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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 17]
    Enter Host and Fenton.
    2345 Host
    Speak not to me, sir. My mind is heavy.
    I have had a great loss.
    Fenton
    Yet hear me, and as I am a gentleman,
    I'll give you a hundred pound toward your loss.
    2350 Host
    Well, sir, I'll hear you, and at least keep your counsel.
    Fenton
    Then thus, my host. 'Tis not unknown to you
    The fervent love I bear to young Anne Page
    And mutually her love again to me,
    But her father, still against her choice,
    Doth seek to marry her to foolish Slender,
    And in a robe of green this night disguised,
    2360 Wherein fat Falstaff had a mighty scare,
    2380 Must Slender take her and carry her to Eton.
    Now her mother, still against that match,
    And firm for Doctor Caius, in a robe of red
    By her device, the Doctor must steal her thence,
    And she hath given consent to go with him.
    Host
    Now which means she to deceive, father or
    mother?
    Fenton
    Both, my good host, to go along with me.
    Now here it rests, that you would procure a priest
    And tarry ready at the appointment place
    2395 To give our hearts united matrimony.
    2395.1 Host
    But how will you come to steal her from among them?
    Fenton
    That hath sweet Nan and I agreed upon,
    And by a robe of white, the which she wears,
    With ribbons pendant, flaring 'bout her head,
    2395.5 I shall be sure to know her, and convey her thence,
    And bring her where the priest abides our coming,
    And by thy furtherance there be married.
    Host
    Well, husband your device. I'll to the vicar.
    Bring you the maid; you shall not lack a priest.
    Fenton
    So shall I evermore be bound unto thee.
    Besides I'll always be thy faithful friend.
    Exeunt.
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