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  • Title: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Modern, Quarto)
  • Editor: Helen Ostovich
  • Markup editor: Janelle Jenstad
  • Coordinating editor: Janelle Jenstad

  • Copyright Helen Ostovich. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Editor: Helen Ostovich
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Merry Wives of Windsor (Modern, Quarto)

    [Scene 12]
    Enter Master Fenton, [Anne] Page, and Mistress Quickly.
    Tell me, sweet Nan, how dost thou yet resolve?
    Shall foolish Slender have thee to his wife?
    Or one as wise as he, the learne}d doctor?
    Shall such as they enjoy thy maiden heart?
    1567.5 Thou know'st that I have always loved thee dear,
    And thou hast oft-times swore the like to me.
    Good Master Fenton, you may assure yourself,
    My heart is settled upon none but you.
    'Tis as my father and my mother please.
    1567.10 Get their consent. You quickly shall have mine.
    Thy father thinks I love thee for his wealth.
    Though I must needs confess, at first that drew me;
    But since, thy virtues wiped that trash away.
    I love thee, Nan, and so dear is it set
    That whilst I live I ne'er shall thee forget.
    [Aside] God's pity, here comes her father.
    1633.1 Enter Master Page, his wife, Master Shallow, and Slender.
    Master Fenton, I pray what make you here?
    1640 You know my answer, sir, she's not for you.
    Knowing my vow, to blame to use me thus!
    Fenton
    But hear me speak, sir.
    Pray, sir, get you gone.
    -- Come hither, daughter. -- Son Slender, let me speak with you.
    They whisper [aside].
    1645 Quickly
    [Aside to Fenton] Speak to Mistress Page.
    Fenton
    [To Mistress Page] Pray, Mistress Page, let me have your consent.
    1646.1 Mistress Page
    I'faith, Master Fenton, 'tis as my husband please. For my part, I'll neither hinder you, nor further you.
    Quickly
    [Aside to Fenton] How say you? This was my doings!1664.1 I bid you speak to Mistress Page.
    Here, nurse, there's a brace of angels to drink. Work what thou canst for me. Farewell.
    1664.5 Quickly
    By my troth, so I will, good heart.
    Exit Fenton.
    Come, wife, you and I will in. We'll leave Master Slender and my daughter to talk together. Master Shallow, you may stay, sir, if you please.
    Shallow
    Marry, I thank you for that.
    Exeunt Page and his wife [with Mistress Quickly].
    1620 [Aside to Slender] To her, cousin, to her!
    1620.1 Slender
    [Aside to Shallow] I'faith, I know not what to say.
    Anne
    Now, Master Slender, what's your will?
    Slender
    Godso, there's a jest indeed. Why, Mistress Anne,1625 I never made will yet. I thank God I am wise enough for that.
    Shallow
    Fie, coz, fie, thou art not right!1605 Oh, thou hadst a father--
    Slender
    I had a father, Mistress Anne -- good uncle, tell the jest how my father stole the goose out of the henloft. All this is naught, hark you, Mistress1608.1 Anne.
    1615 Shallow
    [To Anne] He will make you jointure of three hundred pound a year. He shall make you a gentlewoman.
    1610 Slender
    Ay, by God, that I will, come cut and long tail, as good as any is in Gloucestershire under the1610.1 degree of a squire.
    [Aside] Oh, God, how many gross faults are hid
    And covered in three hundred pound a year?
    1601.1 Well Master Slender, within a day or two I'll tell you more.
    Slender
    I thank you, good Mistress Anne. -- Uncle, I shall have her.
    [Enter Mistress Quickly.]
    1601.5 Quickly
    Master Shallow, Master Page would pray you to come, you, and you, Master Slender, and you, Mistress Anne.
    Slender
    [Aside to Mistress Quickly] Well, nurse, if you'll speak for me, I'll give you more than I'll talk of.
    Quickly
    [To Slender] Indeed I will, I'll speak what I can for you --
    Exeunt all but Quickly.
    1675 But specially for Master Fenton.1675.1 But specially of all for my master. And indeed I will do what I can for them, all three.
    Exit.