nought, harke you mistresse
    1608.1Anne.
    Shal.
    the merry wives of windsor.
    1615Shal. He will make you ioynter of three hun-
    dred pound a yeare, he shall make you a Gentle-
    woman.
    1610Slend. I be God that I vill, come cut and long
    taile, as good as any is in Glostershire, vnder the de-
    1610.1gree of a Squire.
    1600An. O God how many grosse faults are hid,
    And couered in three hundred pound a yeare?
    1601.1Well M. Slender, within a day or two Ile tell you
    more.
    Slend. I thanke you good misteris Anne, vncle I
    shall haue her.
    1601.5Quic. M. Shallow, M. Page would pray you to
    come you, and you M. Slender, and you mistris An.
    Slend. Well Nurse, if youle speake for me,
    Ile giue you more then Ile talke of.
    Exit omnes but Quickly.
    Quic. Indeed I will, Ile speake what I can for you,
    1675But specially for M. Fenton:
    1675.1But specially of all for my Maister.
    And indeed I will do what I can for them all three.
    Exit.
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC